chapter 9
Gait Sets
1.
Gait Keys
Changing Gaits
Gait keys refer to using the up and down keys of WASD: W and S, to change a rider's gait (walk, trot, canter, etc.). To change to a specific gait requires a number of W or S key presses.
Gait Keys
How to change gaits using a different number of up and down (W and S) key presses.
An experienced dressage rider and commander will be able to know the number of key presses needed, rather than randomly guessing or waiting until they are in the correct gait. Additionally, key dexterity plays and important part in a rider's ability to change gait efficiently.
reminder...
Key dexterity refers to the riders ability to use their keys and mouse smoothly, quickly, and efficiently during dressage.
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2.
Gait Spacings
Spacings
A rider's gait will change how much a move travels in terms of distance.
Walk, trot, and canter will vary in spacing size in terms of turns, curl-overs, etc. Understanding gait spacings is important in dressage as it helps the rider and commander anticipate where they will end up after a specific move, how to perform different turns, and more.
For example, a trot curl-over is larger than a walk curl-over, a canter turn is larger than a trot turn.
Walk Curl-Over:
Character spacing.
A walk curl-over will place the rider one character spacing away from their original sandline.
For example, if a rider is on a bright dotted sandline and performs a walk curl-over, they will end up between the bright dotted line and the next spacing line over.
Trot Curl-Over:
2.5 meter spacing.
A trot curl-over will place the rider a 2.5 meters away from their original sand line.
For example, if a rider is on a bright dotted sand line and performs a trot curl-over, they will end up on the the next spacing line over.
Canter Curl-Over:
5 meter spacing.
A canter curl-over will place the rider a 5 meters away from their original sand line.
For example, if a rider is on a bright dotted sandline and performs a canter curl-over, they will end up on the the next bright dotted line over.
For more examples on gait spacings, visit Chapter 14 - Corners!
put it together!
Whenever a rider line waterfalls from centerline (at a trot), they will end up on the spacing lines on either side of center line (aka the 2.5 meter sand lines for E and B wall, also called the Normal Tier lines).
3.
Gait Commands
Gait Sets
There are two types of gait commands in the PDM: immediate gait set and pick-up gait set.
The two gait commands are used to inform the rider line how they will change their gait, either all at once immediately on go or one at a time starting with the line leader.
Immediate
Immediate gait set refers to the entire rider line changing to the new gait called immediately and not one at a time. When immediate gait set is called, every rider in line will change to the new gait on "go".
For example, the commander calls "immediate walk set" - on go, all riders in line will immediately change to walk.
Pick-Up
Pick-up gait set refers to the rider line changing to the new gait called once the rider ahead of them has changed gait. The line leader will change gait on "go" and then one at a time working down the line, the rest of the riders will change gait. Pick-up gait set is often used when the rider line is halted.
For example, the commander calls "pick-up trot set" - on go, all riders in line will use anticipation to pick-up trot, once they see the rider second ahead change to trot; they will then change to trot.
It is important to note that the two different gait commands are used for different aspects of dressage.
The commander would not use "immediate canter set" from an NTT halted line-up, as this will result in the riders merging into one another - instead, the commander would use "pick-up canter set".
4.
Halting
Halt Fundamnetals
The PDM has four basic fundamentals for halting: formations, spacings, line-up, and mini steps.
Halt Formations
When calling a halt set, the commander will specify which formation the rider line will halt in, such as NTT flat or domino.
If no formation is specified during the halt set, the rider line will halt in their NTT original rider line (halt in their original line-up).
Halt Spacings
When the rider line halts in any formation, they will use Character Spacing. The riders will halt with enough space between each other so that a character could fit; they will not halt boot-to-boot or crushing boot.
Character spacing ensures that the riders are equally spaced and helps to prevent the riders from accidentally merging into each other.
Line Up
When the rider line does a NTT halt or when they line up, they will use NTT gaps. During halts or line ups, each rider will halt with a Nose-To-Tail gap between each rider.
When halting NTT, it is important that the riders do not halt inside of each other, but instead behind the other rider's tail. This creates equal and uniform spacings.
Mini Steps
Once the rider line has halted in any formation, the riders are strongly encouraged to adjust their halt position as needed. The riders can use mini steps to adjust foreword or backward as needed as well as pivoting side-to-side to straighten out.
If a rider halts too far back or too far foreword, they can use mini steps to adjust their halt formation - but, it is important that the riders ensure that the adjustment is as minimal as possible, so that they do not draw attention to the adjustment.
Halt Commands
There are two types of halt commands in the PDM: walking halt set and immediate halt set.
The two halt commands are used to inform the rider line of which type of halt set they will do.
Walking Halt Set
When "walking halt set" is called, all riders in line will walk on "Pre" and on "Go" the line leader will halt, but, each rider in line will continue to walk until they reach their halting position - then they will halt.
The riders will use anticipation to determine when to halt. They will watch the rider second ahead of them, once they see that rider halt they will determine a full horse spacing (to make space for the rider directly in front of them to halt) and then halt.
Immediate Halt Set
When "immediate halt set" is called all riders in line will immediately halt on "Go". The riders will not walk at any point (unless they need to adjust their halt position).
