Creating Your Dressage to Music Freestyle Test

At OnCentreLine Dressage, our mission has always been about making dressage inclusive, accessible, and, above all, FUN. For years, "Freestyle to Music" has been seen as the exclusive playground of Grand Prix riders in tailcoats.

Whether you’re riding a Prep test on your trusty pony or nailing a Novice test on your off-the-track Thoroughbred, there is no reason you shouldn't get to "dance" with your horse. To celebrate our one-year anniversary this August, we are opening up Freestyle classes for every single level!

It’s time to trade the silence of the arena for your favourite soundtrack. Here is everything you need to know to create your very own masterpiece.

Phase 1: The Choreography (Your Floorplan)

The secret to a great freestyle isn't doing the hardest movements; it's doing the right movements for your horse.

1. Know Your Compulsories

Check the EA 2026 Rules and the scoresheet for your level (these can be found in the Rules section of our website). Each level has a list of compulsory movements and a time limit. Important: You cannot include "illegal" movements from a level above the movement you are competing at.

2. Highlight the "Wow," Hide the "Wobbles"

This is the only time in dressage where you are the architect.

• If your horse has a fantastic walk: Spend more time on your walk lines and place them right in front of the camera.

• If your canter circles are a bit oval: Place them further away from the judge (the camera) to soften the perspective.

• Keep it Balanced: Judges look for symmetry. If you do a creative line to the left, try to mirror it to the right.

Phase 2: The Music (Finding Your Rhythm)

Picking music is the best part, but "liking a song" isn't enough, it has to match your horse.

1. The BPM Method

Every horse has a "BPM" (Beats Per Minute) for their walk, trot, and canter.

• The Test: Film your horse at each pace

• The Search: Watch the video back and use a free "BPM Tapper" app (like Soundcorset or BPM by Motokazu Sekine) to tap along to the hoofbeats.

• The Match: Search for songs within that same BPM range. If your horse trots at 150 BPM, a song at 75 BPM often works too (it's exactly half-time!).

2. Choose a Theme

A cohesive theme helps the "Artistic" mark. Think:

• The Movie Star: Cinematic soundtracks (Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean).

• The Pop Prince/Princess: Upbeat, recognizable hits.

• The Soulful Pair: Instrumental acoustic or light jazz.

Phase 3: Putting it All Together (The Tech Side)

You don’t need a degree in sound engineering to make this work.

1. Time Your Ride

Once you have a floorplan you like, ride it through with a stopwatch. Note down exactly how many seconds you spend in each gait.

• Example: 0:00-0:45 (Trot), 0:45-1:20 (Walk), 1:20-2:30 (Canter).

2. Edit Like a Pro

Use free apps like CapCut, InShot, or Audacity.

The Fade: Use "crossfades" between songs so the music doesn't suddenly "snap" when you change from trot to walk. Get creative - for maximum points explore repeating certain parts of your chosen music for certain movements eg extended trot.

3. The "Live" Sound Rule

For OnCentreLine competitions, your music must be played in real-time while you film.

Pro Tip: Place your Bluetooth speaker right next to the person filming. This ensures the judge hears the music clearly without the wind blowing the sound away.

Start Now!

A great freestyle takes time to put together. Start playing with music during your training sessions this month. See which songs make your horse perk their ears up and which ones help you stay in a steady rhythm.

We can't wait to see (and hear!) you dance in August!