chapter 10
Gaps & Gap Correction
1.
Gap Corrections
When to Adjust
During dressage, riders are expected to maintain their gap size at all times without the Commander instructing them to do so. Riders will use adjustments and corrections to continue to keep their proper gap size. In dressage, the riders are doing many different moves and formations, and because of variances in each rider's speed, they will need to consistently adjust their gap to maintain the correct gap size.
However, there are specific times at which a rider should and should not adjust their gap.
Do Not Adjust
Riders are asked to not adjust during the following moments in dressage. If the riders do adjust during these moments, it could negatively affect a number of different aspects, such as go timing, arena timing, straightness, etc.
Belting
Merging
L-Corners
After "Pre"
Safe to Adjust
In the following moments in dressage riders are free to adjust and correct their caps as needed. Riders are expected to maintain their gap size without the aid of the Commander.
When Straight
Before "Pre"
During Recovery
During Adjusting Moves
Gap Anticipation
Anticipation: Riders actively reviewing a situation and determining how it will affect themselves/others and deciding what to do in response. Anticipation refers to the rider's ability to be highly aware of their surroundings and other riders during dressage, without the commander's aid.
Gap Anticipation: Understanding how other riders' gaps and corrections may affect your own gap. Gap anticipation refers to the riders being aware of the other rider's gap sizes and gap corrections, and using the information to make adjustments as needed based off of the other rider's actions and gaps.
Gap anticipation is key in dressage. Riders will use gap anticipation to decide when, how, and if they should adjust their gaps. Using gap anticipation prevents riders from fixing their gaps when it is not needed.
Gap Corrections
Within the PDM there are several methods that a rider can use to a djust or correct their gap.
The main goal of gap corrections is for the adjustment to be as minimal as possible so that attention is not drawn to the adjustment during performances. All corrections, adjustments, and recovery should be done as gently as possible so that it is nearly invisible.
Wiggling
Wiggling is used when the rider needs to slow down because their gap is too tight.
Riders will gently press their directional keys (A & D) so that the horse slightly moves side-to-side. Wiggling should be nearly invisible to the commander and on-lookers.
However, riders should avoid "illegal wiggling" (a term of endearment coined by the Queens). "Illegal wiggling" is when riders hold down their directional keys which causes their horse to aggressively veer side-to-side. Harsh wiggling is to be avoided because 1) it is very noticeable and does not look good and 2) it will cause the rider to veer off of their sand line.
In the demo video, you can see the rider perform a gentle wiggle at the trot and then they perform an improper wiggle.
Walk Hops
Walk hops are used when the rider needs to slow down because their gap is too tight.
Riders will quickly press their down then up keys (S & W) so that the horse does a mini walk step. Riders are strongly encouraged to avoid waiting to press their up key as the walk hop should be nearly invisible to the commander and on-lookers. Riders can do as many mini walk steps back-to-back as needed.
Riders can also use mini walk steps to adjust their alignment in halt formations.
When members first join PQL they are taught to only walk when asked by the Commander. This is because many riders have learned the habit of constantly walking, even when it is not needed. So to break this habit, new members are asked to only walk when commanded. Once the rider is confident with knowing when is an appropriate time to walk, they can walk freely without command.
In the demo video, you can see the rider performing a mini walk step.
Trot Hops
Trot hops are used when the rider needs to slow down when in canter because their gap is too tight or to speed up when in walk because their gap is too large.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that the horse does a mini trot step. Riders are encouraged to try and make the trot hop as small as possible, the smaller the hop the less visible it is to the commander and on-lookers. Riders can do as many mini trot steps back-to-back as needed.
In the demo video, you can see the rider performing a mini trot step from a walk.
Canter Hops
Canter hops are used when the rider needs to speed up when in trot because their gap is too large or to slow down when in extended canter because their gap is too tight.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that the horse does a mini canter stride. Riders are encouraged to try and make the canter hop as small as possible, the smaller the hop the less visible it is to the commander and on-lookers. Riders can do as many mini canter hops back-to-back as needed.
In the demo video, you can see the rider performing a canter hop from a trot.
Extended Canter Hops
Extended Canter hops are used when the rider needs to speed up when in canter because their gap is too large.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that the horse does a mini extended canter stride. Riders are encouraged to try and make the extended canter hop as small as possible, the smaller the hop the less visible it is to the commander and on-lookers. Riders can do as many mini extended canter hops back-to-back as needed.
In the demo video, you can see the rider performing an extended canter hop from a canter.
Horsehoes
Horseshoes can be used by riders to adjust their gaps during performances. Using horseshoes to speed up or slow down during performances is an invisible adjustment, as there is no visible change in the rider's gait.
To slightly speed up the rider will put on their horseshoes.
To slightly slow down the rider will take off their horseshoes.
This type of cap adjustment is typically reserved for more advanced riders as the process of opening inventory and putting on/taking off the shoes while performing dressage requires good timing and good key dexterity.
Wiggling, walk hops, trot hops, and canter hops all allow for better control of a rider's gap size.
For example, if a rider canters freely they will most likely end up cantering too far ahead and so instead they are asked to do however many canter hops is needed, which gives them more control over their gap adjustment.
2.
Gap Sizes
Sizes
Dressage riders use gaps to maintain even and equal spacing throughout the rider line. If the rider line does not have even and equal gaps, many factors of dressage will be negatively effected, such as; go timing, arena timing, alignments, merges, etc.
Gaps are typically designed to be a varied distance from the rider ahead, this is because of screen delay. It is important to note that a rider can only see themselves in the correct gap on their own screen - on the commander screen, each gap will look different (visit Chapter 2 - Commanding Methods for examples on how gaps should look for the commander).
Gap Window
PQL's primary gap size is the Gap Window, which is a combination of Halfway Inside and Fully Inside.
PQL created the gap window because we found that it is nearly impossible to have every single rider perfectly in one exact gap the entire time they are performing dressage.
The gap window allows for the riders to be Halfway Inside, Fully Inside, or somewhere between the two gaps. The difference between HI and FI is extremely minor and would be equivalent to the natural variances in a rider line that only has one gap size. It also relieves stress for the riders, as they are not having to constantly adjust to an exact gap size and instead they have more freedom to focus on other aspects of their dressage.
HI to FI (gap window) does take some time to get used to as it is a fairly tight gap compared to the gap sizes that most clubs use, however, it creates tighter rider lines and looks good!
