There are four tests within the Training Level, each one slightly more difficult than the one before and challenging the horse to be more accurate. At this level, the horse must perform fairly simple patterns and transitions smoothly and obediently. He must accept the bit, showing no resistance to the constant light contact of the hand with his mouth (through the reins). He must be rhythmical and straight in the working paces: the walk (called 'medium' at this level), the working trot and the working canter. When a horse's hind feet track into the prints left by his front feet, he is in a 'working' pace which is the basis of all schooling. He must bend through the ribcage and not lose his balance through turns and on circles. Without correct basic work, further progress is not possible.
Training Level, Tests 1 & 2
In these tests, all three gaits (walk, trot and canter) are performed in both directions via different figures including 20 metre circles. Transitions from one gait to another are to be performed smoothly when required although they may occur over a few metres rather than at a precise point.
Training Level, Tests 3 & 4
In these two tests, once again, all three gaits are shown in both directions, but now the transitions must come at specific letters around the arena. Tests 3 & 4 both include a 20m circle which asks the rider to release the reins so that the horse can stretch downward and forward, without any increase in tempo, maintaining his balance. This is to demonstrate that the horse is not being 'held together' by the rider's hands.
FIRST LEVEL
The purpose of First Level tests is to confirm that the horse has mastered the requirements of the previous level and is ready to move on and to begin to carry more weight on the hindquarters, thereby becoming stronger and acquiring the ability to perform movements of a more demanding nature. As at the Training Level, he must accept the bit, move freely forward and straight, and be able to maintain his balance and 'throughness' on curved lines and in transitions.
First Level, Tests 1 & 2
These two tests include circles at both trot and canter 15 metres in diameter (not 20 metres as in the Training Level tests) and ask the horse to be more supple and flexible than the previous tests as he has to bend more around the rider's inside leg laterally; in addition, he must be able to bend more longitudinally (from nose to tail) compressing the muscles on the inside of his body and elongating them on the outside of his body. Also, in these tests 'lengthened' stride is introduced which requires the horse to (upon command) lengthen the frame of his body and the stride in either the trot or canter. This movement is usually done across a diagonal to allow the horse to perform the movement with a certain degree of freedom, all the while staying on the bit and remaining round and soft. The 'stretch circle' is also required in these two tests.
First Level, Tests 3 & 4
While incorporating those gaits and movements in all previous tests, Tests 3 & 4 at this level also ask for the 'leg-yield'. Leg yielding is a movement that requires the horse to remain straight with a slight bend away from the direction in which he is traveling. Throughout this movement, the horse should remain on the bit and calm, yielding to pressure from the rider's leg. As a prelude to the 'collected' paces, leg-yielding is a means of making the horse supple, loose and unconstrained. Also, these tests require that the horse do more figures away from the wall, viz. half-circles, circles, and work on both the centre line and the diagonals.
SECOND LEVEL
Second Level tests are a natural step up from First Level tests in that they are to confirm that the horse (having achieved the pushing power (thrust) in the First Level) can accept more weight on the hindquarters and is able to perform 'medium' paces while reliably on the bit. A greater degree of and more consistent straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness and self-carriage are now required. Very importantly, for the first time, 'collection' is included. Collection is achieved by using the seat and legs to engage the hind legs to drive the horse forward to a (more or less) stationary hand, allowing just enough impulsion to pass through.
Second Level, Tests 1 & 2
In these tests, the diameter of the circles has been further reduced to 10 metres, emphasis is placed on quality transitions (by awarding separate marks for them), and the 'medium' paces are introduced (medium being more than the 'lengthened' paces at First Level, but not as extravagant as the 'extended' gaits seen in Third Level). Also, there are several 'lateral' movements evident at this level, including shoulder-in (a natural progression from leg-yielding) whereupon the horse is slightly bent around the inside leg of the rider; shoulder-in is both a collecting and suppling movement. 'Travers' (another lateral movement) also involves bending around the inside leg of the rider, but the positioning of the horse is quite different. Also, a 'stretch circle' in canter is required at Second Level.
Second Level, Tests 3 & 4
While some of the new movements in Tests 1 & 2 are asked for in Tests 3 & 4, other new movements are added here. Another lateral movement, 'renvers' is introduced in Test 4. Renvers is the inverse movement of travers with the tail (instead of the head) to the wall. The horse must also perform a 'turn on the haunches' which he does so by appearing to pivot around one of the hind feet; however, the hind feet must remain active in the walk during the turn. Stepping backwards or sideways is penalized.
THIRD LEVEL
Third Level tests confirm that the horse can perform the required movements, gaits, and transitions with rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit, throughness, impulsion, straightness, and collection. A clear distinction within each pace (collected, medium, and extended) must be evident. 'Working' paces are no longer performed. It is at this level that the spectator will probably say, "That looks like a dressage horse!" The musculature of the horse is more defined at this level, and there is an increased lightness, power and beauty in the way he moves.
Third Level, Tests 1, 2 & 3
In these tests, extended paces are required as is the single flying change of lead, half-pass in trot and canter, a further decrease in circle size to 8 metres in diameter, and a releasing of the reins on a canter circle. All of these movements must be done calmly and accurately. Also, the horse is expected to be much more alert and responsive since the transitions occur frequently, often within a few seconds of one another. This is quite demanding on the horse, but also requires a great deal of concentration by the rider since it is he/she that will give the silent, very subtle commands to execute the tests.
FOURTH LEVEL
The tests at Fourth Level confirm that the horse has mastered the requirements of Third Level. As well, these tests are designed to illustrate a higher degree of suppleness, impulsion, throughness, balance, and lightness while always remaining on the bit. These tests also show that the horse's movement is straight, energetic, and cadenced, and that his transitions are precise, fluid, and effortless. Only a horse well-balanced on his quarters, with real self-carriage, will be successful at this level which precedes and prepares the horse for the demands of the subsequent FEI tests.
Fourth Level, Tests 1, 2 & 3
At this level, the very difficult 'collected walk' is introduced, as are quarter- and half-pirouettes in canter, counter-change of hand in trot and canter, and the exciting flying changes of leg every third and fourth stride (called 'tempi changes'). In order to be able to accomplish all of these movements (which are seen in all FEI tests) the horse has to be clearly on the rider's aids every step and respond to these aids in an instant. At this level, the well-trained equine dressage competitor will have acquired a high degree of sensitivity, so that the rider must sit still in the centre of the saddle, all the while communicating with the horse through subtle leg, back, seat and rein aids.
FEI ADVANCED & GRAND PRIX DIVISIONS
Now increased mental and physical demands are made on the horse (and rider!), leading to the ultimate test of artistic equitation, the Grand Prix de Dressage.
FEI ADVANCED DIVISION
FEI Prix St. Georges
This is the first international test published by the FEI (Federation d'Equestre Internationale). A Prix St. Georges test ridden in Canada is identical to a Prix St. Georges test ridden in Germany. As at Fourth Level, the horse must do the half-pirouette in canter and flying changes of lead every fourth and third stride.
FEI Intermediaire 1
At this level, full 360 degree canter pirouettes are required, as well as flying changes every third and second stride. The canter zig-zag, complete with flying changes, is required and must be performed along the centre line, approaching the judge seated at "C".
FEI GRAND PRIX DIVISION
FEI Intermediaire 2
In this test, the passage (a highly-collected, elevated trot, moving rhythmically forward) and the piaffe (the very cadenced and majestic "trot in place") are performed. These are the movements requiring the highest degree of collection, during which the horse must remain energetic, supple, calm and on the bit.
FEI Grand Prix de Dressage/FEI Grand Prix Speciale
In these tests, you will see flying changes of lead at every stride in which the horse appears to be dancing rhythmically, the passage and piaffe (outlined above) and several demanding transitions, designed to demonstrate the horse's balance, suppleness and flexibility. This is the zenith of dressage training with the horse and rider executing the most difficult movements with ease and harmony, at one with each other.