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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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