1. Membership in the Knighthood and Examinations

The examinations that can be taken within the Knighthood are to be seen as a part of it’s educational program. A test is a prove of knowledge and skills at a certain time. The different examinations include the most difficult demands possible, up to the airs above the ground.

The members of the knighthood should be willing to support it’s agenda and therefore show the interest to continue in their own development as a rider and an educator of the horse and to support the necessary research. A single examination is not suitable to judge a riders interest and abilities. Therefore the active membership in the knighthood has to be updated every 5 years.

The Knighthood contains different positions.

  • Squire
  • Knight
  • Member
  • Gold Rings
    – Bending of the haunches
    – Piaffe and Passage
    – School-canter
    – Levade
    – Terre à terre
    – Schools above the ground
  • Master
  • Grand Master
  • Table Master
  • Honorary Member

A rider can do the following tests:

  1. The groundwork/lungeing test
  2. The squire test
  3. The knight test
  4. The gold ring examinations
  5. The master examination

To make the squire test the applicant must have done the groundwork/lungeingtest and be recommended by a member of the knighthood who also introduces the applicant at the round table of the year. If no one votes against, the applicant can become a member of the knighthood. If an applicant cannot come to the Round Table of the year for a good reason, then he/she may come in the year after, but the 5-years-rule counts from the year of the round table that was skipped.

The examinations can be seen as stepping stones in the personal development, they can be markstones on the road to the (higher) level of artistry. They are meant to give orientation, but not to earn a symbol of status. Therefore the status of a squire or knight is a temporary status that has to be updated. A squire or knight who is not able to pass the next examination or to repeat the last examination within the timelimit set, stays a member of the Knighthood but loses the status of a squire or knight. He or she can reactivate the membership with a squire or knight test and thereby earns the status according to the test.

Every situation is unique. Therefore it is possible to ask the judge for certain dispensations. The applicant must give a thorough explanation before taking the test, which the judge will consider. It is up to the judge to grant or not grant the dispensation.

All members of the Knighthood meet at the round table of the year.

1.1 Groundwork/Lungeing test

To be allowed to take a groundwork-/ lungeing test you must be recommended by a member of the Knighthood. Someone who has taken the groundwork-/ lungeing test is not a member of the knigthood but is an applicant to the Squire test. The horse participating in the groundwork/lungeing test must be at least 5 years old.

Basic examination, presenting the horse with the cavesson on the lunge line with a wooden hand whip, according to the principles of the Academic Art of Riding.

The test is about showing:

  • A good communication with your horse.
  • That your horse understands the aids and is willing to respond.
  • That you can use the aids to help the horse find a good suppleness, shape, balance, tempo, rhythm and schwung within the exercises.
  • That you recognise these qualities in an exercise.

All exercises should be shown with sufficient distance from the wall, so that the judge can see that the horse is shaped by the trainer’s aids exclusively.

Groundwork

  1. Halt on the centre line, greeting the judge.
  2. In standing shoulder-in to the left, quarter-in with a little halt.
  3. In standing shoulder-in to the right, quarter-in with a little halt.
  4. Forward in walk on the center line, at the end to the right.
  5. Diagonal: forward down, bending to the right, at X change the bending.
  6. Short side: collection in left bending.
  7. Next diagonal: forward down, bending to the left, at X change the bending.
  8. Short side: collection in right bending.
  9. Next long side: quarter-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse.
  10. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse.
  11. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, then travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner. On the center line, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Rebend the horse, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Continue in new bending.
  12. Next long side: quarter-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse.
  13. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse.
  14. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, forward, travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner. On the center line, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Rebend the horse, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible.. Continue in new bending.

Lungeing

  1. After the change of bending: change into lungeing position and go into the walk on the right circle.
  2. Transition from walk to halt at X.
  3. In halt: change from lungeing to long reining position, take a quarter in halt, ask a shoulder in forward from the whip aid.
  4. Transition from halt to walk.
  5. Show the following transitions in this order: walk – trot, trot – walk, trot – halt, halt – trot, trot – canter, canter – trot, trot – walk. In the transitions to halt, the whip aid on the tail must be shown.
  6. In walk and trot, show the balance between shoulder-in and quarter-in.
  7. Show each gait in balance between forward and collection.
  8. Change the lead through the circle and repeat everything on the left circle.
  9. End with greeting the judge.

1.2 The Squire of The Academic Art of Riding

You can only take the Squire test when you have already taken the groundwork-/ lungeing test, but it is not until you have been introduced to the Round Table of the year by the person who has recommended you, that you become a member of the Knighthood.

A Squire is allowed to speak and vote at the round table. Squires will be named on the website, with the whip decoration including gold rings.

A Squire has to keep him/herself updated after the 5-year-rule. This means that within five years after the examination and within five years interval after this, the Squire should be able to take the Knight examination or a ring test. Otherwise he/she needs to repeat the Squire examination in order to stay a Squire. If he/or she cannot update him/herself within this period he/she will stay a member of the Knighthood without voting rights. If the examination cannot be taken by the Squire he/she may ask for dispensation at the Round Table of the Year, in which the examination should have been made.

Squire examination

The horse participating in the test must be at least 7 years old. The test is a test on the seat as a primary aid. All other aids used are secondary aids, being secondary to the seat aid.

The Squire test must be ridden with four reins, three in held in the outside hand and one in the inside hand, or all reins in the outside hand. The following tack combinations are allowed during the Squire test:

  • Four reins on the cavesson or cavemore (two attached on the nose band, two attached on the chin piece)
  • Four reins on the curb (two attached at the hight of the mouthpiece, two attached on the shanks)
  • Two reins on the cavesson, two reins on the curb
  • Two reins on the cavesson, two reins on the snaffle
  • Two reins on the cavesson, a neckrein
  • Two reins on the snaffle, a neckrein

If you wish to ride in a different tack combination you are allowed to ask the judge for dispensation. It is up to the judge to grant it or not.

All exercises should be shown with sufficient distance from the wall, so that the judge can see that the horse is shaped by the rider’s aids exclusively.

The Squire examination is an examination about the aids in the following choreography:

  1. Halt on the centre line, greeting the judge
  2. In standing shoulder-in to the left, quarter-in with a little halt
  3. In standing shoulder-in to the right, quarter-in with a little halt
  4. Forward in walk on the center line, at the end to the right
  5. Diagonal: forward down, bending to the right, at X change the bending
  6. Short side: collection in left bending
  7. Next diagonal: forward down, bending to the left, at X change the bending
  8. Short side: collection in right bending
  9. Next long side: quarter-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  10. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  11. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, then travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner
  12. Short side: on the center line, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Rebend the horse, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Continue in new bending.
  13. Next long side: quarter-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  14. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, collection, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  15. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, forward, travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner
  16. Short side: on the center line, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Rebend the horse, take a halt in which a clear first and second halt are visible. Continue in new bending.
  17. Step 4-11 and 13-15 in trot
  18. Circle in trot, at X transition to canter, at X transition to trot
  19. Change through the circle
  20. Circle in trot, at X transition to canter, at X transition to trot
  21. At X to the center line, halt, greeting the judge

1.3 Updating the position in the knighthood

The Squire/Knight is allowed to speak and to vote at the round table. Squires/Knights will be named on the website with their whip decoration including gold rings.

It is expected that the next level will be reached within five years after each examination. Otherwise the member of the Knighthood can repeat an already taken examination, to prove that at least the level of handcraft is still kept. If he or she does not update, he/she will stay as a member of the Knighthood without voting rights. If the examination cannot be taken by the member he/she may ask for dispensation at the Round Table of the Year, in which the examination should have been made. Only when the member reaches the level of a Master it can be kept for a lifetime.

1.4 Member of the Knighthood

Those who cannot keep their status as a Squire or a Knight are still members of the Knighthood. Every member of the Knighthood can recommend a Squire and is allowed to speak at the Round Table. He/she has no voting rights at the round table of the year. He or she can reactivate the membership with a Squire, Knight or ring examination and thereby earns the status according to the test. Members who want to take an examination, have to prove the basic level first.

1.5 Gold Ring Examinations

The tests might be shown:

  • under the saddle
  • on a long rein
  • in work in hand
  • in groundwork
  • in lungeing

The Gold Ring examinations may (but need not) be taken with the same horse. The bending of the haunches is the basic for all other higher movements. Therefore, the Bending of the Haunches Ring is the first ring to be taken.

Passive members who want to take a ring examination have to prove the basic level first. The applicant must have taught the horse the movements on his/her own, or with the help of his/her teacher, after the principles of the Academic Art of Riding. Violation of these rules can lead to the loss of the Gold Ring.

Bending of the Haunches

Rhythmical and even bending of the joints of the hind quarters, elevation of the forehand with a clear lift of the back in the area of the withers and right behind it. The horse is light in the shoulders and light in the hand. The shape of the neck allows the transition of schwung from the haunches all the way to the hand. School-halt, school-walk, school-trot, school-canter, all shown to the left and to the right and with all transitions that are beneficial for the individual horse.

Piaffe and Passage

The weight and impulsion carried on the haunches, rhythmical, majestic, transitions from and to the Piaffe, bent straight, passage on the circle and halfpass, half pirouette in piaffe. Everything shown to the left and to the right. One straight piaffe on the center line.

School-Canter

Full pirouette, series changes, all side movements: shoulder-in, travers, renvers, halfpass, collection and extension, everything shown to both left and right, school-halt.

Levade

Presentation of a horse carried 100% on its haunches by lowering of the haunches from and to movement. 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 applicant must show a levade to the left and right and straight on the centre line, one unbent levade towards the judge.

Terre à Terre or Mezair

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 center line, one unbent terre à terre (mezair) towards the judge.

School above the ground

Croupade or Ballotade or Capriole
The definition of any school jump is the landing on the hind quarters and it can be developed from piaffe, levade, terre à terre or mezair.

1.6 Knight Examination

master

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 examination consists of two parts:

First part – Riding

Equipment

  • The reins are held in one hand only.
  • The 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 secondary aids and lifted up to its position again.
  • Spurs may 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.)

When entering and leaving the required way of greeting the judge is as follows:
The wooden whip is taken from its basic position to the heart, followed by a nod with the head, finally back to its basic position. The choreography of the Knight examination is:

  1. Halt on the centre line, greeting the judge
  2. In standing shoulder-in to the left, quarter-in with a little halt
  3. In standing shoulder-in to the right, quarter-in with a little halt
  4. Forward in walk on the center line, at the end to the right
  5. Diagonal: forward down, bending to the right, at X change the bending
  6. Short side: school-walk in left bending
  7. Next diagonal: forward down, bending to the left, at X change the bending
  8. Short side: school-walk in right bending
  9. Next long side: quarter-in forward, school-walk, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  10. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, school-walk, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  11. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, then travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner
  12. Short side: halt, school-halt
  13. Next long side: quarter-in forward, school-walk, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  14. Next long side: shoulder-in forward, school-walk, forward, at the end straighten up the horse
  15. Next long side: few steps shoulder-in, forward, travers to the center line, collection, half pirouette, forward, travers back, collection, renvers through the corner
  16. Short side: halt, school-halt
  17. Step 4-11 and 13-15 in trot with half steps instead of school-walk
  18. Canter to the right
  19. Quarter-in in collected canter
  20. Next long side: In canter slight shoulder-in forward
  21. Next long side: Shoulder-in, travers to the center line, ½ pirouette, travers back, renvers through the corner, canter change at the middle of the short side into left canter
  22. Next long side: Quarter-in in collected canter
  23. Next long side: In canter slight shoulder-in forward
  24. Next long side: Shoulder-in, travers to the center line, ½ pirouette, travers back, renvers through the corner, canter change at the middle of the short side into right canter
  25. From the middle of the long side to the centre line, full halt from canter
  26. Greeting

Second part – Theory

The theoretical part of the examination is based on the videos and books by Bent Branderup, Guérinière 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 seen as a conversation between the judge and the applicant, giving the judge the opportunity to get an impression of the theoretical knowledge of the applicant.

1.7 Master

A Knight who has passed all the Gold Ring examinations, can take the examination to be a Master of the Academic Art of Riding.

The Master examination consists of two parts:

  • A public 30 min lecture on a relevant topic chosen by the applicant himself/herself.
  • A freestyle with appropriate music, including all elements of the Knight examination and the 3 first Golden Rings (Bending of the haunches, Piaffe and Passage, School-canter). . 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.

1.8 Grand Master of the Academic Art of Riding

The Knighthood of the 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 Squires, Knights and Masters. The Grand Master himself/herself functions as a judge at the examinations or chooses judges from the circle of Masters. He/she is supposed to listen to the opinions of Knights, Squires and Masters in all matters, yet he/she is in the position to make his/her own decisions, even against the opinion of Squires, Knights and Masters.

1.9 Honorary Member

All positions within the knighthood can be awarded to respected people.

1.10 Table Master of the Academic Art of Riding

The Table Master is chosen by the Grand Master to arrange the round table of the year.

2. Financial issues

Squire examination – 400 Euro
Knight examination – 200 Euro
Ring examination – 300 Euro
Master examination – 600 Euro
Updating the examination – 0 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.

3. Leaving and exclusion

3.1. Leaving

If a member 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.

3.2. Exclusion

Reasons for being excluded is provable animal cruelty or bringing the Academic Art of riding in miscredition. If there are well grounded suspicions or proof the accused member is summoned to the Round table of the Year. Here the member has the opportunity to defend his or her case. A united Table or the Grand Master can exclude the member. If excluded, the member 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.

August 2023