It is a fun and some say, a more relaxing way to compete in dressage competitions having put together a test including the movements you like and your horse is good at. It is also a great crowd pleaser and people who know nothing about dressage can fully appreciate and enjoy Freestyle Dressage to Music.
Your music choice as well as your horses way of going is also under scrutiny. By this we mean that to the observer the music should fit the horse and the horses paces as well as
the movement the horse performs. It should not just seem like someone is riding with some background music playing.
Also you need to adhere to the fundamental principles of dressage and the freestyle performance must never appear like a circus act.
As “Dancing On Ice” and “Strictly Come Dancing” has captured the publics imagination, Freestyle Dressage to Music could be the way to bring equestrian sport to the masses and therefore we believe should be made easily available to everyone.
The compulsory movements depend on the level you are competing at. If you fail to show a compulsory movement the judge will award you 0.If you include a movement that is only included in higher level tests you will be penalised for this. For example if you do a pirouette in a novice test you will receive two penalty points!
You need to try and include as many allowed movements as you are able in addition to the compulsory movements. Choose ones you and your horse are good at. Keep to a minimum those movements that are not your strongest, and do more of what you are good at. Also think about where you do your transitions, for example if you horse hollows into canter don’t have your transition at C right under the judges nose! Put them on the far corners moving away from the judge. If your horse has a poor free walk then again make the most of the arena and maybe do it on a half 20m circle as this will encourage stretching. Conversely if he has a great free walk show it off across the diagonal. Try and make your test symmetrical and interesting to watch. Think “inside the box” don’t perform all your test around the outside, use the bits in the middle too! Make your set movements really obvious. Judges have a hard time picking out the compulsory movements so keep them clear and symmetrical so the judge is expecting them. Don’t forget the walk! This can be just as interesting as the other paces and is often under done.
It is important you make sure the size of the arena you practice in at home is correct as this is essential for your timings. If the arena you are working in needs to be smaller put poles around to make sure you are riding in the correct size arena. It is usually 20 x 40 for riding club level classes and 20 X 60 for affiliated classes. However you will need to check this.
Aim to finish your test between X & I so if your timings are slightly out you have the flexibility to stop at G and not run the judge over!
Try to choose music without words as the words often detract from the test you are riding. However Lyrics are allowed and can be quite entertaining if done well!
You forget your Test ! Never mind the judge doesn’t know it so make it up as you go along, just remember to ride all the set movements and listen for the transitions in your music.
If music is too fast or too slow for the tempo of the horse it can make your horse look hurried or lazy, therefore it is important the tempo is correct for each pace. Make sure you do not end up chasing the tempo of the music you have chosen. If it is too fast for your horse there is a tendency to push your horse out of his natural rhythm. Conversely if your horse is a bit lazy uptempo tracks can help.
Music that you like to listen to may not necessarily suit your horse. Ballet music does not suit a heavy weight cob, but it might fit a dainty show pony type. Have a ride around to different types of music to see what suits him best.
Choose music with a definite beat.
You can send us a video of you riding and we will determine the BPM and send you a selection of tracks to try. Don’t forget to video on the same surface as your test will be on as the surface will effect your horses BPM. Or you can work out the BPM yourself by placing a polo wrap around one of your horses forelegs. Every time that front leg touches the ground at the walk or trot, you count it as one “beat”. At the canter, you count the leading foreleg as one “beat” when it strikes the ground. By having a ground person count the beats for 30 seconds while you are riding, you will obtain your bpm for each gait simply by multiplying by 2. Or you can buy a hand-held electronic metronome and have your ground person adjust it up or down until the “beep” sound of the metronome matches the footfall of the wrapped leg. These are available quite cheaply from eBay and you can also get a metronome APP for most phones. There are quite a few programs around which claim to measure
the BPM for a piece of music but I have found these so far to be unreliable as they do not always count the down beat which is the beat we want to ride to. The best way I have found is the old fashioned way, listen and use a hand held metronome or just count.
The legalities of the music industry can be a little baffling so here's what you need to know as a freestyle dressage rider. It is important to get these things right both to maintain the reputation of Dressage and support music industry. There are 3 main agencies; PPL, PRS and MCPS.
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) licence the transmission/performance of a recording. British Dressage have a licence with PPL, which will be sub licensed to you. This allows, with conditions, music in the PPL repertoire to be used in dressage routines at competition and for practice with (i.e. a public performance). Please click the PPL logo at the bottom of the page to check your music choice is on the PPL database.
We will endeavour to fulfil all British Dressage's requirements and we will check that any music you select for your routine is in the PPL repertoire. However, the ultimate liability falls to you, the sub-licensee.
The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society Limited (MCPS) licence the physical copying of music (physically and digitally) needed to get music from a CD or iTunes (etc) into a dressage routine. This only applies to our editing service where we use music which is not copyright free.
We cover the MCPS licence for our editing service. Music supplied by someone other than the copyright holder without an MCPS licence is illegal.
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) are charged with licensing the underlying composition. So, where PPL remunerate whoever owns and performed on a version of a song,
PRS cover the rights of the composer. The venue you perform at should also have a license.
Have Fun!
Audio tests are an easy way to learn your British Dressage test without the need for a caller. You will require the correct size arena for them to work effectively!
You get three tracks. One is recorded at learning speed, ideal for learning at home or in the car, whilst walking the dog etc. There are two riding speeds. Riding Speed 2 being more suited to ponies and horses under 15.3h Riding Speed 1 for horses bigger paces.
Once you have clicked the “Add to Cart button” for the test you wish to buy and paid via Stripe on the shopping cart you will be directed to our download page. Simply follow the instructions on the page to download your files.
Absolutely! We even supply a full set of tests at each level on a micro sd card so it slots straight in! Just select the test you want to learn and off you go.
Simply download all the tracks off the micro sd card to your computer. Make a folder so you know where they are! Once you are sure they are all on your computer, delete the files from the card and add them to the card when required. Simply copy and paste them from your folder as required.
Have Fun!
Speakers come with a usb charging lead. Simply plug the little end into the side under the rubber seal and plug the usb plug into any usb output or usb charger plug. Charge for 2 hours.
Cards only fit one way! The slot is next to the charging port and is spring loaded. You will hear a click once it’s in correctly. Press down again to release.
We include instructions for Windows & Mac in the box. Make sure though you are adding a .wav or .mp3 file! If your music will not play the reason is usually that you have added the wrong file type! Instructions for converting to an mp3 are included for itunes & Windows however if you are stuck just google!
Check you have used the correct file type? It will only play .mp3 & .wav files! It’s easy to convert your files, instructions are included for most software, however if you are stuck just google!
Absolutely! We even supply a full set of tests at each level on a micro sd card so it slots straight in! Just select the test you want to learn and off you go.
They beep when needing a charge but can go a little slow sounding before hand.
Use the speaker whilst mucking out, grooming or tacking up so your horse becomes more relaxed with the sound. Use a low volume to begin with. When riding for the first time use a low volume and have someone lead you. Most horses work very well to music and aren’t bothered by it but it’s always best to introduce anything new slowly!
Yes.
If you have checked all the faqs and it still won’t work then please contact us here in the first instance and if it’s still under it’s 12 month guarantee we will arrange a replacement.
SHIPPING POLICY
I will endeavour to post orders the same or the following working day. Dressage to music CDs & Audio test CDs can take longer as they are made to order. Please be patient, it’s just me and my children packing orders we don’t have high powered automated packing stations and auto dispatch notification!
If you haven't received an item in 4 days – please email jgeraghty725@gmail.com stating your Stripe transaction ID and order email address.
All orders go by Royal Mail track & trace. Most don’t go through a letter box so please provide an alternative address if you are likely to be out, and don’t have a “safe place” for the postman.
Payment by Stripe
The wrist speakers & card sets are guaranteed for 12 months. We have a no quibble exchange policy on the speakers any problems just email.
We do not offer any returns on digital downloads – If there is an issue please email me and I will re send the file.
Sadly dressage to music work undertaken is non refundable.
We take full payment in advance for all clinics and work commissioned.
By booking our services you accept this. However we are not greedy and if for some reason you can not complete your project then we will refund a portion of your money depending on how far into the project we are.
Additional charges will be made should you change your mind re a selected track or tracks after the editing has been completed!
Please make sure you are happy with all tracks selected either via our mail order service or at one of our clinics before editing takes place.
Your legal rights: When you buy goods from a business, in law you have a number of rights as a consumer. These include the right to claim a refund, replacement, repair and/or compensation where the goods are faulty or misdescribed.
Our policy: In addition to your legal rights, we also allow you to return goods if you simply change your mind. Please return the unused goods to us with the original till receipt within 14 days and we will offer you an exchange or a credit note. Please contact us for a returns number before returning. Goods must be returned in their original packing and condition.
Although we do our best to ensure everyones freestyle is individual, due to the high number of freestyles we produce and the increasing popularity of the sport, I can not guarantee exclusivity .
In order to keep our clinic prices low the clinic price is for tracks chosen on the day , however if you change your mind later that’s not a problem however additional sampling & editing will be charged at £20 per pace. Duplicate cds are available at £30 per pair
