Frequently Asked Questions
Q: [What is dressage]
A: Classical dressage evolved from calvary movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today. Classical riding is the art of riding in harmony with, rather than against, the horse. Correct classical riding only occurs when the rider has a good seat and a correct and well-balanced body position, moves with the horse's motion, and gives and times the aids correctly.
The origins of classical dressage and collection lie in the natural
ability of the horse and its movements in the wild. In fact, most modern
definitions of dressage state that the goal is to have the horse perform
under saddle with the degree of athleticism and grace that it naturally
shows when free.
Horses naturally use the concept of collection when playing, fighting,
competing and courting with each other. When trying to impress other
horses they make themselves look bigger, just as other animals do. They
achieve this by pumping up the chest, raising the neck and making it
bigger by flexing the poll, while at the same time transforming their
gaits to emphasize more upwards movement. When fighting, the horse will
collect because in collection he can produce lightning speed reactions
for kicking, rearing, spinning, striking with the front feet, bucking
and jumping.
The earliest surviving work
on many of the principles of classical dressage was Xenophon's
On Horsemanship Xenephon emphasized training the
horse through kindness and reward.
In the 15th century, brute force training largely came to an end while
artistry in riding was once again coming into its own. Along with these
developments came indoor riding. The Renaissance gave rise to a new and
enlightened approach to riding as a part of the general cultivation of
the arts. By the Victorian age indoor riding had become a sophisticated
art, with both rider and horse spending many years perfecting their
form.
The horses were trained for a number of airs or schools, above the
ground movements that enabled their riders to escape if surrounded, or
to fight more easily. These included movements such as levade, capriole,
courbette, ballotade. Movements still seen today in dressage include the
piaffe, passage and half-pass
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