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Third Level Dressage

Third level dressage adds the half pass and flying lead change elements to its tests. This level is used to determine the horse’s ability to perform the medium and extended paces required at second level. The transition to and from collected gaits is equally important at third level. Furthermore, the horse is judged on suppleness, rhythm, throughness, impulsion, straightness and acceptance of the bit.

Third Level is comprised of 3 tests. The Musical Freestyle is also performed at this level. These tests include walk, trot and canter work. The half pass and flying lead changes are also added at this level. Each third level test is shown below next to its corresponding video clip.

Third Level Dressage Required Movements:

Trot – Medium, Extended & Collected, Half Pass, Shoulder In, rein back to trot, Renvers
Walk – Medium, Free and Shorten Stride, 1/2 Turn on Haunches
Canter – Medium & Collected, Counter-Canter & Flying Lead Changes, release the reins, Half pass
Halts – collected trot to halt
Rein back

Freestyle Requirements – maximum of 5 minutes in length –
Total of 240 points (120 pts each for technical & artistic marks)
Walk – 20m minimum continuous extended
Trot Half Pass
Extended Trot
Shoulder-In – must be performed on each rein
Canter Half Pass – must be performed on each rein
Counter Canter – must be performed on each rein
Flying Change of Lead – must be performed on each rein
Extended Canter

Third Level Dressage 
Video Clips & Tests

2023 USEF Third Level Dressage – Test 1

Video pending

1.

A
X
Enter collected trot
Halt, salute
Proceed collected trot
2.
C
S-V		Track left
Shoulder-in left
3.
V-L
L-H		Half circle left 10m
Half pass left (x2 Coefficent)
4.R-PShoulder-in right
5.
P-L
L-M		Half circle right 10m
Half pass right (x2 Coefficent)
6.
H-X-F
F		Medium trot
Collected trot
7.
A
Halt, rein back 4 steps
Proceed medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
8.
K-R
R		Change rein, extended walk
Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
9.

M
Between G&H
Turn left
Shorten stride, half turn on haunches left
Proceed medium walk
10.

Between G&M

H		Shorten stride, half turn on haunches right
Proceed medium walk
Track right
11.

(Medium walk)
[RMG(H)G(M)GHC] (x2 Coefficent)
12.
CCollected canter right lead
13.
M-F
F		Medium canter
Collected canter
14.VCircle right 10m
15.V-RChange rein, flying change of lead between centerline and R (x2 Coefficent)
16.
H-K
K		Extended canter
Collected canter
17.

K-A-P		(Transitions H and K)
Collected canter
18.PCircle left 10m
19.P-SChange rein, flying change of lead between centerline and S (x2 Coefficent)
20.CCollected trot
21.
M-X-K
K		Extended trot
Collected trot
22.

K-A		(Transitions M and K)
Collected trot
23.
A
X		Down centerline
Halt, salute
Leave arena at A in free walk.

2023 USEF Third Level Dressage – Test 2

Video pending

1.

A
X
Enter collected trot
Halt, salute
Proceed collected trot
2.

C
M-X-K
K		Track right
Change rein, medium trot
Collected trot
3.F-BShoulder-in left
4.B-MRenvers right (x2 Coefficent)
5.
H-X-F
F		Change rein, extended trot
Collected trot (x2 Coefficent)
6.

F-A-K		(Transitions H and F)
Collected trot
7.K-EShoulder-in right
8.E-HRenvers left (x2 Coefficent)
9.


C
M
Between G&H
Medium walk
Turn right
Shorten, stride, half turn on haunches right
Proceed medium walk
10.

Between G&M

H		Shorten stride, half turn on haunches left
Proceed medium walk
Turn left
11.

(Medium walk)
[CMG(H)G(M)GHS] (x2 Coefficent)
12.
S-P
P		Change rein, extended walk
Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
13.
FCollected canter right lead
14.
A
D-R		Down centerline
Half pass right
15.Between R&MFlying change of lead (x2 Coefficent)
16.
H-K
K		Medium canter
Collected canter
17.
A
D-S		Down centerline
Half pass left
18.Between S&HFlying change of lead (x2 Coefficent)
19.
C
Circle right 20m, showing a clear release of both reins for 4-5 strides over centerline (x2 Coefficent)
20.
M-F
F		Extended canter
Collected canter (x2 Coefficent)
21.

F-A		(Transitions M and F)
Collected canter
22.

A
L
I		Down centerline
Collected trot
Halt, salute
Leave arena at A in free walk.

2023 USEF Third 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.K-EShoulder in right
4.
E-X
X-B		Half circle right 10m
Half circle left 10m
5.
B-G
C		Half pass left
Track right (x2 Coefficent)
6.
M-X-K
K		Change rein, extended trot
Collected trot
7.

K-A		(Transitions M and K)
Collected trot
8.
A
Halt, rein back 4 steps
Proceed collected trot (x2 Coefficent)
9.F-BShoulder-in left
10.
B-X
X-E		Half circle left 10m
Half circle right 10m
11.
E-G
C		Half pass right
Track left (x2 Coefficent)
12.


Between C&H
H
Between G&M
Medium walk
Turn left
Shorten stride, half turn on haunches left
Proceed medium walk.
13.

Between G&H

M		Shorten stride, half turn on haunches right
Proceed medium walk
Turn right
14.

(Medium walk)
[CHG(M)G(H)GMR] (x2 Coefficent)
15.
R-V
V		Change rein, extended walk
Medium walk (x2 Coefficent)
16.
KCollected canter left lead
17.
F-X
X-I		Half pass left
Collected canter (x2 Coefficent)
18.
I-S
S-F		Half circle left 10m
Change rein, flying change of lead near centerline
(x2 Coefficent)
19.
K-X
X-I		Half pass right
Collected canter (x2 Coefficent)
20.
I-R
R-K		Half circle right 10m
Change rein, flying change of lead near centerline
(x2 Coefficent)
21.
F-M
M		Extended canter
Collected canter
22.

M-C-H		(Transitions F and M)
Collected canter
23.HCollected trot
24.

E
X
G		Turn left
Turn left
Halt, salute
Leave arena at A in free walk.

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