Horse

Dressage as an Art Form

Dressage becomes art when it is a joy for the rider and horse. Dressage is the guiding of a horse through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's hands, legs, and weight.

At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse". Classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.

Early European aristocrats displayed their horses' training in equestrian pageants, but in modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests" of prescribed series of movements within a standard arena. All riding horses can benefit from use of dressage principles and training techniques. Dressage is an egalitarian competition in which all breeds are given an opportunity to compete successfully.

The standard dressage arena letters are A-K-V-E-S-H-C-M-R-B-P-F There is speculation as to why these letters were chosen. The dressage arena also has a centerline from A to C, going through X in the middle, as well as two quarter-lines halfway between the centerline and long sides of each arena.

Olympic Games Dressage consists of the lower levels: First, Second, Third and Fourth. At the lower levels, and as part of dressage training each country authorizes its own set of tests. In addition to marks for the dressage movements, marks are also awarded for more general attributes such as the horse's gaits, submission, impulsion and the rider's performance.