Contributors

Dressage


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." Although the discipline has its roots in classical Greek horsemanship, mainly through the influence of Xenophon, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit during the Renaissance in Western Europe. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and 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," 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 ten being "excellent." A score of nine (or "very good") is considered a particularly high mark, while a competitor achieving all sixes (or 60% overall) should be considering moving on to the next level.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Conrad Schumacher Symposium

Exciting news!!!! We have settled on a date for our Symposium with Mr Schumacher!

Save the Date! September 24 + 25, 2011

Bill McMullin, Bill Warren, Dry Water Farm and Carousel Dressage will be hosting a Trainers and Instructors Symposium.

This is a NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT!

We are looking for Sponsors and Volunteers and Riders so please contact us for more details 561 714 7447 Nancy or totallynancy@yahoo.com

2 comments:

  1. I will volunteer if I can't ride! :)

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  2. Hi Nancy .. I'm just about to send my auditor form for sundays conrad clinic... What time does it begin in the am ? If you go on Friday is that university accredited too? I think it's one credit per 8 hr day but it looks like that's only for the weekend... Can't wait! Saw him in ky in 04 and I'm still using things I learned! Thanks andrea
    Magiclucya@aol.com

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