Kapitola 1
Gaps & Gap Correction
1.
Gap Sizes
chapter
updated!
Dressage riders use gaps to maintain even and equal spacing throughout the rider line.
If the rider line does not have even and equal gaps, many factors of dressage will be negatively affected, such as go timing, arena timing, alignments, merges, etc.
There are two main gap sizes in the PDM:
1. Nose-To-Tail
2. Full Horse
NTT: Nose-to-Tail
The primary gap is Nose-to-Tail (NTT).
NTT is used for all gaits (walk, trot, canter, etc.) and scenarios. Riders will place their horse's nose to the tail of the rider ahead of them.
FH: Full Horse
The split gap is Full Horse (FH).
Whenever the rider line splits from NTT gaps, the riders will maintain Full Horse gaps on their own screens. FH is the split gap for NTT, allowing riders to merge back into NTT gaps without correction.
2.
Gap Corrections
When to Adjust
During dressage, riders are expected to maintain their gap size at all times without the Commander instructing them to do so. Riders will use adjustments and corrections to continue to maintain their proper gap size.
However, there are specific times at which a rider should and should not adjust their gap.
Do Not Adjust
Riders are asked to not adjust during the following moments in dressage. If the riders do adjust during these moments, it could negatively affect several different aspects, such as go timing, arena timing, straightness, etc.
Belting
Merging
L-Corners
After "Pre"
Safe to Adjust
In the following moments in dressage riders are free to adjust and correct their caps as needed.
When Straight
Before "Pre"
During Recovery
During Adjusting Moves
Gap Anticipation
Anticipation: Riders actively review a situation and determine how it will affect themselves/others and decide what to do in response. Anticipation refers to the rider's ability to be highly aware of their surroundings and other riders during dressage, without the commander's aid.
Gap Anticipation: Understanding how other riders' gaps and corrections may affect your own gap. Riders use gap anticipation to be aware of the other rider's gap sizes and gap corrections, and to use the information to make adjustments as needed based on the other rider's actions and gaps.
Gap anticipation is key in dressage. Riders will use gap anticipation to decide when, how, and if they should adjust their gaps. Using gap anticipation prevents riders from fixing their gaps when it is not needed.
Gap Corrections
Within the PDM there are several methods that a rider can use to adjust or correct their gap.
The main goal of gap corrections is for the adjustment to be as small as possible so that attention is not drawn to the adjustment during performances. All corrections, adjustments, and recovery should be done as gently as possible so that it is nearly invisible.
Mini Halt Steps
Mini halt steps are used when the rider needs to slow down when walking because their gap is too small.
When walking, riders will quickly press their down the up keys (S & W) so that the horse does a mini halt step. The halt step should be extremely small and fast.
Riders can do as many halt steps back-to-back as needed.
Walk Hops
Walk hops are used when the rider needs to slow down because their gap is too small.
Riders will quickly press their down then up keys (S & W) so that the horse does a mini walk step. Riders can do as many mini-walk steps back-to-back as needed.
Trot Hops
Trot hops are used when the rider needs to slow down when in canter because their gap is too small or to speed up when walking because their gap is too large.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that their horse does a mini trot step.
Riders can do as many mini trot steps back-to-back as needed.
Canter Hops
Canter hops are used when the rider needs to speed up when in trot because their gap is too large or to slow down when in extended canter because their gap is too small.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that the horse does a mini canter stride.
Riders can do as many mini canter hops back-to-back as needed.
Extended Canter Hops
Extended Canter hops are used when the rider needs to speed up when in canter because their gap is too large.
Riders will quickly press their up and down keys (S & W / W & S) so that the horse does a mini extended canter stride.
Riders can do as many mini extended canter hops back-to-back as needed.
Horsehoes
Horseshoes can be used by riders to adjust their gaps during performances. Using horseshoes to speed up or slow down during performances is an invisible adjustment, as there is no visible change in the rider's gait.
To slightly speed up the rider will put on their horseshoes.
To slightly slow down the rider will take off their horseshoes.
To change horseshoes quickly, keep a pair of starter shoes in your backpack - to change, simply click on the starter horseshoe rather than dragging the high-stat shoes on and off.
