DADAR
Member
There is a decisive difference between regular Dressage tests and the Musical Freestyle competition. In regular Dressage, there are many different levels. Each level has 2 to 4 tests which become progressively harder as you advance to the next level. Every test must be ridden exactly as written. Musical Freestyle has no written diagram as to how it must be ridden. It does have required movements which must be incorporated into your routine. You choose and edit your music and choreograph a routine for you and your horse.
Choosing your music is not as easy as it might seem. You must count out the steps per minute taken in each gait and then match it to music of the same timing. Watch the inside foot fall of your horse and with a stop watch count the number of times that foot hits the ground within a minute. Repeat this several times. If all three times are the same number of beats, Great!, if NOT take the average of the three. Then you start looking for music that has the same beats per minute as the timings you got for your horse.
Even this is much harder than it would seem. Some horses are light movers while others are heavy. This makes some music inappropriate to a particular horses movements, and the performance awkward looking, if the wrong style of music is chosen. Unlike regular Dressage the required movements for Musical Freestyle include the movements from all the tests within a single level and do not advance step by step from one level to the next.
In regular Dressage each test is ridden as a separate class and one division does not compete against another, however, this is not so with Musical Freestyle. As mentioned above, there is only 1 test or routine per level, and most often the levels are grouped together. For example, Freestyle 1st through 4th level and Freestyle and FEI through Grand Prix. These requirements make the Musical Freestyle very difficult and challenging indeed. Performed correctly, it should look like you are dancing with your horse, hence the name, Musical Freestyle.
This presentation or routine is then judged and scored to determine the winner. The scoring could be compared to the scoring used in judging an ice skating competition. You are given a set of scores for technical execution. This would be for all the required movements, with penalties given for going over the time limit (various levels have specific time limits), executing moves above your level, or leaving out required movements. In addition, each movement is judged and given it's own mark.
The second set of scores is for artistic value and presentation. These marks are based on creativity, use of arena, harmony between horse and rider, music selection, degree of difficulty and presentation. As in the ice skating competition these two scores are averaged together to determine the winner. Executed correctly, Musical Freestyle is one of the most beautiful sporting events you will ever see!
Choosing your music is not as easy as it might seem. You must count out the steps per minute taken in each gait and then match it to music of the same timing. Watch the inside foot fall of your horse and with a stop watch count the number of times that foot hits the ground within a minute. Repeat this several times. If all three times are the same number of beats, Great!, if NOT take the average of the three. Then you start looking for music that has the same beats per minute as the timings you got for your horse.
Even this is much harder than it would seem. Some horses are light movers while others are heavy. This makes some music inappropriate to a particular horses movements, and the performance awkward looking, if the wrong style of music is chosen. Unlike regular Dressage the required movements for Musical Freestyle include the movements from all the tests within a single level and do not advance step by step from one level to the next.
In regular Dressage each test is ridden as a separate class and one division does not compete against another, however, this is not so with Musical Freestyle. As mentioned above, there is only 1 test or routine per level, and most often the levels are grouped together. For example, Freestyle 1st through 4th level and Freestyle and FEI through Grand Prix. These requirements make the Musical Freestyle very difficult and challenging indeed. Performed correctly, it should look like you are dancing with your horse, hence the name, Musical Freestyle.
This presentation or routine is then judged and scored to determine the winner. The scoring could be compared to the scoring used in judging an ice skating competition. You are given a set of scores for technical execution. This would be for all the required movements, with penalties given for going over the time limit (various levels have specific time limits), executing moves above your level, or leaving out required movements. In addition, each movement is judged and given it's own mark.
The second set of scores is for artistic value and presentation. These marks are based on creativity, use of arena, harmony between horse and rider, music selection, degree of difficulty and presentation. As in the ice skating competition these two scores are averaged together to determine the winner. Executed correctly, Musical Freestyle is one of the most beautiful sporting events you will ever see!