Prix Caprilli
| Prix Caprilli is an interesting form of competition, combining dressage and jumping. The combination carries out some dressage movements in one arena and interspersed with these movements they pass to an arena adjoining and cross some simple jumps in the manner indicated in the test. The object is to show that the horse is sufficiently schooled and obedient that he will pass from dressage to jumping and vice versa whilst remaining calm and submissive.
The competition is usually conducted in a 40m x 40m arena, though a 60m x 40m arena may be used for Grades 1 & 2. The arena is divided in half, with the right half marked out as a normal 40m x 20m arena. A 6m gap is left at each end of the rope/boards dividing the two halves of the arena (ie between H and the top corner, and between K and the bottom corner). During the test, the horse and rider move from each half of the arena through these two gaps. |
| Please note that the above diagram (copied from the 1987 PCAV "Dressage for Pony Club" manual) has been drawn slightly incorrectly. K and H should be at each end of the boards/rope dividing the arena halves, not next to cavaletti one and three. |
| The arenas are the same for all tests but the height and width of the jumps increase as the dressage movements become more advanced. For Grades (stages) one and 2 the large arena (60 x 40) may be used. Distances between the jumps remain the same. |
Construction of jumps and suggested measurements
Jumps 1, 2, 3 & 4 are to be uprights. Jump 5 is to be a spread. Jumps 4 & 5 to be jumped from both sides
| Grade 4 | Nos. 1, 2 & 3 = .50m No. 4 = .60m No. 5 = .60 m with .60 m spread |
| Grade 3 | Nos. 1, 2 & 3 = .60m No. 4 = .75m No. 5 = .75 m with .60 m spread |
| Grade 2 | Nos. 1, 2 & 3 = .75m No. 4 = .9m No. 5 = .9 m with .75 m spread |
| Grade 1 | Nos. 1, 2 & 3 = .90 m No. 4 = 1.00m No. 5 = 1.00 m with .75 m spread |
The tests
| Like dressage, there are specific tests for each of the levels with set movements. There is no Prix Caprilli test for Grade 5, however there is one test for each of the other grades. The four tests have been reproduced below. Sorry for the feint scans! |
Grade 4
All tests are from the 1987 Pony clubs Association of Victoria "Dressage for the Pony Club" manual.
Scoring
| There are two judges - a dressage judge and a jumping judge. The dressage judge judges the dressage movements, the jumping judge marks jump penalties and gives and overall mark for the smoothness of the performance over the jumps. |
