Study Tools
Welcome to the Perfected Dressage Method study page!
This chapter is all about testing yourself and practicing what you've learned! Below are a variety of questions related to different chapters of the PDM, try to answer the questions yourself, or with your club, to see how well you understand PQL's methods.
An important part of learning is testing yourself!
1.
Chapter Questions
Read the questions in the boxes below and then try to answer it yourself. Once ready, hover over the box and the correct answer will appear.
Dressage Definitions
List the 3 types of etiquette related to dressage.
1. Arena Etiquette
respecting the arena space and other clubs.
2. Dressage Etiquette
respecting their peers and commander.
3. Line-Up Etiquette
lining-up quickly and correctly.
Describe what "Anticipation" means and list the 3 main types.
Anticipation refers to the rider's ability to be aware of their surroundings as well as the other riders during dressage, without the commanders aid.
1. Rider Line Anticipation
2. Gap Anticipation
3. Arena Awareness
Define the term "Recovery".
Recovery is the rider's ability to independently fix mistakes smoothly and calmly without drawing attention to said mistake.
Commanding Methods
What is "Call Timing"?
Call timing is when the riders are seen, on the commander's screen, doing the move called. Call timing is 1.5 seconds: the riders will begin the move called (on the commander's screen) 1.5 seconds after the commander says go.
If the rider's are in Fully Inside (FI) gaps on their screen, where will they be on the commander's screen?
Riders in FI gaps will be nose-to-tail on the commander's screen.
What is "Go-Ahead-Go" and how is it used?
Go-Ahead-Go is the command used to inform the riders that they can now do their specified move once they have reached their marker or timing. It is used in routines that have moves at certain markers or timings.
Camera View & Setup
What is the correct gaming setup for dressage?
Left hand on WASD and right hand on the mouse. During dressage, riders will use a keyboard and mouse to control their horse. This setup is the most effective setup for gaming.
What is "Extended Camera View" and why do dressage riders need it?
Extended camera view is when riders expand their distance-to-camera hose and field-of-view settings. Extended camera view allows for more visibility during dressage.
Describe the "3 second" rule of thumb in relation to using your camera.
Riders are strongly encouraged to never let their camera sit unused. The 3 second rule is a reminder to constantly for riders to constantly check their gaps, alignment, straightness, etc., while performing dressage.
Screen Delay
List the 3 fundamental rules of screen delay.
1. You will see everyone on SSO in a delay.
2. Everyone on SSO will see you in a delay.
3. You can not see your own delay.
True or False:
During dressage, what the rider sees themselves doing on their own screen is exactly the same as what the commander is seeing.
False.
The rider sees themselves very differently than how the commander sees them during dressage. This is due to screen delay.
Describe the screen delay differences of walk, trot, and canter.
Walk: half of a horse length + character spacing difference.
Trot: a full horse length + character spacing difference.
Canter: two horse lengths + character spacing difference.
Arena Grid
What are the 3 patterns that make up the Arena Grid?
1. Pebble
2. Track
3. Dots & Spacings
The arena grid is what makes the patterns of sandlines in the arena floor, these patterns are then used for markers and named sandlines.
Explain what a "Spacing/Spacing Line" is.
Spacings and spacing lines refer to the exact middle point between two bright dots or two bright dot sandlines. Spacings are used to create point five meter markers and lines (2.5, 7.5, 12.5, 17.5).
True or False:
Every bright dot in the arena floor is spaced apart exactly the same, they are not randomly placed throughout the arena.
True.
Each bright dot and dotted line are exactly 5 meters apart. From A to C wall there at 9 lines of bright dots. From E to B wall there are 15 lines of bright dots.
Sand Lines & Meters
List the 6 "Common Sandlines".
Wall Lines
Center Line
Mid Line
Normal Tier
Tight Tier
Quarter Line
Where is the 20 meter sandline for E wall?
The 20 meter sandline for E wall is 4 bright dot lines away from X, which lands onto the wall line for E wall.
What are the 2 types of meters and the markers they use?
Whole Meter & Point 5
Whole meter - 5, 10, 15, 20 - uses bright dots as markers. Point 5 meter - 2.5, 7.5, 12.5, 17.5 - uses spacings as markers.
Is Center Line and Mid Line the same thing?
No, center and mid line are not the same - they are two specific sandlines within the arena. Center line is the bright dot line between letters C and A, while mid line is the bright dot line between letters E and B.
List all of the meter sizes.
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
17.5
20
Which tier lines would the riders use when riding a waterfall?
Normal Tier
The normal tier sandlines are the spacing lines on either side of center and midline (aka the 2.5 meter sandlines). Waterfall is a trot curl-over, and a trot curl-over is equivelant to 2.5 meters. Therefore, they would use normal tier.
Circles
Do riders walk, wiggle, or canter to adjust their gaps when riding a circle?
No
When riding a circle, the riders will change their tapping speed to adjust their gaps. If the gap is too large, they will tap their A or D key faster to catch up. If the gap is too small, they will tap their A or D key slower to create more space.
What are the 3 fundamental rules for the meter system?
1. Meters use two specific markers: bright dots and spacings.
2. Meters have two specific sizes: whole meter (5) and point 5 meter (2.5).
3. Whole meter markers are bright dots and point 5 meter markers are spacings.
To find the correct spacing marker for a 7.5 meter circle, how many spacings would you count away from X?
Count 2 Spacings
The markers for a 7.5 meter circle are 2 spacings away from X.
Describe the Counting Method that is used to find circle markers for metered circles.
Count a certain number of bright dots or spacings away from X to find the circle marker.
Example: for a 5 meter circle, count 1 bright dot away from X towards each wall of the arena.
To find the correct marker for a 15 meter circle, how many bright dots would you count away from X?
Count 3 Bright Dots
The 15 meter circle markers are 3 bright dots away from X.
What is the Crosshairs Method?
The Crosshairs Method is used to name any bright dot or spacing within the arena. To name any marker, find the two metered sandlines the marker is on. Example: 15C/5E is the bright dot where the 15 meter line for C wall and the 5 meter line for E wall connect.
Line Orders
What are the 3 types of line orders?
Original Line Order
Split Line Order
Secondary Line Order
Describe what Secondary Line Order is.
Secondary Line Order is the rider line taking on a second odd and even numbering that is different to their original numbering.
During original line order, where would the Reverse Line Leader be in line?
Last in line.
The reverse line leader refers to the last rider in line during original line order. If the rider line reverses, they now become the line leader.
Gait Sets
What are the spacings of a walk, trot, and canter curl-over?
Walk: A walk curl-over will place the rider a character spacing away from their sandline.
Trot: A trot curl-over will place the rider 2.5 meters away form their sandline.
Canter: A canter curl-over will place the rider 5 meters away from their sandline.
When "Walking Halt Set" is called, what will the riders do when "pre" and "go" are called?
Pre: Walk
Go: Line leader halts and the riders continue to walk until they are in their halting position, then will halt.
Riders will use anticipation to determine when to halt.
What is the correct spacing to use for every type of halt formation?
Character Spacing
In any type of halt formation, the riders will halt a character distance apart.
Gaps & Gap Correction
What is "Gap Anticipation"?
Gap Anticipation refers to the riders being aware of other rider's gap sizes and adjustments and understanding how that will affect them. The riders will use anticipation to determine if and how they should adjust their own gap.
List the different types of gap corrections.
Wiggling
Walk Hops
Trot Hops
Canter Hops
Horseshoes
Describe what the "Gap Window" is.
The gap window is a combination of Halfway Inside (HI) and Fully Inside (FI) gaps. Riders using the gap window can be HI, FI, or somewhere between the two.
Alignments
List the 3 types of alignments.
Comb Alignment
Staggered Alignment
Tier Alignment
When in a walk, what would comb alignment look like on the rider's screen?
Leader's nose over the rump of their horse.
Because walk screen delay is half of a horse + CS difference, walk comb alignment is half of a horse length ahead of the line leader.
Explain how riders perform Tier Alignment.
In tier alignment, the rider will be in comb alignment with their partner while also keeping half horse gaps with the rider ahead of them.
Adjustments
During a performance, you are in the red zone for gaits. What are you going to be mindful of?
Gait changes.
The red zone of for gaits means that any type of gait change will be highly visible on camera. So you will be mindful of your gait transitional timing as well as gait hops.
Explain the "Unknown Factor" and why riders can use it as an advantage.
The unknown factor is the fact that the judges and audience do not know what the moves or routine is supposed to look like. Riders can use this to their advantage, if they make a mistake and use recovery, there is a chance no one will notice.
If a rider makes a mistake, what are they encouraged not to do?
Halt, panic, gallop, etc.
If a rider makes a mistake, they are encouraged to keep moving forward and use recovery to fix the mistake.
Straightness & Veering
What is the number one rule of thumb in regards to straightness and veering?
Follow the sandline and not the rider ahead.
Riders are encouraged to base their straightness off of the sandline they are currently on and NOT the rider ahead of them.
The rider ahead of you is veering off of the sandline, what should you do?
Do not follow them and instead continue straight on the sandline.
What is the easiest way to avoid veering?
Avoid over pressing your directional keys.
Riders are encouraged to leave their directional keys alone. Constantly pressing left and right will increase the chances of the rider veering.
Corners
Explain what "L-Corners" are and how they are performed.
L-Corners are a 90 degree turn from one sandline to the next.
Whenever a rider turns onto a new sandline, they will hold down their directional key once their horse's nose has reached the new sandline and then release once straight.
Why are riders encouraged to avoid riding J-Corners?
J-Corners can negatively affect arena timing, straightness, gaps, and more. This is due to the fact that every rider taps a different amount when using J-Corners.
Why are L-Corners performed differently depending on the rider's gait?
Each gaits turn takes up a different amount of space.
A canter turn is larger than a walk turn, a walk turn is smaller than a trot turn.
Merging & Splitting
Explain what an "Anchor Point" is and how riders use it to perform merges and splits.
When merging and splitting, every rider in line will merge/split once they have reached the "anchor point" - a specified marker or the wall line. The riders will not base the merge/split off of the rider ahead.
You are about to do a belt, when should you begin belting?
Once you have reached the anchor point.
If you are belting at the wall, you will begin belting once your horse's nose has reached the wall line.
The riders are in two split lines, they are going to merge back into original line order. What gaps do the riders need to be in for a successful merge?
Half Horse
In order to merge the split lines back into their HI/FI original line order, each rider must be in half horse gaps. If the gaps are uneven or too big/small, the merge will not be successful.
Transitional Timing
List the 5 types of Transitional Timing.
Gait Timing
Directional Timing
Combined Timing
Passing Timing
Marker Timing
Explain the 3 different types of Passing Timing.
Nose-To-Nose: Begin the move once your horse's nose reaches your partner's nose.
Nose-To-Tail: Begin the move once your horse's nose reaches your partner's tail.
Curved: Used for circles and shapes. Begin the move when half of a horse length away from partner's nose.
A rider is performing a Galaxy - walk curl left, canter curl right. What transitional timing would they use?
Combined Timing
Once straight on their original sandline from the walk curl left, the rider will change gait then change direction to the right.
2.
Dressage Scenarios
Dressage scenarios are examples of situations that can happen during dressage. Using methods such as recovery, anticipation, and more; you will determine what you would do in that situation.
Read the dressage scenarios below and then try to determine what the action would be in response to the situation. Once ready, click the arrow to see the correct response.
3.
Identify The Method
Read the terms and actions below and try to determine which method the term or action belongs to. Once ready, hover over the box to see the correct answer.
1
Beginning a move once at a specified marker or timing instead of starting the move on "go".
Go-Ahead-Go
2
Changing gait once horse reaches original axis during a move.
Gait Transitional Timing
3
The rider's ability to use their keys and mouse smoothly, quickly, and efficiently during dressage.
Key Dexterity
4
Beginning to turn once the horse's nose is directly overtop of the new sandline.
Walk L-Corner
5
Walking on "Pre" and on "Go" continue to walk until in halting position, then halt.
Walking Halt Set
6
Riders being aware of the other rider's gap size and gap corrections, and using that information to determine if they need to adjust and how.
Gap Anticipation
7
Using HI to FI gaps.
Gap Window
8
Picking up trot once the rider second ahead picks up trot.
Pick-Up Gait Set
Anticipation
9
Halting with a character distance between each rider.
Character Spacing
10
During a Waterfall, keeping Halfway Inside gaps with the rider ahead and across.
Staggered Alignment
11
The rider's ability to make necessary adjustments to fix mistakes, without the aid of the commander.
Recovery
13
Naming any dot or spacing by finding the two metered sandlines the dot or spacing lands on.
Crosshairs Method
14
Beginning the move called once the horse's tail is overtop of a specific marker or sandline.
Tail-To-Marker Timing
12
Every rider in line merges or splits at the same marker or sandline.
Anchor Point
15
Beginning the move called when nose-to-nose with partner.
Nose-To-Nose Passing Timing
4.
What's The Meter?
Test yourself to see how well you know the meter system!
Look at the diagrams below and answer the questions, once ready, hover over the box and the correct answer will be shown.
what meter size is this circle?
hover here for answer!
20 Meter Circle
1
3
what meter size is this circle?
hover here for answer!
12.5 Meter Circle
what meter size and what type of placement is the circle?
hover here for answer!
Meter Size: 5 Meter Circle
Placement Type: Off The Wall Circle
5
what meter sand line is the white dotted line on?
hover here for answer!
10 Meter B Wall
7
9
what meter sand line is the white dashed line on?
hover here for answer!
7.5 Meter E Wall
11
what meter sand line is the white dashed line on?
hover here for answer!
2.5 Meter A Wall
13
what crosshair marker is the white dot on?
hover here for answer!
15C/5B
The white dot is on the crosshairs of the 15 meter sand line for C wall and the 5 meter sand line for B wall.
15
what crosshair marker is the white dot on?
hover here for answer!
10A/10B
The white dot is on the crosshairs of the 10 meter sand line for A wall and the 10 meter sand line for B wall.
what meter size is this circle?
hover here for answer!
10 Meter Circle
2
what meter size is this circle?
hover here for answer!
5 Meter Circle
4
what meter size and what type of placement is the circle?
hover here for answer!
Meter Size: 7.5 Meter Circle
Placement Type: Anywhere Circle
6
what meter sand line is the white dotted line on?
hover here for answer!
15 Meter C Wall
8
10
what meter sand line is the white dotted line on?
hover here for answer!
20 Meter A Wall
what meter sand line is the white dashed line on?
hover here for answer!
12.5 Meter C Wall
12
what crosshair marker is the white circle on?
hover here for answer!
7.5E/7.5C
The white dot is on the crosshairs of the 7.5 meter sand line for E wall and the 7.5 meter sand line for C wall.
14
16
what crosshair marker is the white circle on?
hover here for answer!
17.5E/7.5A
The white dot is on the crosshairs of the 17.5 meter sand line for E wall and the 7.5 meter sand line for A wall.
5.
Dressage Visualization
How well can you identify the PDM during dressage?
Look at the diagrams below and answer the questions, once ready, hover over the box and the correct answer will be shown.
from the commander's screen,
what gap is the yellow rider in?
hover here for answer!
Half Horse
1
from the rider's screen (yellow horse),
what alignment is the yellow rider in?
hover here for an answer!
Trot Comb Alignment
3
5
which sand line is the rider on and
which wall are they going towards?
hover here for answer!
Sand Line: Midline
Going Towards: E Wall
7
which sand line is the rider on and
which wall are they going towards?
hover here for answer!
Sand Line: 17.5 Metter B Wall
Going Towards: A Wall
9
from the rider's view (yellow horse),
are they in correct arena timing with the pink rider?
hover here for answer!
Yes, arena timing is correct.
11
from the commander's view,
will the rider lines successfully merge?
hover here for answer!
Yes. The rider lines are in proper Split Staggered Alignment and half-horse gaps.
from the commander's screen,
what gap is the yellow rider in?
hover here for answer!
Fully Inside
2
from the rider's screen (yellow horse),
what alignment is the yellow rider in?
hover here for answer!
Tier Alignment
4
6
which sand line is the rider on and
which wall are they going towards?
hover here for answer!
Sand Line: 5 Metter E Wall
Going Towards: C Wall
8
which sand line is the rider on and
which wall are they going towards?
hover here for answer!
Sand Line: 12.5 Meter C Wall
Going Towards: B Wall
10
from the commander's view,
are the riders in correct arena timing?
hover here for answer!
Yes, arena timing is correct.
12
from the commander's view,
will the riders successfully merge into a tight tier?
hover here for answer!
Yes. The riders are in correct arena timing and are setup to merge into tight tier.
more to come!
