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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.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

 June in Ashby is absolutly beautiful! Last week John was haying. The hill was in different degrees of preparedness, Some grass still standing.... some cut, some in rows, some being baled. John is an artist when it comes to the hay. The hillside is cut into sections so he is able to manage each section cut, dry, baled and into the barn in the most efficient way possible. I am not sure that he realizes what an artist he is!
  Although we had some hot weather, for hte most part the air has been fresh and the horses happy with this. Such a welcome change from Florida.
   My kids are doing great. Glorious has started to feel confident in his big boy movement. We are working everyday only to keep him supple and happy and his stride is growing as well as his muscles! PW is also becoming more confident. Rikke did a fantastic job over the winter just helping her to understand the balance and her job. Thank you! Now she is such a pleasure to work with and her work is maturing. My two five year olds are the high light of my day.
      Ariel and Sax are making good progress.    The show at Westbrook was a big improvement in the Young Rider GP :) After their wonderful demo on saturday in the Dancing Our Way to the Podium demonstration, Sax still had some energy left for his test! We still have some work to do on putting the whole test together, but it is so great for Ariel to have such a wonderful horse to learn on.
      Taylor and Cookie made some major progress in the ridability of the Young Rider tests over the weekend. Cookie is looking relaxed and attentive and Taylor is articulating the test with alot more precision then a short time ago. It is a fun journey to be part of and Taylor is fine tuning her skills everyday and shows alot of promise as a competitor and a trainer.
       Ann Friedlander's Royal also joined us at westbrook for his first outing since we purchased him a little more then a year ago. He has a wonderful demeaner and was well received by the judge receiving 71% ! Several 8's and a 9 helped him to win his class!
        So many other things going on....... I have been asked to help sunday in the Emerging Athletes program at Bear Spot Farm, then off the Germany to watch in Aachen :) YEA! Thanks Maggie!, back in time for Lendon's D4K show in Saugherties, off to Kentucky with Taylor for Young Riders and then back for the CADI at Bear Spot in the beginning of August. There are so many great things going on for the kids in New England, IT IS JUST FANTASTIC!
             Looking forward to a summer filled with great riding and good horses! I wish this for you as well :)
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