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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, August 2, 2010

Free Dressage Afternoon!

Well we had a great time at our FIRST free dressage afternoon, and thank you everyone for coming! And thank you everyone that brought refreshments that was GREAT! We will definitely have another tuesday lesson afternoon before the season is over.
We want to hear from YOU! What can we do to make it better? How can we find more dressage enthusiests and get them to join in? Why are we doing this? Because we want to grow our sport in our area..............so if you want to become involved in getting the word out that dressage can be fun! Please let us know you are out there............and join us on our next free dressage afternoon, Date to be announced! Email Nancy at nancylaterdressagehorses@gmail.com with your comments!! Thank you for joining in!
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