Dressage Basics
Gaits
There are multiple different speeds within dressage.
WALK
TROT
CANTER
EXTENDED CANTER
Each gait is one key click up from the last.
So the walk is one click, trot is two, canter is three, and so on.
Line Ups
When you are lined up for dressage it is based on your speed.
Four things affect your speed
This list is how you should prioritize these things:
Player level
Horse happiness
Your horses level
Your outfit and horseshoe stat
Player level matters because the higher the level, the faster you go, naturally.
Your horse's happiness will increase your speed drastically (a level 7 and happy horse is faster than a level 12 and sad horse.)
Your horse also goes faster the higher the level it gets, but the speed increase is less than the impact of the player level or happiness.
The stat of your outfit minimally changes your speed
This is more important for your commander to understand, but just know that where you are in line doesn't determine your worth or how 'good' you are at dressage.
Maxed & Happy Horses
Just like described above, having a maxed and happy horse is important to maximize your speed.
You can vet your horse, pay for stable care, or just log on routinely and care for your horse.
You may have noticed, that when your horse is happy it's speed increases a ton.
A sad horse is the worst horse to do dressage on.
In TRR we always say to use whatever horse is maxed and happy, even if it's not the club or team horse.
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Straightness
To stay the straightest on the lines while doing dressage, you want to follow the designated path, as opposed to following the person in front of you.
If the person in front of you is veering and off target, just continue to do what you know is right, hitting every single dot head-on.
Once you are headed straight, there should be minimal reasons to tap your keys, and if you need to, you can gently tap back to where you need to be.
Another method to stay straight is locking your camera on the point you are headed.
If you are headed down the long wall, you can lock your camera at one of the torches.
When you veer away from your designated path, you cause others and yourself confusion, so trying to stay as close to your path as possible is important.
Commanding Phrases
The commanding phrase we use in TRR is
MOVE SET, MOVE SET, PRE, AND GO
MOVE SET
PRE
AND
GO
When the commander is explaining a move you are soon to be doing. FIll this in with a move name.
When the commander states this, it acts as saying prepare. You can prepare to click your key.
And is the phrase stated between PRE and GO, if your lagging you can go on AND.
Go on go. When you hear the G in go coming through your speaker you do you the move.
Using this phrase is the best way to communicate moves and timing.
Learning and understanding this phrase is the best way to interact with the arena and your commander.
Adjustment Phrases
RESET
HOLD
AND GO
GO AHEAD
Reset when a move is done incorrectly. Your commander will say reset and run back to X point.
Hold is referring to waiting before going on to the next portion of a routine or move.
On multi-go moves, your commander will say 'AND GO' for the next part of your move.
Go ahead is used when refering to marks or points of timing.
Pauses and Breaks
In between moves and steps of moves, there will be pauses and breaks.
During these times it is important to stay on task, and be an active rider.
Riding Actively
The term riding actively refers to how well you can interact with the game around you.
Here are a few tips to ride actively.
GAPS & ALIGNMENT
Riding actively is adjusting yourself. Past a certain point, it is not your commander's job to remind you to adjust your gaps and alignments. Being an active rider means constantly moving your camera, adjusting yourself, gait hopping, wiggling, and answering questions in chat.
ANTICIPATION
Anticipation is thinking about yourself in relation to others within the dressage line. Thinking "Well, if I am a little far ahead, and the person in front of me is a little far behind, then when they canter up, I'll be in the right place."
This type of anticipation is really important to come to your full dressage potential.
Learning how to do this can take a lot of time, but we just recommend learning to observe the game around you better.
COMMUNICATION
Communication is a huge way to be an active rider.
Using the symbols listed in etiquette along with asking questions is how you are going to comprehend dressage.
Also, communicate if you need to go AFK, will be late to or miss a practice. Your commanders put so much time into making lesson plans, etc, that it is respectful to give them updates on your attendance as it will affect the lesson.
ARENA
Being spatially aware in the arena is constantly analyzing where you are with the dots, meter points, or lines.
For example, when counting up 1 - 5 on the short wall of the arena, count as you hit the dot, as opposed to a last-minute scramble.
These tips will take a ton of time to fully put into action, so no worries if you make mistakes, or get confused.
We recommend learning and practicing these in smaller lines or semi-private lessons where there is less to think about.
Individual Learning
Understanding dressage is no easy task.
Just because it is pixel horses doesn't mean it is simple, or minor in requirements.
The term 'individual learning' is a phrase TRR likes to say a lot.
Dressage is for you, your enjoyment, and your individual learning.
Finding what makes dressage enjoyable for you is the most important thing, after all, this is still a game.
So reclaim your dressage learning!
ENJOYING DRESSAGE
Ask yourself, what makes YOU enjoy dressage?
Is it your supportive club?
Is it the commanders who teach you?
Is it learning new skills?
Figure out what you love and why so you can know what to look for in the future, and learn from your past experiences.
PROGRESSING
Progressing is different for everyone for some, it is understanding elite moves, for some it is commanding, and for some, it is owning a club.
Never compare yourself to others progress.