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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.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Gladstone

Matt and I made a trip to Gladstone to support our friends that are trying out for our WEG team. What a beautiful day. New Jersey weather was kind to the riders and it was cool and not too humid for the morning Grand Prix. They have done a wonderful job renovating the indoor arena! That is so nice to see, it is no longer dark and depressing but beautiful light finished kickboards and eurofelt footing gives us the feeling that we have people that are interested in promoting our sport and riders!!! Fantastic!!
I was dissappointed not to see more spectators.........we need to rally the troops and be there to congratulate all of the great combinations that have made it this far in these WEG trials.
I will stay away from commenting on all the rides. There were alot of great things and it was wonderful to see the improvement in many of these horses. If you have the opportunity to make the drive to New Jersey DO IT!! They need our support and energy, it is our sport and we need to show people that it means something to us!!!
If you cannot go in person Mary has a link on DressageDaily.com and you can watch it live.
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