Second Level Dressage

Second level dressage adds another element to the horse’s training by starting collected work. This shows that the horse is able to accept weight on the hind quarter, thus giving him the more “uphill” carriage required for pirouettes in his later training. The elements of previous levels are judged more critically now and transitions between medium and collected gaits are more important. This level sees the addition of Counter Canter, Shoulder In, Travers, Simple Lead Changes and Rein-Back, as well as Collection in Trot and Canter.

Second Level is also comprised of 3 tests. The Musical Freestyle is also performed at this level. These tests include walk, trot and canter work. The horse and rider must also demonstrate their ability to perform the Shoulder-In, Travers, Rein-Back, Simple Lead Changes and Collection at both the Trot and Canter. Each second level test is shown below next to its corresponding video clip.

Second Level Dressage
Required Movements:

Trot – Medium & Collected, Travers, Shoulder-In
Walk – Medium, Free and Shorten Stride, Half turn on haunches, Walk-canter transitions
Canter – Medium & Collected, Counter-Canter & Simple Lead Changes, 10m circle, Counter-Canter serpentine
Halts – trot to halt

Freestyle Requirements – maximum of 5 minutes in length –
Total of 240 points (120 pts each for technical & artistic marks)
Walk – 20m minimum continuous free walk & 20m minimum continuous medium walk
Trot – Medium
Shoulder-In at trot – must be performed L&R
Travers and/or Renvers at Trot – L&R. must be performed on each rein.
Canter – Medium – 10m circle & simple lead change – L&R, Counter canter
Halts at beginning and end of test
Gaits – rhythm and quality
Impulsion – energy, elasticity and engagement/
Submission – basic issues of submission, technical aspect of the rider

Second Level Dressage 
Video Clips & Tests

2023 USEF Second Level Dressage – Test 1

video pending

1.	A X	Enter collected trot Halt, salute Proceed collected trot
2.	C H-P P	Track left Change rein, medium trot Collected trot
3.	P-F-A-K	(Transitions H and P) Collected trot
4.	K-E E	Shoulder-in right Turn right (x2 Coefficent)
5.	B B-M	Turn left Shoulder-in left (x2 Coefficent)
6.	C	Halt, rein back 3 to 4 steps Proceed medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
7.	C-S	Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
8.	S-F F	Change rein, free walk Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
9.	A	Collected canter right lead
10.	K-S S	Medium canter Collected canter
11.	C	Circle right 10m
12.	M-E E-V	Change rein Counter canter (x2 Coefficent)
13.	V K	Collected trot Medium walk
14.	A	Collected canter left lead
15.	F-R R	Medium canter Collected canter
16.	C	Circle left 10m
17.	H-B B-P	Change rein Counter canter (x2 Coefficent)
18.	P	Collected trot
19.	K-R R	Medium trot Collected trot
20.	R-M-C-H-S	(Transitions between K and R) Collected trot
21.	S I G	Turn left Turn left Halt, salute
		Leave arena at A in free walk

2023 USEF Second Level Dressage – Test 2

Video pending

1.	A X	Enter collected trot Halt, salute Proceed collected trot
2.	C M-V	Track right Medium trot
3.	V-K-A-F	(Transitions M and V) Collected trot
4.	F-B B-X	Shoulder-in left Half circle left 10m
5.	X-E E-H	Half circle right 10m Shoulder-in right
6.	M-P	Medium trot
7.	P-F-A-K	(Transitions M and P) Collected trot
8.	K-E E-X	Travers right Half circle right 10m (x2 Coefficent)
9.	X-B B-M	Half circle left 10m Travers left (x2 Coefficent)
10.	C H Between G & M	Medium walk Turn left Collect and half turn on haunches left proceed medium walk
11.	Between G & H	Collect and half turn on haunches right Proceed medium walk
12.		(medium walk) [(CHG(M)G(H)GMR] (x2 Coefficent)
13.	M R-K K-A	Turn right Free walk Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
14.	A	Collected canter left lead
15.	F-R R	Medium canter Collected canter
16.	R-M-C	(Transitions F and R) Collected canter
17-19.	C-A	Serpentine 3 equal loops, width of arena, simple changes of lead over centerline
17.		(Score for first simple change)
18.		(Score for second simple change)
19.		(Score for quality of serpentine)
20.	F-E E-H	Change rein Counter canter (x2 Coefficent)
21.	H Before C	Medium walk Collected canter right lead
22.	M-P P	Medium canter Collected canter
23.	P-F-A-K	(Transitions M and P) Collected canter
24.	K-B B-M	Change rein Counter canter (x2 Coefficent)
25.	M	Collected trot
26.	E X G	Turn left Turn left Halt, salute
		Leave arena at A in free walk

2023 USEF Second Level Dressage – Test 3

Video pending

1.	A X	Enter collected trot Halt, salute Proceed collected trot
2.	C H-X-F F	Track left Change rein, medium trot Collected trot
3.	F-A-K	(Transitions H and F) Collected trot (x2 Coefficent)
4.	K-E	Shoulder-in right
5.	E	Circle right 10m
6.	E-H	Travers right
7.	M-X-K K	Change rein, medium trot Collected trot
8.	K-A-F	(Transitions M and K) Collected trot (x2 Coefficent)
9.	F-B	Shoulder-in left
10.	B	Circle left 10m
11.	B-M	Travers left
12.	C	Halt, rein back 3-4 steps Proceed medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
13.	H Between G & M	Turn left Shorten the stride, half turn on haunches left Proceed medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
14.	Between G & H M	Shorten the stride, half turn on haunches right Proceed medium walk Turn right (x2 COefficent)
15.		(Medium walk) [CHG(M)G(H)GMR]
16.	R-V V	Change rein, free walk Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
17.	K	Collected canter left lead
18.	F-M M	Medium canter Collected canter
19.	M-C	(Transitions F and M) Collected canter
20.	C-A	Serpentine 3 equal loops, width of the arena, no change of lead
21.	F-E L E-H-C-M	Change rein Simple change Collected canter (x2 Coefficent)
22.	M-F F	Medium canter Collected canter
23.	F-A	(Transitions at M and F) Collected canter
24.	A-C	Serpetnine 3 equal loops, width of the arena, no change of lead
25.	M-E I E-K	Change rein Simple change Collected canter (x2 Coefficent)
26.	K	Collected trot
27.	A K	Down centerline Halt, salute
		Leave arena at A in free walk

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