Don’t freewheel …Freestyle instead
1. Know your horse’s ideal BPM (beats per minute)
2. The average horse has the following BPM:
• Walk 90-106 BPM
• Trot 138-160 BPM
• Canter 96-108 BPM
3. Pick music that matches your horse’s BPM within 4-6 BPM range.
(For example if your dressage horse has a canter of 104 BPM, choose music that is between 100 BPM and 108 BPM)
4. Choose music that has a very clear downbeat. (You’d tap your toe to the downbeat.)
5. If you CAN’T tap your toe or clap your hands easily to the beat of the music, it’s not great freestyle music!
6. Choose freestyle music that will help you achieve your horse’s ideal tempo.
For example: If your horse is a bit on the lazy side, choose an upbeat and energetic piece of music that will help YOU ask for more energy. If your horse is hot or nervous, choose freestyle music that will help you feel calm and steady as well as help your horse with rhythm and relaxation.
Here are the facts – Thanks to British Dressage
There has been no stopping the popularity of the freestyle dressage to music test, also known as a kür, since Goodwood CDI hosted the first one at international level in 1979. There is even a separate set of individual medals up for grabs at the Olympics, World and European Championships for this crowd-pleasing form of the sport.
If you want to have a go, it is worth watching a few kürs to give you an idea of what works and doesn’t. Marks are awarded in a different way to ordinary tests. There are two categories: technical and artistic.
The freestyle test sheets tell you the compulsory movements required at the different levels and these are available through our Online shop.
To play copied music in public, you must have a music licence. You can arrange this by completing and returning both a music sub-licence agreement and a music licence record form to:
Michelle Garland, British Dressage, Meriden Business Park Copse Drive, Meriden West Midlands CV5 9RG
Michelle will then send you stickers, which you need to put on your freestyle tapes/CDs to fulfil the licence agreement. This allows you to use any music from the record labels listed on the Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) repertoire list.
Follow this link to access the PPL online search facility.
There is no charge for this service if you are a BD member. If you are not a member, you can become a BD music member for £36 per year or £25 if you are a riding club member. Contact Michelle Garland (tel: 0247 669 8832) for more information.
You can put your own test and music together or you can pay a professional to help you. It is a good idea to take two CDs or tapes with you to shows in case there is a problem with one. Check with the organiser whether they have any requirements; at international shows, organisers like two different mediums, such as a mini disc and CD.
You need to give the organiser one CD or tape marked with your name and that of your horse. It needs to be ready to start at the right place with a note as to whether this is at the halt or at the position outside the arena where you will give a signal.
Rock and Roll guys. Horse Scout has a number of Dressage trainers and instructors who would, I am sure, be only to pleased to help you put your test and the music together with you and your horse! Good Luck.
