If your functionality pattern calls for a simple change through walk, and your horse is not prepared, it’s ok to trot the change. Your score will be lower and you will not receive a bonus point for a correctly executed change, but there is not a penalty. If your functionality pattern calls for a change through trot, but you perform a change through walk, you will receive a bonus point for the more difficult change. If your functionality pattern calls for a flying change but you need to do a simple change, you will receive one bonus point instead of two. If you perform the change through trot you will not receive bonus points.
The total points for the functionality pattern has points figured in based on the recommended changes for the level. So, if your pattern calls for 6 flying changes, there are 12 bonus points figured into the overall total possible points. If you perform easier changes, it will lower your score because you will not receive the bonus points.
If you perform a more difficult change than what is required it can raise your overall score. If you perform an easier change than what is required it will lower your overall score.
We want to encourage riders to try more difficult movements without the pressure of being penalized for it.
- Changes through trot – no bonus points
- Changes through walk – one bonus point per change if performed correctly. No more than 5 walk steps. No trot steps allowed.
- Flying change – two bonus points per change if performed correctly. No bonus points if late behind in change.