Riding tests & practice
Original riding tests for schooling, practice and Online Horse Competition classes. Download a test, set out a safe working area and ride it at home.
You do not need any experience of formal competition to use this library. Start with the two guides below, then ride the walk-only test in your field, school or any safe, level rectangle. Every test tells you exactly what to ride, movement by movement.
Our own 20 m × 40 m arena illustration. A formal dressage arena is not required for practice — safe improvised markers are fine.
Introductory — walk & trot
Your first tests. Walk, working trot, halt, large circles and simple changes of rein.
The authoritative test for Class 6 of The Founding Online Horse Show. A formal dressage arena is not required and improvised markers are permitted.
A walk-only test for a first outing, a young or green horse, a returning rider or anyone who simply wants to learn how a test is ridden. No trot is asked for and none is rewarded.
The first test with trot in it. Two 20 m circles, one change of rein and two centre lines, with plenty of straight riding in between to settle.
A step on from Test 1: a walk circle is added, the transitions are asked for at named markers and a free walk stretch is included.
The last of the walk and trot tests. Two changes of rein on the diagonal, circles on both reins and a trot-to-halt finish through walk.
Progressive — walk, trot & canter
Canter joins in on 20 m circles and long sides, with more transitions at markers.
The authoritative test for Class 7 of The Founding Online Horse Show. A formal dressage arena is not required and improvised markers are permitted.
A gentle introduction to cantering in a test. Canter is asked for on a long side and on a 20 m circle only, on each rein, with plenty of trot in between.
Canter on both reins with a change of rein across the arena. A good first 'proper' test once the canter transitions are reliable.
Two diagonal changes of rein and canter work on both reins, finishing with a walk centre line so the test ends calmly.
The most demanding of the progressive tests: canter on a 20 m circle at B, a first taste of lengthening in trot, and transitions asked for at exact markers.
Intermediate
Smaller circles, lengthened strides and more frequent, more accurate transitions.
15 m circles appear for the first time, along with a change of rein across the arena and lengthened strides down a long side.
Lengthening on the diagonal, a 15 m circle in trot and 20 m canter circles on both reins, ending with a trot centre line.
A half circle change of rein, a 15 m canter circle and two lengthenings. The most demanding test before the advanced practice pair.
Advanced practice
Technically demanding but still safe and sensible: 10 m circles, rein-back, leg-yield.
A technical schooling test: a 10 m trot circle, a leg-yield from the centre line to the track, and canter work including a 15 m circle.
The longest test in the library: lengthening in both trot and canter, a 10 m trot circle, a rein-back at X and a change of rein across the arena.
Our groundwork pattern is performed in hand in a smaller working space and does not use arena letters at all.
See the groundwork patternWhen a test feels comfortable at home, the same skills are all you need to enter one of our online classes.
View current competitionsThese are original Online Horse Competition tests. They are not official federation dressage tests and we are not affiliated with any governing body.
