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Corinne Foxley

Credit: Courtesy, Corinne Foxley In this moment, Bomol is changing the flexion in the direction of the new lead to strike off into canter.

Learn the steps to ride this movement that appears in First Level Test 3.

Credit: Dusty Perin To perform all the movements of First Level well, the rider must be able to integrate and have a feel for each of the first four qualities of the Training Scale.

Be sure that you have mastered all of the skills required in First Level to progress to Second Level.

Credit: Beth Baumert To ride the counter canter well, one must understand that it is a balanced canter performed on the outside lead. This means that if the horse is tracking right, the rider purposefully asks him to canter on the left lead.

Learn the basics of this challenging test of First Level skills.

Bomol demonstrates a correct bend in this 10-meter circle. He has a continuous curve along his spine from his poll to his tail.

Learn how to ride this important First Level figure.

Credit: Courtesy, Corinne Foxley Bomol, a Russian Warmblood formerly owned by the late Betty Thorpe, is helping to demonstrate the moment when a rider is in balance when practicing the Up, Up, Down exercise. The rider’s hands are forward, without pulling on Bomol’s mouth, while her balance is over the ball of her foot with her shoulder, hip and heel aligned.

Focus on rider balance and coordination of aids.

Credit: Holly Linz Corinne Foxley rides Aragon GAF, owned by Cynthia and Craig Roberts of Glen Aryn Farm. At this moment, Foxley is lightening her inside rein to check Aragon’s ability to balance himself through the turn and to invite him to reach for the contact.

Make an educated and confident decision about moving up.

Credit: Arnd Bronkhorst- arnd.nl American riders will notice differences in European show management, dressage tests and systems of levels.

Examining the differences in dressage-competition structure in Europe