What are the dressage levels in the United States?

The United States Equestrian Federation organizes dressage competition into a progressive series of levels that correspond to the horse's and rider's stage of training, from the most basic introductory work through the highest international movements. Introductory Level, the entry point for new horse-and-rider combinations, tests walk and trot only with large circles, straight lines, and simple transitions — appropriate for horses and riders just beginning formal dressage training. Training Level introduces the canter, tests the horse's rhythm, relaxation, and acceptance of contact in all three gaits, and serves as the foundation level for developing horses regardless of the rider's experience. First Level adds leg yielding, lengthenings of stride, and other exercises that demonstrate the beginning of impulsion and lateral suppleness. Second Level introduces medium gaits, travers, renvers, and simple changes of lead through walk, demonstrating collection beginning to develop. Third Level includes half-pass, flying changes of lead, medium and extended gaits, and other movements requiring established collection and straightness. Fourth Level adds more advanced collection, multiple flying changes, and the beginning of piaffe and passage preparation. Above these national levels, the FEI levels govern international competition: Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix, with the Grand Prix representing the highest level including piaffe, passage, one-tempi changes, and pirouettes. Each level builds systematically on the previous, and the progression from Training Level through Grand Prix is intended to represent the horse's complete gymnastic development rather than arbitrary competitive categories.