chapter 12
Adjustments
1.
Camera Zones
Zones
The camera zones inform the riders how visible certain adjustments will be from the camera during dressage routines. Understanding camera zones is important as adjustments need to be as minimal as possible, to prevent drawing attention to them. Each zone has green, yellow, and red areas that depict how easily visible the adjustments will be in those areas.
There are 3 types of zoning: directional, gait, and circle.
Note: the following diagrams are an estimation of the different zones.
Directional Zones
Directional zones refer to any visible changes to the horse's straightness. For example: wiggling, veering, directional timing, and more.
The red zone refers to areas of the arena where directional changes are highly visible from the overhead camera. Yellow refers to areas where directional changes are moderately visible. Green refers to areas where directional changes are least noticeable to the camera.
Gait Zones
Gait zones refers to any changes of the horse's gait. For example, walking or cantering, the use of mini steps or hops, and gait timing.
The red zone refers to areas of the arena where gait changes are highly visible from the overhead camera. Yellow refers to areas where gait changes are moderately visible. Green refers to areas where gait changes are least noticeable to the camera.
Circle Zones
Circle zones refers to different sizes of circles where tapping to adjust are more or less noticeable on camera.
The red zone refers to circles that are highly visible to the camera when riders tap to adjust their gap. In the red zone, tapping slowly or quickly can be seen on the overhead camera. Yellow refers to circles where adjusting is moderately visible. Green refers to circles where adjusting is least noticeable on camera.
When performing dressage routines, riders may use the different zones to gauge when they need to be cautious of directional, gait, or circle adjustments.
why is this important?
The overhead camera is extremely sensitive to different adjustments in certain areas, as the overhead camera allows for more visibility. Riders can use the camera zones to know when they have freedom to make adjustments and when they need to be extra cautious.
2.
Arena Timing
Arena Timing
Arena timing refers to different rider lines or partners being synced in timing and reaching markers at the same time on the Commander's screen.
Arena timing ensures that opposite rider lines or pairs of riders are matched in their timing and reaching specific markers at the same time. If arena timing is not maintained, the riders will not be symmetrical.
Good arena timing would mean that two rider lines or partners are meeting a center point or opposing markers at the same time on the Commander's screen.
Late arena timing would mean the two rider lines or partners are not meeting the center point or opposing markers at the same time on the Commander's screen.
Many aspects can negatively effect arena timing, such as veering, late go timing, J-corners, etc.
On the Commander's screen, the paired riders or rider lines reach opposite markers at the exact same time.
On the rider's screen, their partner should reach the opposite marker after their own tail has passed over their own marker - the rider should reach their marker a horse length ahead of their partner (trot screen delay).
On the Commander's screen for arena timing in circles, the paired riders or rider lines reach opposite circle markers at the exact same time. The riders should be reaching the circle markers on either side of X at the same time.
On the rider's screen for arena timing in circles, their partner should reach the opposite circle marker after their own tail has passed over their own marker - they should reach their circle marker a horse length ahead of their partner (trot screen delay).
Riders will maintain arena timing by constantly looking across the arena to the opposite rider line or to their partner, making sure that they are reaching opposite markers ahead of their partner or the opposite rider line, similar to comb alignment.
3.
Recovery
Fixing Mistakes
Recovery is an essential part of dressage.
Recovery refers to the rider's ability to calmly, smoothly, and effectively fix mistakes by using adjustments, awareness, anticipation, and proper corrections - without the aid of the commander.
IMPORTANT
Regardless of skill, experience, and knowledge - every rider will make mistakes at some point. Mistakes are simply a part of dressage; it is natural and common to make mistakes as we are all human at the end of the day. Mistakes happen and that is OK! Keep calm and continue forward, mistakes do not define you as a dressage rider - instead, how you recover from that mistake is what defines you as a skilled rider!
There are three basic fundamentals of recovery in the PDM:
other's mistakes, rider mistakes, and the unknown factor.
The three recovery fundamentals help riders determine when and how to make a mistake correction.
Other's Mistakes
The basic rule of thumb regarding other rider's mistakes is: do not follow other riders into their mistakes - do not let their mistakes become yours too. Simply let that rider identify the mistake they made, and let them adjust accordingly.
For example, the rider in front of you veers off of their sandline - you do not follow them into their veer, instead, you do what you know is right and continue straight on the sandline.
Rider Mistakes
If you as a rider make a mistake, keep moving forward and adjust accordingly. Do not halt and do not panic, instead, use your best judgement and try to determine the best way to recover from the mistake and rejoin the rider line.
For example, the commander calls a curl-over left but you accidentally curl-over right. After you finish the curl-over you will gently veer back into the rider line and canter hop a stride if needed.
Unknown Factor
During competition routines or live performances, the judges and audience do not know what the moves or routine is supposed to look like - use this to your advantage!
When a rider makes a mistake during a performance, they are encouraged to try and make the recovery look purposeful and intentional - by doing this, it is unlikely that anyone will notice that is was a mistake. By halting, panicking, or galloping around, it then becomes obvious that a mistake was made.
example
Timestamp: 7:42
In PQL's "The Emperor's Dancers" routine, the line order was mixed up as the riders exploded over X, but one rider noticed right away and began adjusting accordingly - thus fixing the mistake and ensuring that each rider ended up in the correct position for the halt formation around X (shoutout to Mars - Queen of adjusting).
Can you spot Mars' recovery?
example
Timestamp: 4:55
In PQL's "The Queens Last Dance" routine, the pair of riders on A wall left their partner curl late - but the riders noticed right away and begin adjusting accordingly, allowing the pair to reach X at the same time as the opposite pair, which resulted in the timing to be accurate. This example showcases good recovery and good use of arena timing.
Can you spot how the pair adjusted?
Can you find recovery in other PQL routines?
4.
Adjustments
Adjusting
Adjustments refer to the riders using certain methods to maintain gaps, alignments, line orders, straightness, and more. Adjustments can be used to help prepare a rider for a move, or they can be used in recovery to adjust a mistake or make a correction. There are many different types of adjustments that riders can use freely.
what other adjustments can you think of?
Riders are encouraged to adjust as needed without the commander's aid. While performing dressage, each rider will use awareness, anticipation, and more to determine when and how they should adjust. Any second the rider has, they should be using that moment to adjust as needed.
In PQL's Legacy Team, the riders are taught to adjust whenever and however - do anything to save the routine - the only rule of thumb is to make sure the adjustment is as minimally visible as possible.
