¶ Silent Dressage
¶ Overview
The Silent dressage field is a rectangle, 30x22 meters, with 5 figures within it, a figure 8, a circle, a slalom, and 2 lines.
Figure 8 consists of 2 circles in figure 8 of diameter 10 meters, with a start marker at the intersection of the circles.
The circle is constructed with a diameter of 10 meters, with 2 start markers 180 degrees apart along the centerline of the field.
The lines are of length 10 meters, with a start marker on each end.
Slalom is on the far end of the field and spans the width, with at least 1.5 meters of space between the start marker and edge on each side.
Along the edge of the field, from the short side, the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J mark each start point.
The Circle is in the center of the field, with the 2 lines on each side, while figure 8 is positioned towards the A.
¶ Standard
¶ Purpose
The name of the game of Silent Dressage is elegance, not speed. The recommendation for trainers, as well as ponies is to focus on their movement around the field as well as accuracy in performing the patterns given.
¶ Procedure
The trainer and pony step up to the A-side of the field, not entering the field, flanking the A equidistantly, the trainer are typically on the right and pony on the left.
Once both trainer and pony are ready, the trainer shall give a signal to start, at which point they both enter the field and stop just before the figure 8, and in unison bow/curtsy to the judges(far end of the field during training).
Start position:
End Position:
After the bow/curtsy, the trainer should move to the first marker given in the course card. In a competition setting, this is given to the trainer moments before the event. During training, making one up or using a hud will suffice.
The trainer is not required to move in any certain way around the field but should not cross the edge lines, but flourishings to movement are encouraged. The pony should elegantly move around the field, ideally without stepping over any lines unless strictly necessary.
Once all figures given in the pattern have been completed, the trainer moves back to the endpoint, once there, the pony follows suit. Once the pony reaches the endpoint, both bow/curtsy to the judges, before exiting the field backward or with a smooth turn and exit, in unison.
¶ The figures
¶ Figure 8
Figure 8 has 2 forms, "Towards B" or just "B", and "Towards J" or just "J".
Figure 8 towards B shown.
¶ Figure 8 towards B
The trainer stands in the circle on the J side of figure 8 facing the B sign, the pony enters figure 8 from the A-side, facing the slalom, the pony starts the figure by walking to the left, completing the figure 8 three times.
¶ Figure 8 towards J
The trainer stands in the circle on the B side of figure 8 facing the J sign, the pony enters figure 8 from the A-side, facing the slalom, the pony starts the figure by walking to the right, completing the figure 8 three times.
¶ Line
Line has 4 forms, "From C" or "C", "From D" or "D", "From G" or "G", and "From H" or "H".
Line C shown
¶ Line from C and H
The trainer stands on either side of the marker, facing it. The pony walks to the marker, facing the slalom, then walks the line to the marker at the end and stops.
¶ Line from D and G
The trainer stands on either side of the marker, facing it. The pony walks to the marker, facing the slalom, then walks the line backwards to the marker at the end and stops.
¶ Circle
Circle has 4 forms, "Towards C" or "C", "Towards D" or "D", "Towards G" or "G", and "Towards H" or "H".
Circle towards C shown.
¶ Circle towards C
The trainer stands on the outside of the circle next to the marker closest to figure 8, facing C.
The pony enters the circle and faces the same way as the trainer. The circle is walked 3 complete laps, ending where they started.
¶ Circle towards D
The trainer stands on the outside of the circle next to the marker closest to the slalom, facing D.
The pony enters the circle and faces the same way as the trainer. The circle is walked 3 complete laps, ending where they started.
¶ Circle towards G
The trainer stands on the outside of the circle next to the marker closest to the slalom, facing G.
The pony enters the circle and faces the same way as the trainer. The circle is walked 3 complete laps, ending where they started.
¶ Circle towards H
The trainer stands on the outside of the circle next to the marker closest to figure 8, facing H.
The pony enters the circle and faces the same way as the trainer. The circle is walked 3 complete laps, ending where they started.
¶ Slalom
Slalom has 2 forms, "From E" or "E", and "From F" or "F".
Slalom from E shown.
¶ Slalom from E
The trainer stands on the side of the marker, facing the closest short edge.
The pony enters from the E side and walks the slalom starting away from the trainer, walking it using large consistent curves around the poles.
¶ Slalom from F
The trainer stands on the side of the marker, facing the closest short edge.
The pony enters from the F side and walks the slalom starting away from the trainer, walking it using large consistent curves around the poles.
¶ Traverse
¶ Rules
- Both the trainer and pony must stay within the field except when entering and exiting the field
- The pony must walk around the field clockwise for the first figure, except for figure 8, after this, rule 3 is in effect
- The pony must walk the shortest path around the edge of the field
- The pony may walk between two figures if they are on the same line (eg. C and H or D and G)
- The pony may not turn around 180 degrees on a spot before or after a figure
- The pony must enter at the adjacent letter side of any figure
- For figure 8, the pony may do a 180 to exit the figure
¶ Blind Silent
¶ About
Blind Silent is a further modification of the Traverse ruleset that takes advantage of the RaS Subsense HUD by Danna Pearl to allow a pony to navigate the field even when blinded via a vision sphere. The Traverse ruleset's focus on structured movement allows Ponies to perform similar feats of navigation as if they were not blindfolded when provided with the additional reccomended cues by a Trainer.
¶ Additional Required Items
¶ Trainer
Whistle or Whip HUD.
Heel sound: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Miss-LT-Stiletto-sound-walk-free-open-this-box/6253000 (Free!)
¶ Pony
Subsense: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/RaS-SubSense-HUD/15565909
Blindfold: Any Blindfold supporting Vision Spheres will suffice however we recommend AnaVision.
¶ How-To
- Add Subsense and check the fields beacons are visible. (Please be aware that there is currently a known issue where field beacons will not always be visible if the HUD is worn in range of the field. Please attach first and then approach the silent field.)
- Set Blindfold ensure vision is only as far as 2.00-2.50m. (Thin setting in AnaVision).
- Pony and Trainer position at entrance and enter normally.
- Trainer moves to each figure and cracks their whip or whistles to mark that they have arrived. When travelling to each point, make sure to move inside ponys field of view to give them a hint which figure you are moving too going.
- On being given the indcation that the trainer is in position, pony counts to 3 and moves according to Traverse rules.
- Silent then continues as normal, using all figure types before returning to the start.
¶ FAQ
- Q: How do you maintain unity between trainer and pony
A: There's many ways to achieve this, but an initial guide often used is to count 3 seconds after a signal, the bow, or finished move, before proceeding. in the end, it's up to you as trainer and your pony to work out the pacing. - Q: What form of signal should I use at the start
A: This is entirely up to you as a trainer, some ideas are a tongue click, snap of your fingers, or even a whip crack if you so desire, all that matters is that your pony understands it! - Q: I've been taught different positions by someone, are they wrong?
A: Probably not, as long as the pony understands your signaling. When performing during an event, refer to the rules of the event for how your signals may impact your scoring. During training, spice it up if you like! - Q: How do I walk backwards?
A: The trick to walking backwards is pretty simple, there's 2 methods.
Method 1:
Press forwards and backwards at the same time, you may jiggle a little, that's fine, then release foward.
Method 2:
Press spacebar first, then backwards, then release spacebar.
Special note for Firestorm, you will need to toggle on this setting:
If this doesn't work, your AO may be to blame, try toggling it off. - Q: In traverse, what does rule 3 really mean?
A: When the pony has ended a figure, say for example Line C, they will be standing on the end of D, if the next part of the pattern asks for Line G, the pony should then traverse across the field directly to the start position for Line G, rather than walking around the field edge.
