Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is a path and destination of
competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from
amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through
standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic
ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its
potential as a riding horse. 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 Ballet
In modern dressage competition, successful training at the
various levels is demonstrated through the performance of
"tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard
arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an
objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and
assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being
"not executed" and 10 being "excellent." A score of 9 (or "very good") is
considered a particularly high mark, while a competitor achieving all 6s
(or 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level. These
scores are recorded and given to the competitor on a score sheet, to help
them improve their training.
There are two sizes of arenas: small and standard. Each has letters
assigned to positions around the arena for dressage tests to specify where
movements are to be performed.
At the start of the test, the horse enters at A. There is always a judge
sitting at C.
Dressage competitions may begin in local communities with Introductory
level classes where riders need only walk and trot. Horses and riders
advance through a graduated series of levels, with tests of increasing
difficulty at each level, until the most accomplished horse and rider teams
compete at the Grand Prix levels and international competition, such as
the Olympic games.
Introductory and Training levels prelude First level in the United States,
Dressage consists of the lower levels: First, Second,Third and Fourth. The
FEI (Federation Equestrian International) levels: Prix St. Georges,
Intermediare I, Intermediare II and Grand Prix.
competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from
amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through
standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic
ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its
potential as a riding horse. 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 Ballet
In modern dressage competition, successful training at the
various levels is demonstrated through the performance of
"tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard
arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an
objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and
assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being
"not executed" and 10 being "excellent." A score of 9 (or "very good") is
considered a particularly high mark, while a competitor achieving all 6s
(or 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level. These
scores are recorded and given to the competitor on a score sheet, to help
them improve their training.
There are two sizes of arenas: small and standard. Each has letters
assigned to positions around the arena for dressage tests to specify where
movements are to be performed.
At the start of the test, the horse enters at A. There is always a judge
sitting at C.
Dressage competitions may begin in local communities with Introductory
level classes where riders need only walk and trot. Horses and riders
advance through a graduated series of levels, with tests of increasing
difficulty at each level, until the most accomplished horse and rider teams
compete at the Grand Prix levels and international competition, such as
the Olympic games.
Introductory and Training levels prelude First level in the United States,
Dressage consists of the lower levels: First, Second,Third and Fourth. The
FEI (Federation Equestrian International) levels: Prix St. Georges,
Intermediare I, Intermediare II and Grand Prix.
The Training Scale
The dressage training scale is arranged in a pyramid fashion, with “rhythm
and regularity” at the bottom of the pyramid and “collection” at the top. The
training scale is used as a guide for the training of the dressage horse (or any
horse, for that matter). Despite its appearance, the training scale is not meant
to be a rigid format. Instead, each level is built on as the horse progresses in
his training: so a Grand Prix horse would work on the refinement of the bottom
levels of the pyramid, instead of focusing on only the highest level:
“collection.” The levels are also interconnected. For example, a crooked horse
is unable to develop impulsion, and a horse that is not relaxed will be less
likely to travel with a rhythmic gait.
Rhythm and Regularity (Takt)
Rhythm, gait, tempo, and regularity should be the same on straight and
bending lines, through lateral work, and through transitions. Rhythm refers to
the sequence of the footfalls, which should only include the pure walk, pure
trot, and pure canter. The regularity, or purity, of the gait includes the
evenness and levelness of the stride. Once a rider can obtain pure gaits, or
can avoid irregularity, the combination may be fit to do an exercise more
difficult. Even in the very difficult piaffe there is still regularity: the horse "trots
on the spot" in place raising the front and hindlegs in rhytm.
Relaxation (Losgelassenheit)
The second level of the pyramid is relaxation (looseness). Signs of looseness
in the horse may be seen by an even stride that is swinging through the back
and causing the tail to swing like a pendulum, looseness at the poll, a soft
chewing of the bit, and a relaxed blowing through the nose. The horse will
make smooth transitions, be easy to position from side to side, and will
willingly reach down into the contact as the reins are lengthened.
Contact (Anlehnung)
Contact—the third level of the pyramid—is the result of the horse’s pushing
power, and should never be achieved by the pulling of the rider’s hands. The
rider drives the horse into soft hands that allow the horse to come up into the
bridle, and should always follow the natural motion of the animal’s head. The
horse should have equal contact in both reins.
Impulsion (Schwung)
An upper level dressage horse at the canter.The pushing power (thrust) of the
horse is called “impulsion,” and is the fourth level of the training pyramid.
Impulsion is created by storing the energy of engagement (the forward
reaching of the hind legs under the body).
Proper impulsion is achieved by means of:
Correct driving aids of the rider
Relaxation of the horse
Throughness (durchlässigkeit): the flow of energy through the horse from front
to back and back to front. The musculature of the horse is connected, supple,
elastic, and unblocked, and the rider’s aids go freely through the horse.
Impulsion can occur at the walk, trot and canter. It is highly important to
establish good, forward movement and impulsion at the walk, as achieving
desirable form in the trot and canter relies heavily on the transition from a
good, supple, forward walk.
Impulsion not only encourages correct muscle and joint use, but also engages
the mind of the horse, focusing it on the rider and, particularly at the walk and
trot, allowing for relaxation and dissipation of nervous energy.
Straightness (Geraderichtung)
A horse is straight when his hind legs follow the path of his front legs, on both
straight lines and on bending lines, and his body is parallel to the line of travel.
Straightness causes the horse to channel his impulsion directly toward his
center of balance, and allows the rider’s hand aids to have a connection to the
hind end. Working in an arena can be tricky: the horse moving along the
sidewall will respond to the sidewall and bring the shoulder 'out' (the inside
front hoof will be nearer to the sidewall than the nside hindhoof).
Collection (Versammlung)
At the apex of the training scale stands collection. It may refer to colleted gaits:
they can be used occasionally to supplement less vigorous work. It involves
difficult movements, such as flying changes) in more advanced horses.
Collection requires greater muscular strength, so must be advanced upon
slowly. When in collected gait, the stride length should shorten, and the stride
should increase in energy and activity.
When a horse collects, he naturally takes more of his weight onto his
hindquarters. Collection is natural for horses and is often seen during play in
the meadow. A collected horse is able to move more freely. The joints of the
hind limbs have greater flexion, allowing the horse to lower his hindquarters,
bring his hind legs further under his body, and lighten the forehand. In
essence, it is the horses ability to move its centre of gravity more backward.
This should be shown during each transition to a lower gait, even by a novice
horse.
The dressage training scale is arranged in a pyramid fashion, with “rhythm
and regularity” at the bottom of the pyramid and “collection” at the top. The
training scale is used as a guide for the training of the dressage horse (or any
horse, for that matter). Despite its appearance, the training scale is not meant
to be a rigid format. Instead, each level is built on as the horse progresses in
his training: so a Grand Prix horse would work on the refinement of the bottom
levels of the pyramid, instead of focusing on only the highest level:
“collection.” The levels are also interconnected. For example, a crooked horse
is unable to develop impulsion, and a horse that is not relaxed will be less
likely to travel with a rhythmic gait.
Rhythm and Regularity (Takt)
Rhythm, gait, tempo, and regularity should be the same on straight and
bending lines, through lateral work, and through transitions. Rhythm refers to
the sequence of the footfalls, which should only include the pure walk, pure
trot, and pure canter. The regularity, or purity, of the gait includes the
evenness and levelness of the stride. Once a rider can obtain pure gaits, or
can avoid irregularity, the combination may be fit to do an exercise more
difficult. Even in the very difficult piaffe there is still regularity: the horse "trots
on the spot" in place raising the front and hindlegs in rhytm.
Relaxation (Losgelassenheit)
The second level of the pyramid is relaxation (looseness). Signs of looseness
in the horse may be seen by an even stride that is swinging through the back
and causing the tail to swing like a pendulum, looseness at the poll, a soft
chewing of the bit, and a relaxed blowing through the nose. The horse will
make smooth transitions, be easy to position from side to side, and will
willingly reach down into the contact as the reins are lengthened.
Contact (Anlehnung)
Contact—the third level of the pyramid—is the result of the horse’s pushing
power, and should never be achieved by the pulling of the rider’s hands. The
rider drives the horse into soft hands that allow the horse to come up into the
bridle, and should always follow the natural motion of the animal’s head. The
horse should have equal contact in both reins.
Impulsion (Schwung)
An upper level dressage horse at the canter.The pushing power (thrust) of the
horse is called “impulsion,” and is the fourth level of the training pyramid.
Impulsion is created by storing the energy of engagement (the forward
reaching of the hind legs under the body).
Proper impulsion is achieved by means of:
Correct driving aids of the rider
Relaxation of the horse
Throughness (durchlässigkeit): the flow of energy through the horse from front
to back and back to front. The musculature of the horse is connected, supple,
elastic, and unblocked, and the rider’s aids go freely through the horse.
Impulsion can occur at the walk, trot and canter. It is highly important to
establish good, forward movement and impulsion at the walk, as achieving
desirable form in the trot and canter relies heavily on the transition from a
good, supple, forward walk.
Impulsion not only encourages correct muscle and joint use, but also engages
the mind of the horse, focusing it on the rider and, particularly at the walk and
trot, allowing for relaxation and dissipation of nervous energy.
Straightness (Geraderichtung)
A horse is straight when his hind legs follow the path of his front legs, on both
straight lines and on bending lines, and his body is parallel to the line of travel.
Straightness causes the horse to channel his impulsion directly toward his
center of balance, and allows the rider’s hand aids to have a connection to the
hind end. Working in an arena can be tricky: the horse moving along the
sidewall will respond to the sidewall and bring the shoulder 'out' (the inside
front hoof will be nearer to the sidewall than the nside hindhoof).
Collection (Versammlung)
At the apex of the training scale stands collection. It may refer to colleted gaits:
they can be used occasionally to supplement less vigorous work. It involves
difficult movements, such as flying changes) in more advanced horses.
Collection requires greater muscular strength, so must be advanced upon
slowly. When in collected gait, the stride length should shorten, and the stride
should increase in energy and activity.
When a horse collects, he naturally takes more of his weight onto his
hindquarters. Collection is natural for horses and is often seen during play in
the meadow. A collected horse is able to move more freely. The joints of the
hind limbs have greater flexion, allowing the horse to lower his hindquarters,
bring his hind legs further under his body, and lighten the forehand. In
essence, it is the horses ability to move its centre of gravity more backward.
This should be shown during each transition to a lower gait, even by a novice
horse.
Dressage
