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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.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Florida

So nice to be home. I loved Ashby and the Farm is great in Massachusetts. But, there's no place like home! The horses have all settled in so nicely. And thanks to Ariel, Taylor and Bundi the farm is looking great as well as the horses.
Show already this weekend! Because of the rain we had to run over to Tuny's with Glorious so we could actually ride a bit. Thank you! He was wonderful after two days off and not even turn out. He is getting so grown up!
Noah got to work around the arena in the afternoon and the footing was really pretty good. Tomorrow we will be back in business.
PW I have only ridden once since our return but she was perfect! I am so proud of her. She is also growing up. her balance is so good and she just loves to work, so much fun.
We are so lucky to spend our days with horses!
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