The step up to harder work isn't a matter of age, or of how many years you've been riding together. It comes down to whether your horse's body and mind can handle the new demand. Below are the signals that matter, and the pitfalls riders often overlook.
What "the Next Level" Actually Requires
Every step up — from L to M dressage, from M to Z — asks for more collection, more carrying power in the hindquarters, and longer periods of focused work. That's physically harder than many riders expect. Collection means the horse carries more weight on the hindquarters and lightens the forehand; that takes strength in the back, belly, and hind leg that you build up over months, not a few lessons.
So before you look upward, the question isn't "can my horse do the exercises?" but "can my horse do the exercises relaxed, in balance, and without bracing?" A horse that can show a shoulder-in or the beginnings of collection under tension isn't yet ready for the work in which that becomes the foundation.
Physical Signs That the Body Is Ready
The most reliable indicators lie in how your horse carries the current work:
- The basics are loose and in balance. Walk, trot, and canter are regular, the horse moves over its back and seeks the contact on its own, not the other way around.
- It recovers quickly. After a demanding exercise, the breathing settles fast and the quality of the gaits holds up. A horse that becomes exhausted or stiff after ten minutes of serious work still lacks fitness.
- No structural resistance. Fighting back, tail-swishing, or turning the head away during a specific exercise is often a physical signal — discomfort, pain, or simply too much to ask — rather than unwillingness.
- Muscle development is on track. A horse ready for collection has a developed topline and a muscled hindquarters, not a hollow back or an overdeveloped underneck.
If you're unsure whether a signal is physical or mental, a check by a vet or physiotherapist is worthwhile before you increase the workload. Early lameness, back problems, or joint issues become visible more quickly under harder work, and what you read as "lazy" or "resistant" can actually be discomfort. A vet should always be involved for diagnosis.
Mental Signs — Just as Important
The mind often lags behind the body, or sometimes the other way around. Watch for:
- Willingness to work and concentration. A horse that's ready stays focused through a longer lesson and searches for the right answer instead of checking out or becoming tense.
- Confidence with new questions. If you introduce something new and the horse tries along — even if it doesn't yet succeed — the mental capacity is there. Stress, flight behavior, or shutting down point to the opposite.
- Stability outside the exercises. How does the horse handle a busy competition environment, an unfamiliar arena, other horses? The new level rarely plays out in the familiar home arena.
A horse can be physically strong enough while not yet mentally ready, or the other way around. Both need to keep pace.
A Checklist
Go through these points before you take the step. The more "yes" answers, the greater the chance your horse is ready for it.
| Question | Ready for More | Not Yet |
|---|---|---|
| Does the current level go relaxed and consistently? | Yes, repeatedly | Inconsistent, or only on good days |
| Does the horse recover quickly after exertion? | Fast, gaits stay good | Stiff or exhausted after a short time |
| Does the horse seek the contact and balance itself? | Yes | Has to be constantly ridden into it |
| Does it react calmly to new exercises? | Tries along | Tension, resistance, checking out |
| Is the topline and hindquarters sufficiently developed? | Yes | Hollow back, little carrying power |
| No signs of pain or discomfort? | Correct | Unexplained resistance or irregularity |
If you score a "not yet" on a row, don't raise the level — work on that point instead. A horse that has L firmly under control progresses faster and more soundly than a horse that's merely touching on M.
When It's Better to Wait
Moving forward isn't always the right choice, even if it's what you'd like. Wait, or build up more gradually, if:
- the horse is still young and its skeleton hasn't fully matured — heavy collected work too early loads joints that are still developing;
- the basics (pure gaits, supple over the back, honest contact) aren't yet solid — without that foundation, every new exercise becomes a fight;
- there's been a recent injury or a longer rest period;
- the wish mainly comes from you, and the horse is signaling that it's too much.
"Skipping" a level or forcing it rarely saves time. Gaps in the basics come back hard at the next level, often as tension, resistance, or a recurring issue.
In Practice
Don't start by flipping a switch — build individual elements of the new level into work that already goes well. Ask for a touch more collection for a few strides, then release it again. That way, over the weeks, you'll feel whether the body and mind are keeping up, without tensing the horse up.
Have an instructor who regularly sees your horse weigh in on the decision — an outside eye more easily feels whether the basics hold up. If you're unsure about the physical side, bring in a vet or physiotherapist before you increase the workload. For the exact requirements and tests per level, current information is available at knhs.nl (the Dutch equestrian federation). Terms like collection, carrying power, or topline are explained in the glossary for this level.
See also: Level: Competing More Seriously · All Guides