The Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding offers riders, who feel bound to the ideals, opportunity to take an examination that proves their skills. The different examinations include the most difficult demands possible, up to the Capriole.
The Knighthood contains different positions.
- Squire
- Knight
- Gold Rings
- Piaffe
- Passage
- Canter
- Levade
- Terre à terre
- Croupade and Ballotade/Capriole - Master
- Supreme Master
- Grandmaster
- Table Master
- Honorary Member
On this page you find all the details about this positions.
Squire of the Academic Art of Riding
The applicant must be recommended by a Knight and will be a Member without voting rights, at the Round Table of the Year. The Squires are in contact with the Knighthood through their Knight.
Squire examination
At the Examination the Squire rides with a cavesson added either to a curb or a snaffle bit. The reins may be held in two hands except for the curb reins. (An aspirant-squire is allowed to ride the squiretest with a neck rein/cordeo or without any reins. The judge has to give permission before the test begins.)
The squire examination is an examination about the aids:
When entering, the required way of greeting the Judge is as follows: The reins and the whip are put into the left hand, the whip turned downward, while the right hand is stretched down and the rider nods with his/her head.
Squire test:
1. Halt on the centre line, greating the Judge
2. Forward in walk on the center line, at the end to the right
3. Diagonal: forward down, bending to the right, at X change the bending
4. Short side: collection in left bending
5. Next diagonal: forward down, bending to the left, at X change the bending
6. Short side: collection in right bending
7. Next long side: quarter in, at the end straigten up the horse
8. Next long side: shoulder in, at the end straigten up the horse
9. Next long side: few steps shoulder in, then travers to the center line, half pirouette, travers back, renvers through the corner
10. Short side: halt, change bending, few steps backwards
11. Next long side: quarter in, at the end straigten up the horse
12. Next long side: shoulder in, at the end straigten up the horse
13. Next long side: few steps shoulder in, then travers to the center line, half pirouette, travers back, renvers through the corner
14. Short side: halt, change bending, few steps backwards
15. Step 3 – 9 and 11,12,13 in trot
16. Circle in trot, at X transition to canter, at X transition to trot
17. Change through the circle
18. Circle in trot, at X transition to canter, at X transition to trot
19. At X to the center line, halt, greating the Judge
To become a knight, squires have to do a longeing test and a groundwork / handwork test.
Longeing test
Basic Examination, presenting the horse with the cavesson in ground/in-hand work and on the longe line, according to the principles of the Academic Art of Riding.
- With the horse standing show that the whole horse is bent and that the hip comes to the inside with the positioning of the horse’s head.
- Understride in walk
- Transitions on the circle; walk – halt, halt – walk, walk – trot, trot – walk, trot – halt, halt – trot, a few canter strides, change the lead through the circle.
Everything shown both to the left and to the right.
If the squire succeeded the longe test this will be showed on this website.
Groundwork/handwork test
This test can be done with a cavesson, with a longe (groundwork) or with reins (work in hand) and a wooden hand wip. In work in hand also a bit can be used.
The groundwork/handwork test consists the walk exercises of the squiretest.
Choreography groundwork-test:
(with cavesson and lunge, rider is always on the hollow side of the horse)
1. Forward down
2. Stelling / bending to the left and to the right
3. Circle to the left and to the right
4. Quarter in
5. Shoulder in
6. Halfpass
7. Renvers
8. Rebend
9. Step 4 – 8 on the other lead
Choreography handwork test:
(with cavesson (and if preferred a bit) and reins, rider is on hollow and curved side of the horse, depending on the exercise)
1. Forward down
2. Stelling / bending to the left and to the right
3. Circle to the left and to the right
4. Quarter in
5. Shoulder in
6. Renvers
7. Halfpass
8. Rebend
9. Next side the same
10. Rebend
All new knights must do the longetest and groundwork/work in hand test.
Order of the tests
A rider can do the following tests:
1. The squiretest (basic test to enter the knighthood)
2. The longetest
3. The groundwork/handwork test
After these three steps/tests, the squire can do the following:
- He/she can do the knighttest to become a knight.
- He/she can educate a new squire to become an ‘advanced squire’
Advanced Squire
- The advanced squire is allowed to bring his/her new squire to the round table.
- The advanced squire is allowed to speak at the round table.
- The advanced squire is not allowed to vote at the round table.
- Advanced squires will be named on the website with their squire(s).
Active squire
A squire has to show the basic level of squire again within 3 years OR educate a new squire.
Knight of the Academic Art of Riding
The Knight illustrates the ideal working rider, which is the basic handcraft of the Academic Art of Riding. He/she has earned the silver decoration for the wooden whip on a self-trained horse.
Knight shows by completing the basic Examination that he has learnd the basic handcraft and wishes to develop into a level of artistry.
The Knights meet at the Round Table of the Year; with the silver whip decoration on a short table whip for voting or having the right to speak. Only if no one votes against the Knightship of the applicant he/she can be a member of the Knighthood.
Knight Examination
The horse ridden in the Examination must be self-trained. If the horse was trained only partially by the rider, he/she must let the Judge know. The applicant can be accepted only if the Judge is convinced that the applicant is riding at a level showing that he/she could now train a horse completely on his/her own.
The training of the horse is more important than the quality of the performance in the Examination that day. Therefore, the effort put into training a difficult horse should be appreciated as much as a perfect Examination performance on a good horse.
The order in which the required movements of the Examination are ridden is up to the rider. The following movements must be part of the Examination. Additional movements are allowed but will not be scored.
The Examination consists of two parts:
Riding
When entering and leaving the required way of greeting the Judge is as follows:
The wooden whip is taken from its basic position vertically in front of the face, then on the heart, followed by a nod with the head, finally back to its basic position.
- Flying changes from left to right and vice versa.
- Half pirouette in canter to the left and to the right.
- Half-steps advancing at least one hoof print to the left and the right. Showing a greater degree of bending of the haunches and activity from behind.
- All side movements in canter, to the left and to the right.
- Halt from canter.
Third part – Theory
The theoretical part of the Examination is based on the videos and books by Bent Branderup, Guérinière, Pluvinel and Steinbrecht.
Based on this theory the applicant must Judge his/her own as well as the horse’s strengths and weaknesses. Weaknesses in the practical part of the Examination can be made up by strengths in the theory.
The theoretical Examination should be viewed as a conversation between the Judge and the applicant, giving the Judge the opportunity to get an impression of the applicant.
Equipment
- The reins to the regular curb – made of one piece – are held in the left hand. The right hand is only used to shorten the reins. A double bridle may be used but the snaffle reins must hang long.
- The right hand is holding the wooden whip straight up, with a slight angle going forward-left. The whip can be briefly used as an addition to the other aids and lifted up to its position again.
- Spurs must be worn but used as little as possible.
- Further equipment, clothes and music are chosen by the applicant. (Not considered in the Judge’s decision.)
To get in the squire- or knightbook the new squire or knight has to appear at the round table of the year together with the knight who will recommend this new squire/knight.
Gold Ring Examinations
A Knight can enter him/herself into the respective Examinations for Gold Rings.
The movements may be shown:
- Under the saddle just like in the Knight examination.
- On a long rein (bridle with one bit and one pair of reins).
- In-hand (bridle with regular curb and/or snaffle and/or cavesson).
The Gold Ring Examinations may (but need not) be taken with the same horse. The piaffe is the basic for all other higher movements. Therefore, with the exception of the canter examination, it must be part of every Gold Ring examination.
The Knight must have taught the horse the movements on his/her own, or with the help of his/her Master, after the principles of the Academic Art of Riding. Violation of these rules can lead to the loss of the Gold Ring.
Piaffe
Loose contact, the weight and impulsion carried on the bended haunches, rhythmical, elastic, to the left and to the right transitions from and to the walk, trot and canter. Straight on the centre line one unbended piaffe toward the Judge.
Passage
The weight and impulsion carried on the haunches, rhythmical, majestic, transitions from and to the Piaffe, 10 meter circle and halfpass, half pirouette in the piaffe. Everything shown to the left and to the right.
Canter
Full pirouette, series changes in two tempi, all side movements; shoulder-in, travers, renvers, halfpass, collection and extension, everything shown to both left and right. Halt.
Levade
Presentation of a horse carried 100% on its haunches by lowering of the haunches from the piaffe. The forehand should be lifted as little as possible. (Below 45 degrees.) The horse should stay in the levade for a moment. The underneck shall not be seen, both hindlegs and both front legs in the same height in the same angles. The hindlegs shall not be wide. The knight must show a levade to the left and right and straight on the centre line one unbended levade toward the Judge.
Terre à Terre
Originally the terre à terre was the war gait where the horse was movable in all directions and tempi. Transitions from and to piaffe, shoulder- in, travers, half pirouette, everything shown to both sides. Straight on the centre line one unbended terre à terre toward the Judge.
High school (two jumps)
Croupade
Developed from the piaffe, evolving into at least 3 jumps going forward on the hind quarters with the forehand not touching the ground. The lower the forehand is held, the better.
Ballotade/Capriol
Should be transitioned into from the piaffe to the terre à terre to the actual jump; in the Ballotade the horse’s feet are facing backwards; in the Capriole the hind feet are kicked out backwards. Landing on the hindlegs or at least on all four.
Master
A Knight who has passed the Gold Ring Examinations piaffe, passage and canter, can take the Examination to be a Master of the Academic Art of Riding.
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The Master Examination consists of three parts:
- A public 30 min lecture on a relevant theme chosen by the applicant himself/herself.
- The future Master must have coached at least 2 students all the way into a Knightship.
- A freestyle with appropriate music, including all elements of the Knight Examination and the 3 first Golden Rings. Should one or more of the movements fail, they can be repeated upon approval of the Judge. In addition the Judge can also ask for repetition of one or several movements at the end of the freestyle.
The Master Examination is judged by the Grand Master personally. When the Knight reaches the level of a Master it can be kept for a lifetime.
Supreme Master of the Academic Art of Riding
A Knight who has passed all six of the Gold Ring Examinations and who is Master of the Academic Art of Riding, may use the title “Supreme Master of the Academic Art of Riding”.
The sixth Gold Ring has the shape of a horse iron crown. Along with the Grand Master a majority of the Supreme Masters can decide on awarding the honorary Knighthood of the Academic Art of Riding.
After the death of the Grand Master the current Supreme Masters meet to choose a new Grand Master from their midst, who must be below the age of 60. If there are less than 3 Superior Masters below 60 the Masters must be involved.
Grand Master of the Academic Art of Riding
A Knight who has passed all six of the Gold Ring Examinations and who is Master of the Academic Art of Riding, may use the title “Supreme Master of the Academic Art of Riding”.
The Knighthood of Academic Art of Riding belongs to the Grand Master. He/she is in charge of place(s) and time(s) of the Examinations and the Round Table of the Year. Chooses the Table Master and presents the silver whip decoration and the Gold Rings to the Knights, Masters and Superior Masters. The Grand Master himself/herself functions as a Judge at the Examinations or chooses Judges from the circle of Masters and Superior Master. He/she is supposed to listen to the Knights opinions in all matters, yet he/she is in the position to make his/her own decisions, even against the opinion of the Knights.
Honorary Member
All positions within the knighthood can be awarded to respected people.
Table Master of the Academic Art of RidingThe Table Masters are chosen at the Round Table of the Year, to fulfil organizational tasks; for a period of 2 years representing the Academic Art of Riding in a certain country and have all rights of a Master for this period.
Prices
Squire Examination – 300 Euro
Knight Examination – 600 Euro (300 Euro if the Squire Examination is done before)
Ring Examination – 300 Euro
Master Examination – 600 Euro
Updating the Knight Examination – 50 Euro
The Membership in the Academic Art of Riding is for life. The costs are therefore high to cover every Knight’s cost during his or her lifetime. The entrance in the Knighthood should be well considered, not just a momentary idea.
Do you reconcile with the basic principles of the Knighthood?
Next are the privileges of being able to use the Knighthood logos and Bent Branderup’s name for eventual PR of your own.
Active Knight
An active Knight is a Knight who keeps him- or herself updated after the 5-year-rule. This means that within five years after the Knight Examination and within five years interval after this, the Knight should be able to take the Knight Examination again or pass the coming Ring Examinations.
If a Longe Examination has not been performed this must be shown too.
Passive Knight
It is expected that a Gold Ring will be reached within five years. Otherwise the knight shall repeat the basic Examination to prove that at least the level of handcraft is still kept. If not he/she will be declared as a passive Member of the Knighthood. If the examination can not be ridden by the Knight he/she may ask for dispensation at the Round Table of the Year, in which the Examination should have been ridden. Only when the Knight reaches the level of a Master it can be kept for a lifetime. A passive Knightship will be reactivated by repeating the basic Exam or adding a Ring test.
A passive Knight has no voting right and can not recommend Squires, but must still inform his/her Squires of all news within the Knighthood.
A passive Knight is the Knight that for one or another reason at the moment can not update him- or herself as the 5-year-rules states for the moment being.
For many the passive Knight status is perhaps seen as something negative, but it does not have to be.
It only means that you as a Knight do not appear in the official lists for a while and that you do not have a voting right at the yearly Table Meeting.
Change 2010: You can also be an ‘active’ knight again if you can recommend a squire at the Round Table.
Leaving
If a Knight wishes to leave the Knighthood, the Knight sends his or her silver whip decoration and the silver pin to the Round Table of the Year together with a request for leaving the Knighthood. At the Round Table of the Year the Knight will be struck from the Book of Knights. The silver whip decoration and the silver pin´s value will be refunded a total of a 100 Euro and for each golden ring 40 Euro.
Exclusion
One reason for being excluded is provable animal cruelty. If there are well grounded suspicions or proof regarding animal cruelty, the accused Knight is summoned to the Round table of the Year. Here the Knight has the opportunity to defend his or her case. A united Table or the Grand Master can exclude the Knight. If excluded, the Knight must return his or her silver whip decoration and the silver pin at the Table and is struck from the Book of Knights. The silver whip decoration and the silver pin´s value will be refunded a total of a 100 Euro and for each golden ring 40 Euro.