Fortissimo Freestyles, Dressage Freestyles, Pony Dressage Freestyles and any other equestrian discipline that can be performed to music

Step 1.

The first step in the design process involves me viewing your horse, either in person or by video recording. If I am designing your choreography, it would is best if I can see you and your horse in person. After we have worked out your pattern and you have ridden the test and are satisfied with it, I can then film the test using my digital video equipment.

By seeing your horse perform in person, I will have a better feel for your horse and it’s personality, and I will be able to better appraise the particular strengths and weaknesses. I will then be able to discuss them with you at the time, and suggest different patterns and transitions into and out of paces and movements and, if possible, I am happy to travel if you have a full sized arena (60 x 20 meters for dressage clients) or know the area you have to work in.

If you already have ideas for a test, I will work with you to incorporate them into the best pattern possible, in compliance with FEI rules. If you need help from scratch, you will probably already have a fairly good idea of your horse’s best paces, which we can work with. This is the fun part and one of the most rewarding aspects of freestyle design.

However, if you have choreographed your own test, and would find it more convenient to mail me a video of you riding the completed test on a full sized arena, I am happy to work from there. The video recording will need to be of a high enough standard, that I can see all of the horse’s movements clearly. The camera you use will need to have the ability to zoom, and should be mounted onto a tripod when filming. In order to accurately match the tempo of your horse’s paces, I will also need to see your horse working with white wraps on the front legs.

Step 2.

After observing your paces and discussing the genre of music you prefer, I can start compiling selections of Walk, Trot, Canter, and Passage and Piaffe music for you. I will then send you a tape with the different selections for each pace. It is imperative that you ride to the music at this point.

This will help you to determine which music best compliments your horse’s persona and which of the pieces of music you like to ride to. I avoid any music with voice, as this is something the judges dislike, and as a musician I tend to agree with this because I think it detracts from the performance.

Step 3.

When you have decided which pieces you would like for each of your horses paces, I will then complete the final edit of your music. By now I will have matched your horses paces exactly to the music and accurately timed each section of your test. The final editing ensures that your music is recorded at an appropriate volume and well blended for fluency. Once the final version of your music is recorded, I will send you a CD and an audiotape of the finest quality, to guarantee that you have superior sound and reliable products.

A digital master copy of your music is archived at Fortissimo Freestyles in case you require any changes to be made in the future, or if your copies are lost or damaged and need to be replaced. If I have done your choreography, you will also receive a copy of your pattern at this time. Again, this will be archived here, along with your music for future reference.

Once you have received your final edited version of the music, you will need to ride your test with the music, in an accurately sized arena as much as possible before the competition. This way you will learn when the changes are coming up and where you need to be located in the arena, throughout the test.