Dressage is a method of training and riding the horse which was developed in Europe during the Renaissance as the basis for training the war horse. The word dressage is French and means “training or schooling.”Dressage is a method of training and riding the horse which was developed in Europe during the Renaissance as the basis for training the war horse. The word dressage is French and means “training or schooling.”
The object of Dressage is to develop the horse both gymnastically and mentally. Therefore, the movements of Dressage are exercises which develop the horse’s strength, suppleness and attentiveness to the rider.
DRESSAGE TESTS
Unlike western or English pleasure classes where many horses are in the ring together, Dressage competition is performed with only one rider in the arena at a time. Dressage competitors perform a test or specific pattern of movements and figures designed for specific levels of proficiency set by national and international groups. The levels of difficulty range from beginner to Grand Prix.
All Dressage tests unfold in the same way. At the sound of the judge’s bell or whistle, a horse and rider enter the arena at the “A” marker and proceed straight down the centerline, halting in the middle at the “X.” The rider salutes the judge, who sits at the “C’ marker, and proceeds with the test. At the end of the test, the competitor returns to the centerline, once again halting and saluting the judge.
TEST LEVELS
At the Introductory and Training Levels, the tests require only simple obedience at a brisk walk and trot, or walk, trot and canter, along the rail and in large circles and serpentines. As the horse and rider progress in their training, they move up to higher Ievels,where the tests introduce new and more challenging movements and figures. Following are the added requirements for each level:
First Level:
15 and 10 meter circles, lengthening of the stride, serpentines, leg-yields and counter canter.
Second Level:
Medium gaits, collected gaits, shoulder-in, haunches-in, reinback, walk-canter transitions, counter canter, half- turn on the haunches at the walk.
Third Level:
Serpentine at the canter, extended gaits, flying changes of lead, half-pass at the trot and canter.
Fourth Level:
Flying changes every four strides and every three strides, canter half-pirouettes, trot zigzag half pass.
F.E.I. (International) Levels:
Flying change every two strides and every one stride, passage, piaffe, full canter pirouettes. The first three tests of the F.E.I. Level are the Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I and Intermediare II. The highest stage of development is the Grand Prix.