What is Introductory Level dressage and who is it for?

Introductory Level is the entry level of dressage competition in the United States, designed specifically for horse-and-rider combinations at the very beginning of their dressage journey — horses that are just beginning systematic training and riders who are new to dressage competition or returning to it after an absence. Introductory Level tests include only walk and trot work — no canter is required — with large figures including twenty-meter circles, straight lines across the diagonal, and simple transitions between walk and trot. The tests evaluate basic rhythm, acceptance of contact, and willingness to go forward in a relaxed manner, with the standard appropriate to horses and riders who are demonstrating the foundational qualities of the Training Scale at their most basic level rather than any specific level of development. Introductory Level is appropriate for a first competition experience for a green horse that has not yet established a reliable canter in its training, for a beginning rider on a suitable schoolmaster horse whose own confidence and skills are not yet ready for canter work in competition, or for an experienced horse-and-rider combination returning to dressage competition who want to reestablish their partnership before moving to higher levels. The movement repertoire of Introductory Level tests — basic transitions, large circles, straight lines, and halts — allows the judge to assess the fundamental qualities of rhythm, relaxation, and basic response to the aids without the additional complications that canter work introduces. Many trainers encourage their students to enter at Introductory Level for their first competitions even if the horse and rider are capable of Training Level work, because the lower demands allow the rider to focus on the experience of competing rather than on managing more difficult technical requirements simultaneously with the show environment.