Measuring Degrees of Dressage
Collection
By Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg with Beth Baumert
FROM
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The former First Chief Rider at the Spanish Riding School explains the scale for measuring degrees
of dressage collection.
As a judge, I often write at the end of a dressage
test: "Your horse didnt have the degree of
collection needed for this level." It's helpful not
only for riders and trainers, but also for judges to
understand the different degrees of dressage
collection.
These recognized levels begin with first-degree
collection, followed by second- and then third-
degree collection. When the horse is appropriately
collected for the level of his test, the work looks
easy. The key to success in dressage is to make
it look easy and beautiful. The goal for my
colleagues at the Spanish Riding School is not to
Arthur Kottas• Hedenberg is the former First Chief Rider at the
Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. He now gives clinics
worldwide and lives and trains in Venna. His 23-year-old
daughter, Caroline, is the rider in these photos
Photos by Ewald Willibald
be able to do the difficult exercises. Rather, they
aim for harmony between horse and rider. They
want to appear as if they were bom on a horse, so
the movements must look easy. The goal of all
riders should be harmony, which doesnt mean
you have to be a Grand Prix rider or even a
competitive rider. When the riding looks easy, it's
well done. When it looks difficult, then there is
strengthening and correct riding to be done. In this article, I will define the levels of collection and give a
few exercises to help you on the path to its development.
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