Freestyle music selection and choreography!

6 Steps to freestyle creation!
  1. Start with a video of your horse
  2. Screen music with video
  3. Screen music while riding
  4. Create rough music cut
  5. Choreograph and videotape
  6. Finalize
USDF guidelines 
  • Check out the USDF Test sheets for all the information required.
  • There are required movements for each level that must be performed
  • There are also clearly allowed and clearly forbidden movements for each level.
Rules:
  1. The freestyle must be less than 5 minutes (not including entrance music)
  2. The rider must enter the arena within 20 seconds of the start of the music
  3. The signal for the music to start must be within 45 seconds of the judge's signal
  4. Only certain movements are allowed at each level
  5. There must be a halt and salute facing "C" at the beginning and end of the freestyle
  6. If the music fails the rider may exit the arena with permission from the judge at "C"

Music Selection

The music should be appropriate for both the rider's age and the horse's type

The music should either match the horse's tempo and/or suggest the gait perfumed to the piece

There should be a continuous theme throughout the entire freestyle

Consider who will like the music selection. You can aim to please on or more of the following groups:
  • Judges
  • The audience
  • Yourself
  • Your horse


Select your music creatively!
  • If you have a particularly creative idea associated with a certain piece of music choose it.


Use the entrance wisely!
  • The entrance music does not have to match your horse's tempo
  • The entrance should set the theme and the tone for the entire piece

Choreography

There are 5 main choreography rules to consider:
  1. Include all the required movements for your level
  2. Understand your horse's strengths and weaknesses
  3. Emphasize movements your horse excels at
  4. Stay away from patterns that appear in the standard tests
  5. Find the right level of predictability


Strive for symmetry that is broken up by asymmetrical moments within your pattern

A certain level of predictability helps the judges but too much predictability can leave them bored

Include several safety lines throughout your freestyle
  • Some safety lines should involve turning before the end of the arena so there is room for adjustability in case you are ahead of or behind the music
  • Add simple patterns for extra movements such as an extra line that could either be shoulder in or haunches in.


Always put the music first!
  • Remember that your freestyle is a dance and better musicality will lead to a higher artistic impression score
  • Use the original music sequence whenever possible
  • The movements should begin and end with phrases of the music


Find the Balance:
  • Difficult movements
  • Symmetry
  • Using your horse's strengths
  • Simple movements
  • Asymmetry
  • Staying true to the music
How hard should the level of difficulty be?
  • Raise the difficulty carefully
  • Difficult patterns executed poorly will result in a lower difficulty score even though the intention of including the pattern was to raise the score
  • Keep in mind your horses consistency and quality in all the movements and gaits