Q. I am preparing to move up to second level test 1, but I am confused about the rein back. It appears to be a two-beat gait (versus four-beat like the walk). Is it considered a gait? Or is it something completely different, like a halt? How is it evaluated?

A. Riders and often coaches, writers, and other 'experts' of this sport rarely study the directives, which are printed on the test. I’ve made a practice of testing my own riders to see how many of the directives they can remember of any given movement in National or FEI tests. That's the only way riders can honestly learn from the judges’ comments. In seminars I've done all over the country, few riders actually know what is expected in each movement, and simply blame the judge for low scores, which is unfortunate. Given the effort and expense required to ride down center line, it would be prudent to clearly understand what's expected.

According to USEF DR-106, the rein back is not a gait, but a “movement” in which the horse moves backward by raising and setting down the feet in diagonal pairs (two beats). The feet should be well raised, the hind feet should remain in line, and the direction of travel should remain straight. The backward steps must be resolute and quiet, without stiffening the spine. During the rein back, the horse must remain correctly on the aids, and not roll behind the vertical or stiffen above the bit.

Obviously the quality of the halt preceding the rein back is crucial to the score. If the halt is not balanced, immobile, and square, a good score is unlikely since the halt and rein back are usually scored together. Additional directives for second level are willingness and transitions. At FEI, add throughness, fluency, straightness, and accuracy of number of steps.

Serious faults include: anticipation, resistance, stiffening, crookedness. Additionally, spreading the hind legs and/or dragging the forefeet are also considered faults. Don’t pause or halt at the end of the rein back, but proceed immediately into walk, trot, or whatever gait the test calls for.

The aids for the rein back are as follows:

• The rider must lighten the seat by stretching into the heels.
• With the middle body (from knees to waist) one must have the feeling of riding backward, not pulling backward. The lower back is very instrumental in this “riding backward,” while the upper body (above the waist) remains steady and quiet.
• The lower body (knees, legs, feet) gently urge the horse back in active DIAGONAL pairs.

In training, remember that by nature horses are prey animals, and backing up is not a normal response. To reverse direction in the wild, a horse will rear and whirl rather than step back. Thus, patience is imperative when teaching this movement. Ideally, training rein back should begin from foal handling. When the rein back is re-introduced later, I still prefer to do it in hand first, so when a rider is on board, the handler can stand close to a shoulder for assistance.

The FEI eliminated the “swing” (rein back, walk, rein back) from the Grand Prix test several years ago. Personally I regret this deletion since, when properly done, this movement demonstrates great sensitivity on the part of the classically trained horse and rider. Still, the rein back remains a telling movement throughout the levels. In fact, as you move up to second level tests 2 and 4, you will see that the rein back has a co-efficient of 2, a good reason to get it right!

Kay Meredith’s dressage career spans more than three decades and several continents. She has competed throughout Europe; she rode on the 1983 USET Gold Medal Dressage Team at the Pan-Am Games in Venezuela, and on the 1986 USET Dressage Team at the World Championships in Toronto. Meredith has won many national championships throughout her career, as well as USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals; the AHSA Horsewoman of the Year in 1979; and a USDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Meredith’s contributions to the dressage community have not been limited to riding – from 1973-83, she served as a committee member, Vice President, and President of the USDF; she is an “S” judge; and she coached student and NCDCTA-member Rebecca Nelles to her own USDF Gold Medal. Meredith is based in Raleigh.