The standard of the freestyle tests ridden at the Saddleworld 2015 Australian Dressage Championships was inspirational and all competitors must be congratulated for making day 4 special, with many highlights in the artistry and horsemanship that was displayed.

These classes are the crowd pleasers, as even for those with little knowledge of the technical aspects of dressage will have an appreciation for the choice of music which aims to showcase the personality of the rider and style of horse.

It was just under 30 years ago when the legendary German champion Dr Reiner Klimke conceived of the idea of riding dressage to music as a way of making the sport more appealing to a less educated audience in order to increase audience appeal.  The first freestyles took place at Goodwood in England in 1986.  Very few people who witnessed the first musical rides could have predicted that this arm of the sport would become such an important component of deciding today’s winners.

A freestyle dressage test will be scored in two separate components – the technical aspects will be assessed in much the same way as a regular test and then the artistic elements, which take in the choice of music, choreography and use of the arena as well as the degree of difficulty and harmony between horse and rider. The audience and judges expect to see the horse and rider “dancing”.

It is conservatively reckoned that it takes around 200 hours to put together and perfect a freestyle test.  For most riders it begins with looking at the movements that are required for the level of the test, then to choreograph a pattern taking in the compulsory elements while considering the opportunities to show off the horse’s strong points and de-emphasise the aspects which are not so strong.

Then selection of music should suit the horse and add to the mood and flow of the test - lifting the performance to a higher level and transporting the audience (and judges) into a zone of total appreciation. 

The music must be chosen so that the changes of tempo perfectly match the timing of the walk, trot and canter with the different music seamlessly spliced together with the assistance of a sound producer or specialist freestyle designer.  Many more marks are earned if the horse’s footfalls are on the beat of the music rather than the music being presented as a background.

A penchant for excellence and love of searching for the perfect musical match is a prerequisite for all riders aspiring to excel in this growing area of dressage.

The Results for the Advanced Freestyle follows:

	Cabaret C and Emma Flavelle Pic: Stephen Mowbray
	HV Her Highness and David McKinnon Pic: Stephen Mowbray

Here are the results for the Intermediate Freestyle (Small Tour Championship)

	Longvue Forencio and Brett Parbery Pic: Stephen Mowbray
	Lisa Martin and First Famous Pic: Stephen Mowbray

The results for the Medium Tour Championships (Intermediate B) which is where the horses coming up to Grand Prix will hone their skills in the Piaffe/Passage and the 1 times changes and gain experience in the big atmospheres that will be expected of them in the near future.

	Johnny Depp and David McKinnon Pic: Stephen Mowbray
	Fairbanks Jazz Time and Jenny Gehrke Pic: Stephen Mowbray

Finally, the results for the showcase event for the competition - the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle (Big Tour) which is very important in this lead up year for the horses in contention for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

	Mary Hanna and Umbro Pic: Stephen Mowbray
	Brett Parbery and DP Weltmeiser Pic: Stephen Mowbray

Here are the results for the Grand Prix CDN Freestyle competition.

 

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