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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.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

It's not if you lean forward or back, it's why.

 I was riding around the other day while this idea mulled around in my head. It actually does not need to negatively impact your horse if you are just a little bit forward or a little bit behind the vertical if it is for the right reasons, however, I do not think that instructors always explain this.
  When we ride dressage it is important to let the horse move through our hips, actually learn to follow the horses movement as the first step to developing ones seat. It is after we accomplish this we can ride with an independent seat. This means that we can apply a leg, seat or rein aid with independent balance. I can close my leg and my seat can still swing, I can steer my horse and my seat is still neutral. This is a very important factor.
   If you lean forward because your hips are tight and your upper leg is gripping this will negatively impact your horse. However if you want to go more forward, add energy to the step or give your horse a little room to move you can bring the energy into the front of your body and give your horse the idea to move more freely forward without a big aid. Your hip joint needs to be allowing the movement through and your spine straight, core engaged and ankle and knee soft. This way you are able to keep your seat soft in the saddle without leaving the saddle, but create motion with your energy.
    If you lean back because you need to balance on your hands this will negatively impact your horse, if you lean back because your lower back is tight and not receptive this will not act as the driving aid you believe it to be. If you sit a bit behind the vertical with an engaged core and loose arms and your tail bone slightly tucked you are not causing ill effects to your horse, you are putting yourself in the drivers seat.
      We need to consistently work on our seat, balance and application of the aids to be the best rider we can be.
       I hope this helps you think about how you affect and effect your horse with your posture :)
 Please always feel free to email me nancylaterdressagehorses.com if you have any questions.

        Ride Forward and Have Fun!
                             Nancy
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