Judge's Freestyle Top Tips

Here’s what our experts have to say about choosing your music and impressing the judges in your freestyle.

Petplan have teamed up with FEI Dressage judge and trainer Andrew Fletcher to bring you his top tips to really impress the judge when performing your Freestyle tests.  
Your floorplan

• Riders get confidence from riding the movements they are good at and this produces confidence in the horse. This really enhances the performance and enjoyment of riding the test.
• I personally like to see a floorplan with some uniformity – this helps because if the pattern is easier to follow it is also easier to judge.
• Consider the way you show your horses best movements. For instance, if he is good at medium trot use the long diagonal and show it off. If he’s not so good at it, place it on a circle with just some strides shown.
• Judges always look for quality in the movements – this should be your priority working to keep you and your horse in balance.

Your Music

• Do watch what I think is the best Freestyle test ever – Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the 2012 London Olympics. The harmony of the music and the rider is pretty close to perfect – let it inspire you!!
• Choose music you enjoy and that means something to you. It must, of course, still suit the rhythm of the pace and the tempo of your horses’ footfalls.
• Your music should add – not take away from the riding performance. The movements and the music need to be in harmony and work to enhance the judge’s view.
• Practice with your music so you know it backwards and can make a minor change if necessary.
• A judge likes nothing better than seeing a well ridden horse with music that suits and a rider who is really enjoying themselves.