An Introduction To Dressage
|
|
Over the next few weeks I’ll be talking about dressage. Among the topics will be: how to ride dressage, finding the right level for you and your horse to compete at, the best type of show to enter and how to prepare for it, plus tips for a successful dressage show experience.
But let’s start at the beginning.
An Introduction to Dressage
When you think of dressage your mind may conjure up images of canter pirouettes by famous riders at the Olympics, or the beautiful gray stallions at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, kicking out their hind legs in a capriole. It seems impossible that dressage could be something for ordinary mortals.
What is dressage?
The word ‘dressage’ comes from the French dresser meaning ‘to train.’ It doesn’t necessarily require a series of fancy movements by professional riders on expensive horses. It can also exhibit the normal walk, trot and canter gaits on normal horses.
Dressage is beneficial to any horse, regardless of his usual riding routine, because it is mental and physical training aimed at creating total harmony between horse and rider. As such it’s the foundation for all the English disciplines – including jumping and eventing. In countries like Germany, you aren’t even allowed to enter jumping and eventing competitions unless you obtain a special certificate proving that you’ve mastered the basics of dressage.
Dressage trains the horse to carry his rider easily in walk, trot and canter. As a result he becomes fully equipped to perform whatever is required of him. He works better and obeys more willingly than a stiff, untrained horse.
Can anyone do dressage?
Dressage requires a commitment to work at producing a smooth ride. The goal is to have your horse relaxed and moving forwards in a steady rhythm, while responding to your aids. He should accept the contact between his mouth and your hands through the reins and perform the required movements with lightness and ease.
Luckily dressage shows start at an easy level, with simple figures such as large trot circles and diagonals across the arena. You can begin with a test that requires no canter at all. So if you’re pretty confident at walk and trot but would rather not canter in public yet, it doesn’t matter – you can still compete!
Do you need a special horse for dressage?
Certain breeds of horse are better suited to the demands of the higher levels of dressage. But lower level dressage – which most enthusiasts ride - benefits every horse. No matter what breed, size, height or color your horse is, you can take him to a dressage show and have fun.
So if you’re prepared to put in the work, you can do dressage!
In my next article I’ll be talking about how to begin riding dressage and find which level of competition will suit you and your horse. |
|
|
Milly
Great information, thank you for posting :] i am thinking of doing Dressage with my horse but it is finding the time to train him :/
Great information, thank you for posting :] i am thinking of doing Dressage with my horse but it is finding the time to train him :/
|
Dec 18, 2009
• 2,805 views
|
|
|
|
HarrietMary
yeah. same here!! its just so hard as it takes time and efford consistantly :)
yeah. same here!! its just so hard as it takes time and efford consistantly :)
|
Dec 18, 2009
• 2,864 views
|
|
|
|
Oak Valley
Great article. I love dressage ((: Working on lateral movement right now
Great article. I love dressage ((: Working on lateral movement right now
|
Dec 18, 2009
• 2,844 views
|
|
|
|
Dreamer100
I wish my mom would let me do Dressage. I am very interested in it and this is a great article!
I wish my mom would let me do Dressage. I am very interested in it and this is a great article!
|
Dec 19, 2009
• 2,818 views
|
|
|
|
ProDressage
I do Dressage.I ride my horse, April Country Rose.My first test will be in Fall at Otter Creek Farms.
I do Dressage.I ride my horse, April Country Rose.My first test will be in Fall at Otter Creek Farms.
|
Apr 27, 2010
• 2,855 views
|
|
|
|
|
More News by EquestrianLady
|
|
The thought of that upcoming show may make you nervous, so try to remain calm and remember - this is supposed to be fun! Here are some tips on preparing both you and your horse in the weeks leading up to a dressage competition. ...
|
|
It’s normal to feel nervous about riding in your first dressage show, so here are two ways to get you and your horse used to the environment before actually competing. Take the mystery out of dressage competitions by first going t ...
|
|
Once you’ve decided on a competition and the level of dressage test you want to ride, you need to send in your entry. A late, incomplete or hard-to-read form risks being rejected, so it’s worth taking the time to do this properly. ...
|
|
If you present a neat and correct overall appearance, you'll put the judge in a good mood when you ride into the dressage show arena. It's not that difficult to do if you follow some basic rules. The clothing requirements for a sc ...
|
|
In my previous article I mentioned the USDF (United States Dressage Federation) website http://www.usdf.org as one source of information about local shows. But in order to enter these competitions you need to become a member of yo ...
|
|
Licensed shows are run by the United States Dressage Federation (USEF) and are very formal affairs, with classes from Training through Fourth Level, plus the very highest ones of Prix St. Georges through Grand Prix. You need to be ...
|
|
If you are proficient at walk and trot but not canter, you can compete at the Introductory Level. There are two tests to choose from and both require a 20 meter circle in trot. Work on relaxing your horse by asking him to move for ...
|
|
|