Dear Amy,
I recently went to a dressage competition where I entered Third Level, Test 2. This level and test are
a step up for me. I thought I had a lovely ride! My horse was very steady and happily listened to my
aids. I was very surprised to see my score was not as high as I had hoped and expected. After
reviewing my test sheet I saw that I had received very low marks for my “renvers” both to the left and
to the right. The comment said I was on wrong bend and angle. I think my horse was doing exactly
what I asked, so this makes me think maybe I do not know how to do the renvers correctly. Could you
please explain how to get a good score for this movement?
The other place where I had low marks was on the “circle with a clear release.” My test sheet said
“not to be ridden or confused with a stretch circle.” I am thinking maybe I do not understand what is
meant by a “clear release,” and I am not sure what I need to do differently. Could you please explain
how to ride this movement and what the judge is looking for?
–Stepping Up
Dear Stepping,
Congratulations for making the move to Third Level. With this level comes a few additional new movements: extended gaits, half passes, and single flying changes. Also, you now have the option to compete in a double bridle. Specifically, in Third Level, Test 2, there are three new elements introduced: Renvers left and right, and a release of reins at the canter on right lead.
Let’s take a look at renvers. This movement can be ridden in the walk, trot, and canter. In this test, it is judged only at the trot. So what is renvers? In this movement, the horse’s hindquarters remain on the track, while the forehand moves off the track to the inside of the arena. Let’s imagine you are tracking left and want to do a renvers along the long side of the arena. In a correctly ridden renvers, the horse should be traveling at a 35 degree angle to the track, and his body should be bent slightly around the rider’s right leg. At the correct bend and angle, the horse will be looking straight ahead toward the short side of the arena. Viewed from the front or the back, the horse’s legs should be moving on four separate tracks.
The renvers only appears in one standard USDF dressage test, Third Level Test 2, and the test sets up the movement to make it easier to perform correctly. In both directions, you will be on the long side performing a shoulders-in, and then you switch to the renvers. The horse’s shoulders are already off the track, so you just need to add more angle and change the bend. For example, if you are tracking to the left, you would start your shoulder-in with your horse bent around your left leg and at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the track. When you transition to the renvers, you add a bit more angle and change the bend so that the horse is slightly bent around your right leg and his head is looking straight ahead in the direction he is going.
The renvers has a coefficient of two for both the left and right direction, and the shoulder-in has its own separate scoring box. These movements are worth a lot of points, and will also be taken into consideration when doing the final collective marks. Whether you show Third 2 or not, it is a wonderful exercise to understand and be able to execute as you move up the levels, since it encourages engagement. It sounds to me from your judge’s comments that you might have been accidentally riding a different movement, called the travers or haunches-in. In this movement, the horse is slightly bent around the rider’s inside leg and moves at a consistent angle of 35 degrees from the track, which can be seen from the front or the back. The travers (which dressage riders almost always call the haunches-in) appears in the Second Level at the trot. The big difference between the renvers and the travers is that in the travers, it is the forehand that remains on the track and the haunches that are moved inward. The horse’s outside legs pass and cross in front of the inside legs. This is also a good schooling movement that may be executed in the walk, trot, or canter.
Now let’s talk about the release circle. This can easily be confused and ridden as a stretch circle, which is a movement seen in Training and First Level tests. In a stretch circle, you allow your reins to lengthen as your horse stretches his or her neck forward and downward until the mouth is at the level of the point of the shoulder or lower. In a properly ridden stretch circle, you maintain a light contact with the horse’s mouth at all times. A stretch circle is good for training and is often used at the end of a schooling session.
The release circle required in Third Level, Test 2 is quite different. In this test, you are asked to perform the canter right lead on a 20-meter circle, “showing a clear release of both reins for 4 to 5 strides over the centerline.” In a properly ridden release circle, you must show a clear loop in the reins for four or five strides, with no contact at all. The horse should maintain the same frame, demonstrating self-carriage and keeping the rhythm, tempo, and quality of the gait. The release circle has a coefficient of two, so it is worth double points, and its performance will also be taken into consideration in the final collective marks. From your judge’s comment, I believe you may have performed a stretch circle rather than a release circle. Since these three movements have coefficients, they will greatly affect your final percentage. They are particularly important because they are movements that are introduced at this level and represent new steps along your dressage journey. I hope this has helped to clarify the necessary adjustments you will have to make to improve your score and be even more comfortable and competitive at this test.
Good luck as you reach new levels!