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.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

September in MA means blankets!

 Fall is here in Ashby! PW has no time to say hi as the grass is still abundant in our beautiful paddocks.
 September began with saying see you soon and good bye to some dear friends. first Ariel has had to go back to school and arrives in Florida ahead of us to start her studies. We are happy that it is see you soon! She will travel back to get some riding in over the weekends and we will be happy to see her for the Conrad Schumacher clinic in October.
 Good bye to Ann Friedlander and Sammy and Royal. We will miss you! Two horses that are very dear to my heart and all of us here at Carousel Dressage wish you all the best in your new adventures.
  September means cool mornings, brisk fresh air and bright sunny days. The weather could not be more perfect for riding and my horses feel fit and happy. My two 5 year olds PW and Glorious have come along so well this summer it is such a pleasure to work with them. They could not be more different in type! But, they both bring athletisism and fun to every session I am so lucky to have such great horses! Glorious did his first flying changes last week :) yahoo! and PW well of course she is perfect in everyway, if a bit behind in the excersices she never dissappoints me with her good balance and concentration.
   Noah my buddy is back from Martha's Vineyard and I missed him! He is in great shape and I look forward to getting him into the ring as soon as we are back in Florida. His pirouettes are getting so thru and strong and the relaxation in the changes is coming, slowly slowly but coming!
   Of course I have fun with Sax while Ariel is away and we are gaining relaxation and control of those one tempis! I think she will enjoy his tune up :)
     And I also have time to work on plans for the future! We have committed to a weekend clinic in April "Improve Your Competitive Skills Weekend" April 6-7, 2013 at the Ashby Stock Farm for the jr and yr's of Region 8. I am excited to say that Lois Yukins will be our judge and Dr. Jenny Susser will be in attendance to coach the psychological aspects of competition. This is my new project and in addition to Mr Schumachers clinics I am very excited about it! Please contact me any time if you have questions about the jr/yr project or want to help!
   Dressage! Where Sport meets Art    Enjoy! happy riding :)
                                                                 Nancy  

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)