Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Dressage

Dressage is the first phase in three-day eventing. It is a very disciplined form of English riding, if you look at dressage in the competition sense, but really dressage is training of a horse. In German dressage is Dressür, and in German Dressür can also mean training. This is just to clarify what aspects there all are in dressage.

Dressage in the competition sense requires horse and rider to move and think as one. When a rider is riding a dressage test their cues are practically invisible. The only ones that should know that the cue is being given are the horse and rider.

Dressage dates back to cavalries in wartime. The horses ridden by the soldiers were often taught some of the intricate movements, still used today, as a strategy in battle. When the other side saw some of the movements the horses did, they became scared and sometimes retreated.

I recommend that every horse be taught dressage. Just a little bit of basic dressage knowledge by horse and rider can really benefit you, no matter what your riding discipline. It helps you to better understand your horse and move as one with him, which will help you in any form of riding. It also teaches the horse how to carry himself in a way that is comfortable to him, resulting in less strain on your horse’s back. So give dressage a try!

Some of the advanced movements in dressage are High School Movements. Not all horses can do these, even Olympic horses. Some of them are:

  • Passage
    Slow to medium trot, with suspension between beats.

  • Piaffe
    Trotting or prancing in place.

  • Pirouette
    This is a complete turn on the haunches, but is performed at a walk or a canter. The horse basically makes a circle, with one of his hind legs being the center of the circle.

  • Courbette
    In this movement the horse rears up onto his hind legs and then hops on his hind legs two or more times.

  • Ballotade
    Leap into the air, with the hind legs tucked underneath the belly. This movement helps to prepare for the Capriole.

  • Capriole
    This is the most difficult above the ground movement. In it the horse leaps into the air and at the highest point of the leap kicks out his hind legs.

  • Levade
    This is the ultimate balancing movement. In it the horse leans back on his hind legs then slowly rears up until the portion of their leg from the hoof up to the hock is at a 45 degree angle to the ground. Even the best horse cannot hold this position for over 15 seconds.

    Want to know more about dressage? Visit
    United States Dressage Federation or Halt@X


    Email: jezykamcc@hotmail.com