What's a Silver Medal?

 
Bronze medal                                                  Silver medal

Around the barn for the past few months, there has been quite a bit of talk about the elusive "silver medal".   What is it all about?  Why is it so elusive?  I will attempt to explain this  dressage milestone to my non-dressage friends.

In America, there are 6 levels of progressive dressage training, much as karate practitioners have different color belts to indicate their achievement through the levels.  I created the chart below to tell you a little about each level.  These are my personal comments about each level in layman's terms and in no way reflect the formal training scale.

Introductory	Horse is only required to walk and trot
Training	Horse must walk, trot and canter (WTC) and accept the bit
First	Horse must (WTC) and adds lengthening of strides at trot and canter and beginning lateral movement (leg yield)
Second	This is a very complex level as so many different things are required: all lateral work is introduced, lengthening as well as stretching, more precision about where transitions are made. Most horses can make it to this level with proper training
Third	This is the first level that mandates true collection.  The horse MUST shift weight onto the hind end and lighten in front or he will never complete third level.  Flying changes are introduced here as well as half-passes at trot and canter.
Fourth	This is the highest American level and requires tempi changes of 3 and 4, walk pirouettes, extended and collected gaits, and lateral work in a more collected frame.

The United Stated Dressage Federation (USDF) grants 3 types of rider awards (medals).  The first is the Bronze medal (shown at left above).  This medal requires the rider to achieve two qualifying scores at each: first, second and third levels from 2 different judges.  (A qualifying score is one over 60% achieved at a 3-star rated show.)

After the American dressage tests is a set of four/five more difficult tests that have been created by the Federation Equestrian International - FEI.  These test have been accepted by all the participating nations as the international standard dressage tests.  At the Olympics, the riders are performing the Grand Prix test as well as the "Grand Prix Special" and Grand Prix level freestyles.

Prix Saint Georges	Tempi changes of 3 and 4 and beginning pirouettes are added.
Intermediare -1	Adds Half pass zizag, full pirouettes and two tempis
Intermediare -2	Adds piaffe, passage and one tempis
Grand Prix	Requires transitions between highly collected and extended gaits
Grand prix Special	Requires more sustained and difficult combinations on the Grand prix movements

So, in order for a rider to achieve the "silver medal" (shown at right above), he or she must achieve two qualifying scores from two different judges at fourth level and two at Prix Saint Georges.  The fact that the rider has now moved from the American standard to the International standard is a huge accomplishment for any dressage rider.  Achievement of the gold medal requires two scores at Intermediare 1 or 2 and two scores at Grand Prix (always from 2 different judges).

So, to answer the question - "what is a silver medal?" I simply reply - its an indication that you worked hard enough, long enough, with the right equine partner, the right trainer and the right philosophy that you were able to adequately perform the required movements that are internationally accepted as a standard in dressage.  I guess that also explains why its so elusive!

 

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