Floorplan first, music later?

There isn’t really a right or wrong answer to this as it comes down to personal preference. “From a music producer’s perspective, we can be far more accurate annotating a pre-recorded floorplan, as we can get the timings down to the second and also add cool features to extenuate mediums and lateral work,” explains Kelly.

“Any rider can devise their own test and music, but my personal feeling is that with the level of music production available today, it will never sound quite as tight as a piece of music that has been crafted and essentially shrink wrapped to fit the exact components of the test.”

All about the floorplan

When you start to create your floorplan, make sure that you check what elements you must include and those you simply can’t. British Dressage and British Riding Clubs will have the information you need.

“For example, at novice level you must ride a 20m circle in canter on each rein, a 15m trot circle on each rein and show some medium strides (not a finite list),” says Kelly. “You’re not allowed to ride lateral work, piaffe/ passage, or direct canter to walk transitions no matter how good your horse is at them”. Be aware that there is a minimum and maximum time allowed for each test too. “When we design a floorplan we use a specialist who will either work with the rider in a lesson scenario, or chat remotely about their strengths and their horse’s, and look at areas that need improvement. They will then design a plan to show off the combination at their very best.”