¶ Introduction
Classic Flower Dressage is based on the original set of rules established by Dewia (Biatch.Adamczyk). Over the years, these rules have been subject to varying interpretations, largely due to ambiguities in the original rules. To clarify and standardize the practice, Stable Mistresses of Frilly Filly Farm (Ashley K & Belle K) have developed a comprehensive guide based on those original principles. Throughout this process, members of the Tall Tails Council (Axelle Beorn and Trish) were actively consulted, leading to a collaborative effort between both stables. As a result, Frilly Filly Farm and Tall Tails now share a unified ruleset and interpretation of the Classic Flower Dressage rules.
Trainers who have learned Classic Flower Dressage prior to the publishing of this guide are invited to read this guide and go through a refresher practice with a Classic Flower Dressage qualified trainer to make sure their way of teaching aligns with this guide.
We hope that by removing any ambiguity, we've created an interpretation that will stand the test of time, and as a result, give people the desire to learn & teach classic flower.
This wiki page is built from Ashley K (AshleyK2813) 's Classic Flower Dressage Rules Compendium
¶ Overview
Flower Dressage is a skill of grace and wits. It takes time, effort, and determination to learn. The challenge also makes this skill very rewarding once the pony can perform it. It is an excellent way to show off the beauty and elegance of pony play.
The flower dressage field consists of 9 circles: Four large circles (lettered A, C, E, G), four small outer circles (lettered B, D, F, H), and one center circle (with no letter). The circles are joined by a set of four lines along the outside and two lines through the center.
The trainer gives a pattern consisting of a series of letters, joined by "-" and "x" symbols.
The pony or ponies will then perform the pattern by walking around the circles determined by the letters in the pattern in order, with directions determined by the symbols.
Classic Flower Dressage may be performed by a solo pony or a group of up to 4 ponies.
¶ Etiquette
The pony should begin at the very center of the center circle and face the trainer. The trainer will traditionally stand inside circle A.
For multiple ponies, ponies stand on the edge of the inner ring of the center circle, facing straight out from the center. Each pony stands at a point where a line meets the center.
When the pony is in position, the trainer says the pattern in local chat.
The pony should read the pattern and then turn to face the direction that s/he will begin walking. Aside from that turn, the pony should remain still. For multiple ponies, each pony should move to the point where they will begin walking.
Once the pony is completely ready to begin, the pony should stomp once.
The trainer will then command the pony to begin. A verbal command, whip crack or clicker may be used as a start signal.
The pony should begin walking immediately after hearing the start signal.
The pony should perform the entire pattern without stopping.
After finishing the pattern, the pony should stop in the center of the center circle. For multiple ponies, each pony stops on the edge of the inner ring of the center circle.
After stopping, the pony should turn to face the trainer, then bow or curtsy. The trainer may specify a preference for bow or curtsy. If multiple ponies are performing together, all ponies should first face the center and curtsy to each other, then turn and curtsy toward the trainer.
Once the pony has finished bowing and is again standing upright, the trainer may proceed to a new pattern or call the pony to them to signify the end of the routine. A whip signal of 5 whip cracks may be used to call the pony to the trainer.
After being called to the trainer, the pony should stand in front of the trainer and curtsy . After the curtsy , the pony will then wait patiently for any further orders or comments from the trainer.
¶ Glossary
1. Clockwise (CW) - Refers to walking around a circle forward with the inside of the circle on the pony's right. The pony moves around the circle in the same direction as the hands move around a clockface. This will be frequently shortened to "CW" throughout the guide.
2. Counterclockwise (CCW) - Refers to walking around a circle forward with the inside of the circle on the pony's left. The pony moves around the circle in the opposite direction to the way the hands move around a clockface. This will be frequently shortened to "CCW" throughout the guide. It is also referred to as "anticlockwise".
3. Classic Pony Flower - The skill described in this document, developed by Biatch Adamczyk and MB Stables.
4. Standard Pony Flower (also known as Modern Flower Dressage) - A newer set of rules for flower dressage, developed by KaTrina Velde for the SL Dressage Society. Currently the most popular flower dressage format at time of writing. This rule set is very different from Classic Flower. Ponies attempting to learn flower dressage are strongly advised to learn only one ruleset until they are proficient. Attempting to learn both at once is highly confusing.
5. Pattern - A string of letters and symbols that tells the pony how to move on the flower field. "Pattern" also refers to the set of movements dictated by that string, e.g. "The pony performed pattern AxE-B."
6. "x" - A connecting symbol in a flower dressage pattern. It represents a crossing point between two circles in direct contact. If reading a pattern aloud, it may be pronounced as the letter X or "cross", as in "A ex B ex C" or "A cross B cross C".
7. "-" - The other connecting symbol in flower dressage. It represents a straight line. It may be read as a hyphen or dash.
8. Enter - The point when the pony begins walking on a circle. For example, in pattern AxC, the pony is said to Enter circle C at the point where A touches C (see rules below for further explanation).
9. Exit - The point when the pony is no longer walking on a particular circle. For example, in pattern AxC, the pony is said to Exit circle A at the point where A touches C.
10. Rotation - A rotation is one full turn around a circle. Starting at any point on a circle, walking around it, and stopping in the same point is one rotation around that circle. For example, the pattern A-C involves a half rotation around A and a half rotation around C.
11. Outside Line - The four lines on the outer edge of the field.
12. Inside Line - The two lines going through the center of the field. Note that some flower fields may show the lines stopping in the center, but Classic Flower still treats the lines as going all the way across the field.
13. Slipstream - A technique by which a pony smooths out sharp turns using small sections of other circles. See rule 9 below.
14. Speed Drill - A method of dressage training in which the trainer extends the pattern while the pony is performing, in order to improve analytical speed. See section VIII for details.
¶ Rules
¶ 1 - Beginning of a pattern
Every pattern begins by walking the first circle in the clockwise (CW) direction.
Example: The pattern "A" means that the pony should start from the center and walk CW around circle A.
¶ 2 - Ending a pattern
At the end of each pattern, the pony returns to the center circle.
Example: In pattern "A", after walking CW around A, the pony should follow the inside straight line from A back to the center circle.
¶ 3 - The “x” symbol
The "x" symbol in a pattern means that the pony should cross from one circle where it touches the next circle in the pattern.
Example: The pattern "AxC" means that the pony should begin walking CW around circle A until it touches circle C, then walk counterclockwise (CCW) around C, then return to the center.
¶ 4 - The “-” symbol
The "-" symbol in a pattern means that the pony should follow a straight line from one circle to the next.
Example: The pattern "A-C" means that the pony should begin walking CW around circle A until reaching the outside line which leads to C, follow that line onto C, then continue around C in the CW direction.
¶ 5 - The Halfway Rule
The pony must walk at least half way around each circle in the pattern.
Example: In the pattern "A-C-E" the pony should walk CW around A until reaching the line to C, then walk CW around C. However, the line leading from C to E is less than halfway from the point the pony entered C. To satisfy the halfway rule, the pony must walk all the way around circle C before taking the line to E. In other words, the pony must not leave a circle without walking around at least half of that circle.
¶ 6 - The Line to Small Circle Rule
After taking a straight line onto a small circle, the small circle must always be walked clockwise. This includes the center circle.
Example: In the pattern "E-B" the pony should walk CW around E, then take the straight line through the center of the field to reach B. After taking the straight line, the pony must walk CW around B.
¶ 7 - The Indirect Route Rule
If there is no direct route from one circle to the next, the pony may use the center circle to reach the next circle.
Example: For the pattern "B-H", there is no straight line connecting B and H. The pony should walk CW around B, then CW around the center circle, then CW around H.
Example 2: In the pattern "AxE", circles A and E do not touch. The pony should walk CW around A until it touches the center circle, then CCW around the center until it touches E, then CW around E.
¶ 8 - The Sharp Turn Rule
Ponies must not make sharp turns on the field.
Example: In the pattern "A-B", the pony cannot take the outside line from A directly onto B, because that would require a sharp turn from the line onto B (and B must be done clockwise due to the Line to Small Circle Rule). Instead, after walking CW around A, the pony should take the inside line to the center, walk CW around the center, then take that same line again to reach B.
¶ 9 - The Slipstream Rule
In order to avoid making sharp turns and to ensure graceful movement around the field, turns should be smoothed out by using segments of circles when needed. This technique is called "slipstreaming".
Example 1: For pattern "A-H", after walking all the way around A, the pony must take the straight line from A to H. In order to avoid taking a sharp turn onto the circle, the pony should use a little bit of circle G to smooth out the turn. This is still considered using the straight line, even though the pony does not physically walk on the line.
Example 2: For the pattern "BxF", the pony walks CW around B, then takes the line to the center (using part of C to smooth out the turns) and walks a half rotation CW around the center, then takes the line to F (using part of E to smooth out these turns) and walks CW around F. Due to slipstreaming, it will appear as those the pony used less than half of the center circle, but remember that slipstreaming is only visual. The rules consider the point of entry and exit to be where the inside lines touch the center circle. Starting at the line from B and going to the line to F is exactly half of a rotation around the center.
¶ 10 - The Simplest Path Rule
The pony must use the simplest legal path to complete the pattern. The center circle should be avoided unless it is needed.
Example: For the pattern "G-A-C", the pony should walk CW around G, take the outer line to A, walk a full circle around A, then take the outer line to C. The pony may not use the center circle from A to C, because that would not be the simplest path.
¶ 11 - The Center Circle Rule
The center circle is treated as any other small circle. In particular, the Halfway Rule and the Line to Small Circle Rule both apply to the center circle.
Example: In the pattern "A-D", after walking CW around A, the pony must take the inside line to the center, then walk CW around the center due to the Line to Small Circle rule. The pony must walk a full rotation around the center in order to satisfy the Halfway Rule. Then, the pony may take the line to D.
¶ 12 - The Center Line Rule
A solo pony may walk directly through the center of the field only for a "-" in the pattern. If an "x" is used, the pony must walk around the center. For multiple pony flower dressage, ponies may never walk through the center, in order to avoid collisions.
Example: In the pattern "H-D", the pony walks CW around H, then walks along the line directly through the center to D, then CW around D. In the pattern "HxD", the pony walks CW around H, follows the line to the center, walks CW around the center, then takes the line from the center to D and walks CW around D (always CW due to the Line to Small Circle Rule).
¶ Additional Examples
1. A-E
In this pattern, the pony walks CW around A, then straight through the center, and finally CCW around E. Notice that the pony must walk CCW on E in this case due to the position of the straight line. Any other route would violate the Simplest Path Rule.
2. AxC-B
This is a deceptively challenging pattern for almost all ponies that have not seen it before. First, the pony walks CW around A then CCW around C. Now, the pony takes the outside line from C to B, and does NOT use the center circle. The pony slipstreams directly onto B and walks CW around B. Note that the pony's movements are identical to AxCxB in this case, which is a normal occurrence in Classic Flower.
3. A-A-A
When a pattern includes a repeating letter, such as A-A-A, the pony should always use the center between each repetition. In this case, the pony walks CW around A, then takes the line to the center (using the line that points toward B), CW around the center, then takes the straight line back to A (this time using the line pointing toward H) and walks CW around A. The pony then goes CW around the center again, and finally walks CW around A for the third time to complete the pattern.
4. BxA-A-H
This pattern begins CW around B, doing a full rotation and then crossing onto A where B and A touch. Then the pony proceeds CCW around A. The pony does half a rotation around A, then takes the line to the center to go CW around the center (remember the Line to Small Circle rule). After going around the center, the pony takes the same line back to A, and goes CW around A. After a full rotation around A, the pony can then take the straight line directly to H (no need to use the center here) and walk CW around H.
5. AxA
In this case, the pony walks CW around A until A touches the center, then walks CCW around the center for one full rotation. The pony crosses onto A again where it touches the center and goes CW around A. Remember that the pony should always use the center circle between repetitions of the same letter in a pattern.
6. F-F-F
As with the large circles, the pony should use the center between each repetition in this case as well. The pony takes the line from the center to F, then walks CW around F, takes the line back to the center and goes CW around the center. The pony repeats this, walking CW around F again, then CW around the center, and finally CW around F for the third time. Note that due to the Line to Small Circle rule, the pattern FxFxF would be identical.
7. B-FxB
In this pattern, the pony first walks CW around B, then takes the straight line directly through the center to get to F, then walks CW around F. Recall that the pony may only walk straight through the center for a "-" in the pattern. For FxB, the pony takes the straight line from F to the center, does a half rotation CW around the center, and then takes the line to B. The pony walks CW around B to finish the pattern, then takes the line to return to the center.
8. FxA
For this pattern, the pony first walks CW around F, then takes the inside line to the center. The pony does a full rotation CW around the center due to the halfway rule, then crosses onto A at the point where A touches the center. The pony then walks CCW around A.
9. BxAxH vs BxA-H
These patterns look very similar, but be careful to observe the halfway rule. For BxAxH, the pony does a full CW rotation around B, then crosses onto A where the circles touch, then walks CCW around A until it touches H, and then walks CW around H. Notice that the Halfway Rule is satisfied for A because the entry point (where B and A touch) is opposite the exit point (where A and H touch).
BxA-H starts the same, walking CW around B to where it touches A, then walking CCW around A. Now the pony must take the straight line to H, but notice that the exit point in this case is where the outside line touches A, which is less than half of the circle from the entry point. Remember that slipstreaming is only used to smooth out sharp turns, but the pony is really taking the outside line. Even though it looks like the pony is exiting the circle in the same place as before, the real exit point is the outside line. Therefore, in order to satisfy the Halfway Rule, the pony must make a full rotation around A before taking the outside line to H.
10. AxB-B and AxBxB
For this pattern, the pony would walk CW around A, then CCW around B, CW around the center, and then take the line back to B and walk CW around B.
The pattern AxBxB is completely identical to AxB-B. Remember that the center circle and the second B will be walked CW due to the Line to Small Circle rule.
11. AxGxD vs AxG-D
This is another case of two different patterns that look identical. In both cases, the patterns start CW around A then CCW around G. For AxGxD, the pony exits G where it touches the center circle, and proceeds CW around the center. The pony then takes the line to D and walks CW around D.
In AxG-D, the pony takes the inside line from G to the center, slipstreaming to smooth out the turn onto the center. Because of the Line to Small Circle Rule, the pony walks CW around the center, then takes the straight line to D and walks CW around D.
12. AxE-B-DxHxG
Here is an example of putting several smaller sections together to build a larger pattern, applying several rules. Any pattern written in valid notation can be performed. There are no impossible patterns.
For this pattern, the pony walks CW around A, then CCW around the center, then CW around E. Then, the pony takes the inside line directly through the center to B, CW around B, then takes the inside line back to the center. Using the Line to Small Circle and Halfway Rules, the pony does a full CW rotation around the center, then takes the line to D, then CW around D. Observing the Center Line Rule, the pony takes the line to the center, walks CW halfway around the center, then takes the line to H. The pony walks CW around H for a full rotation, then crosses onto G, and finally walks CCW around G.
¶ Multiple Pony Flower
The rules for Classic Flower are the same for multiple ponies as for a solo pony, except that ponies are not allowed to walk directly through the center.
For example, if a pony gets a pattern like H-D while performing multiple pony flower, the pony would walk CW around H, then walk half a turn CW around the center, and then CW around D.
Ponies should be given complimentary patterns in order to avoid colliding on the field. One easy method is to prepare patterns that directly mirror each other. For example, pony 1 gets AxCxD and pony 2 gets ExGxH. Some flower dressage huds will automatically translate patterns in this way.
Good timing is essential. The trainer should wait for all ponies to stomp once, wait a moment, and then give a whip crack to start. After stomping, each pony must remain vigilant and ready to start moving the instant they hear the whip crack. It is very helpful for a consistent team to practice together in order to improve timing.
If a pony notices that they are ahead of the others, they can walk more toward the outside of the circles to slow down. Conversely, a pony that is behind can try to walk more toward the inside of the circles to catch up to the group.
¶ Closing Thoughts
Flower Dressage is a complex and challenging skill. It is difficult to remember all of the rules and how they interact. Don't be discouraged: With practice and determination, you too can learn the beautiful art of Pony Flower. As with any difficult training, there will be highs and lows, but imagine the rush of success when you complete a difficult pattern flawlessly. Or as a trainer, imagine the joy of watching the beautiful and graceful ponies gliding around the field under your direction. Don't give up, and you can achieve it.
And most importantly for all ponies and trainers: Have fun!
¶ Additional Resources
Dewia (Biatch.Adamczyk) and her pony Mad (Madziorek15) created a video demonstrating several Classic Flower Dressage patterns, with explanations included. The video can be viewed here.