Standard Pony Flower Dressage - Complete Guide
"Flower Dressage! It will get both trainer and pony thinking together."
It is not a competition. It is not about who is the best. It's about behavior, discipline, bond, hard work. Beauty. Flower dressage is capable to create such a chemistry between a pony and a trainer, that it made me fall in love with it since the very first time I put my eyes on the field. The way a pony moves around smoothly, confidently, from here to there, making breathtaking patterns on the lines of the flower field, drawing their beauty in the shape of a flower as you think together with your trainer, making two minds one... That's poetry.
Here you will find everything you need to know to get started and learn more about this wonder: Pony Flower Dressage in Second Life.
There are more than one set of rules for Flower Dressage. The one you will see here is one of the most popular sets. It's called Standard, and it was created by KaTrina Velde.*
KaTrina has a website where she explains all the rules, and I'll be putting it all here together with further explanations and demonstrations about patterns.
Note: I'm not the author of the Standard set of rules. I am not creator of any modality of pony flower dressage at all. I'm just an eager student and trainer of the discipline at Frilly Filly Farm.
*Unfortunately, I could not find all the history about when and who else was involved with the creation of this amazing activity. However, what I do know is that the original set of rules, called Classic, was created by Biatch Adamczky (Thank you for that, Biatch!). KaTrina Velde has created the Standard set of rules though, which is the one you will see here, and that is why this content has passed under KaTrina's approval before being shared.
The intuit of this content is to help other people to learn more and more about flower.
Note: Texts from KaTrina Velde's website are in cyan.
The dressage (*pony flower*) consists of 10 circles: 8 of them lettered (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) and two concentric Center Circles (the starting and finishing point). The pony is given the pattern as a string of these letters, linked by either a "x" or hyphen "-". For example: AxC BxA B-F HxA-GxH
The pony takes a moment to study and interpret the command string, and then walks the pattern as accurately as s/he can.
RULES:
1. The pony starts/ends inside the center circle. If one pony, he/she will start/end inside the smaller center circle, exactly in the middle. If multiple ponies, they start inside the larger center circle, outside the small one. The first letter of a pattern is ALWAYS done clockwise.
2. All turns on the flower field are made smoothly; there are no hard-corner turns or places where the pony must stop and turn around. The pony will always walk forward, using the lines and bits of other circles to create a smooth curve.
(these bits are NOT subject to the "Halfway Rule")
3.1. In the command string, an "x" means the pony will change direction used on the last letter. That is, if the pony was going around a circle clockwise, then he/she will go around the next circle counter-clockwise. And vice-versa.
3.2. In the command string, a hyphen "-" means the pony will keep the last direction used (and sometimes means the pony will follow the straight lines on the outer borders of the field). So if the pony was going around a circle clockwise, then he/she will also do the next circle clockwise. And vice-versa, if going counter-clockwise, next letter will also be done counter-clockwise.
4. The Halfway Rule: if the command string would cause the pony to go around a lettered circle less than halfway, then the pony must first go all the way around that circle before moving on to the next one.
(Note 1: this doesn't apply when using bits of other circles just to smooth the curve, as described in rule #2.)
(Note 2: the halfway rule is not applied on the center circle)
**See further explanations with demonstrations about the Halfway Rule HERE.**
5. The Shortest Path Rule: Always walk the pattern in the shortest way possible, keeping in mind that all the rules above must be met first.
**See further explanations with demonstrations about the Shortest Path Rule HERE.**
6. The Center Circle: if the command string causes the pony to pass through the center, then he/she must do so by going around the center circle in a CLOCKWISE direction.
(Note: The center circle may *only* be entered to start or finish the Flower pattern. Otherwise, always walk around it.)
Etiquette rules: When the pony is given a pattern, he/she will take time to read and understand it, turn to the starting letter (standing in the center circle) and will stomp when absolutely ready to start. Pony will then wait for the start command from the trainer, and then execute the pattern given. When the pattern is finished, the pony will turn to the trainer and bow.*
* If multiple ponies, they will bow to each other. In case of an event, with judges and/or audience, the ponies will, most likely, bow to them.
The 'bow' is not required. It's up to the trainer and pony to agree. However, it's a sign of respect from the pony to the trainer/fellow ponies. So, why wouldn't we be respectful, right? :)
*Rules organized in priority order.*
Now, let's make it all to make sense. Bellow you'll see how to execute every basic pattern (two letters) string, starting on big circles (A, C, E ,G) and small circles (B, D, F, H), either with "x" and "-" commands.
We used 'A' to show the big circles and 'B' to show the small circles only because they are the first two letters of the alphabet. The way to execute are the same starting from any other circle.
If a command string contains only one letter, such as 'A', you will just walk around it clockwise once and go back to the center.
If a command string contains only one letter, such as 'A', you will just walk around it clockwise once and go back to the center.
A-A
We'll see the pony start walking around A clockwise and going around the letter TWICE.
That is because of the Shortest Path Rule (#5 on this post). Pretty simple, right? :)
A-B
Hard turns are prohibited in flower dressage. So, how to do this pattern without making a hard turn?
To solve this and make a smooth pattern, we use The Center Circle. We'll see the pony start walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around it and reach the center circle, then walk around it clockwise (The Center Circle Rule, #6 in this post), and go to B, entering it clockwise.
A-C
The pony will start walking around A clockwise, then use the outer line of the field, and enter C clockwise.
Yes, we use the outer lines as well. Did you notice that I walked only half the way around both letters?
A-D
We'll see the pony start walking around A clockwise, use a bit of the C line (Shortest Path rule), and get to D, entering it clockwise.
A-E
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, use a bit of the C line (Shortest Path rule) and get to E, entering it clockwise.
A-F
We'll see the pony start walking around A clockwise, then walk around the center circle clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle rule), then get to F, entering it clockwise.
A-G
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, then walk around the center circle clockwise (Center Circle rule), then get to G, entering it clockwise.
A-H
We'll see the pony start walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around A, and then simply entering H clockwise.
Don't forget to bow to the trainer when finishing a pattern. :)
So, now we know how to go from a big circle using the hyphen "-" command to every letter of the field.
Time to switch directions. Let's see how to execute the "x" command.
AxA
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, do a complete lap around it, then go to the center circle and walk around it clockwise all the way around to get back to A but, this time, entering it counter-clockwise.
Easy-dizzy peasy, no? :)
AxB
The pony starts walking around A clockwise and, when reaching B, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
The pony starts walking around A clockwise and, when reaching B, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
Note that I walked a bit more than halfway around 'A'.
AxC
The pony starts walking around A clockwise and, when reaching C, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
It looks like a big eight (8) figure.
AxD
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, use a bit of C line (Shortest Path Rule), then get to D, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxE
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, then go around the center circle clockwise (Center Circle Rule) and get to E, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxF
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, then go around the center circle clockwise (Center Circle Rule) and get to F, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxG
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reaching G, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
AxH
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reachin H, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
Now that we've seen how to go from a big circle to every letter in the field in both directions ("x" and "-" commands), lets take a look about how to do the same, starting from a small circle.
B-A
The pony goes to B and starts walking around it clockwise and, when leaving it, simply enters A clockwise.
B-B
Just like A-A, the pony goes to B and walks around it twice, clockwise.
B-C
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise then reaches C, entering it clockwise (Rules #2 and #6 on this post. No hard-corner turns; use center circle clockwise.)
B-D
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of C (Shortest Path Rule) to reach D and enter it clockwise.
B-E
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of C (Shortest Path Rule) to reach E and enter it clockwise.
B-F
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule), then goes to F and walks around it clockwise.
B-G
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule) then enters G clockwise.
B-H
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach H (Shortest Path Rule) and enter H clockwise.
Now, let's see how use the "x" command, starting from a small circle.
BxA
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reaching A, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
BxB
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes back to center circle and walks around it clockwise (Center Circle Rule) then returns to B and enters it counter-clockwise.
BxC
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise and, when reaching C, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
BxD
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, uses part of C to reach D (Shortest Path Rule) then enters D counter-clockwise.
BxE
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes around the center clockwise to reach E and enter counter-clockwise.
BxF
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes around the center circle clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule), then reaches F and enters it counter-clockwise.
BxG
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach G (Shortest Path Rule) and enter it counter-clockwise.
BxH
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach H (Shortest Path Rule) and enters it counter-clockwise.
AxC
The pony starts walking around A clockwise and, when reaching C, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
AxD
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, use a bit of C line (Shortest Path Rule), then get to D, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxE
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, then go around the center circle clockwise (Center Circle Rule) and get to E, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxF
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, then go around the center circle clockwise (Center Circle Rule) and get to F, entering it counter-clockwise.
AxG
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reaching G, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
AxH
The pony starts walking around A clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reachin H, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
Now that we've seen how to go from a big circle to every letter in the field in both directions ("x" and "-" commands), lets take a look about how to do the same, starting from a small circle.
B-A
The pony goes to B and starts walking around it clockwise and, when leaving it, simply enters A clockwise.
B-B
Just like A-A, the pony goes to B and walks around it twice, clockwise.
B-C
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise then reaches C, entering it clockwise (Rules #2 and #6 on this post. No hard-corner turns; use center circle clockwise.)
B-D
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of C (Shortest Path Rule) to reach D and enter it clockwise.
B-E
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of C (Shortest Path Rule) to reach E and enter it clockwise.
B-F
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule), then goes to F and walks around it clockwise.
B-G
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes to the center circle and walks around it clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule) then enters G clockwise.
B-H
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach H (Shortest Path Rule) and enter H clockwise.
Now, let's see how use the "x" command, starting from a small circle.
BxA
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, do a full loop around it and, when reaching A, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
BxB
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes back to center circle and walks around it clockwise (Center Circle Rule) then returns to B and enters it counter-clockwise.
BxC
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise and, when reaching C, simply enters it counter-clockwise.
BxD
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, uses part of C to reach D (Shortest Path Rule) then enters D counter-clockwise.
BxE
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes around the center clockwise to reach E and enter counter-clockwise.
BxF
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then goes around the center circle clockwise to cross the field (Center Circle Rule), then reaches F and enters it counter-clockwise.
BxG
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach G (Shortest Path Rule) and enter it counter-clockwise.
BxH
The pony goes to B and enters it clockwise, then uses part of A to reach H (Shortest Path Rule) and enters it counter-clockwise.
These are all the rules of Standard Pony Flower Dressage, and should make you able to get started on this wonderful pony play activity in Second Life. Flower Dressage can never be outgrown. A command string can have as many letters as the pony is able to execute it, it's just a matter of practicing.
However, as the level and length of a pattern grows, it may be a little tricker to detect when you must apply some rules (specially the Halfway Rule). Because of this, you will be able to find even more detailed explanations about the Halfway Rule and the Shortest Path Rule linked in the rules list, or just clicking *HERE*.
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