How many walk steps?

[Anne]

This (below) is a short video clip from a test we did last weekend. I'm curious how many walk steps you guys think I did. The movement reads 'at E turn left, transition to walk for 3 to 5 steps over X, track right at B in working trot'.

Marks were 5.5 from one judge 'could show more walk strides' and 6.5 from other judge 'Smooth, could show more steps'.

Did I do enough steps (according to the test directive) or too few? Surely 4 walk steps make up one walk stride, do you agree?

https://vimeo.com/182199268

[Dresseur]

Definitely rushed. The transition all kind of blended together. So, you did maybe 2 clear walk steps and then it got muddy into the trot. Slow it down. Clear trot to walk, count it out and then prompt trot.

[galopp]

3-5 steps is from barely a stride, but not even two. So, perhaps being low/closed make it looked rush. But it was correct IF the horse is supposed to show steps vs strides.

[Chisamba]

In my opinion you did two walk steps, the definition as explained to me, step being one lift and replace of each FRONT foot for the purpose of test riding, , not of front back front back, ( four steps being one stride) which is technically correct.

So you showed two steps a bit rushed. I think you will find the definition argued however.

[Anne]

It is definitely meant to be steps not strides, '3 to 5 walk steps'. I read the test-book glossary of step vs stride and couldn't work out what 'step' meant in terms of walk, but it seems like maybe it is as Chisamba describes. I felt when I rode it that it was 4 steps (albeit somewhat rushed as you mention Dresseur), but I think the test definition is different, and certainly the judges thought so. Thanks for feed back so far.

[orono]

Yes, watch the front hooves. I would say 2, maybe 3.

[Flight]

I think I counted 3, but yep you've got to make them really clear. I sometimes rush my simple changes and get chipped for it.

[galopp]

A simple change however is 2-3 strides, not steps.

[Flight]

Our dressage rules are 3 - 5 walk steps. Which, when I think about it is 2, almost 3 strides.

EA National Dressage
Rules 01/07/2016.

7.5.7 Simple Change of Leg at the Canter
This is a movement in which, after a direct transition out of the canter into a walk, with three to five clearly defined walk steps, a transition is made into the other canter lead.

[Anne]

Fight, yes, if you take walk steps to be counted by front legs only..... I'm still getting my head around that. My logical brain still says that 4 walk steps make up one walk stride!

[Chisamba]

When you change posting diagonal do you say sit two steps? Or sit half a stride, or do you simply say sit one?

In fifty years i have only heard instruction to sit one , one being one step of a front foot. It does not alter for change of gait. They say steps because it is a little easier than stride, which is more specific.

[orono]

3 to 5 steps will not show as a stride, and look like the horse is skipping from one lead to the next.