1. Dancing With Horses
Dressage is a form of horse riding where the horse performs precise, controlled movements in close partnership with the rider. Looking similar to dance, dressage is the very best of skill and intelligence from the horse and the highest level of skill from the rider. The Spanish Riding School based in Vienna, Austria is a world famous school dedicated to dressage at its highest level. Using exclusively white Lipizzaner stallions, they provide a glimpse into the world of dressage.
2. It's All About Control
Dressage is a school of training for horses where they must follow specific instructions or signals and complete complex movements. The rider is responsible for creating a seamless communication with the horse. Several years of careful, skilled training is required to build a bond of trust between horse and rider.
3. History of Dressage
Dressage dates back to the Romans and Greeks. These movements were very important when battles were fought on horseback. The more gymnastic movements would provide a distinct advantage on the battlefield. Dressage became less important when armor and guns were developed for war. These tools removed the need to be physically close to your opponent to physically strike them. Dressage came back into favor as the basis for all other schools of English riding and is now a competitive sport.
4. Putting on the Show
A dressage show requires specific clothes for the rider and equipment for the horse. The rider wears a long coat with tails, a top hat and breaches. The jacket and hat are black and pristine--not an easy feat in a horse barn! The horse's mane and tail are braided. A special double bit bridle is worn with an ornamental headpiece that accentuates the grace of the horse and the stillness of their head. The saddle is not as tight as in other schools of riding, and riders require assistance to mount their horse. The stirrups are much longer, so that the leg is fully extended.
5. Learning Dressage
Before you can learn dressage, you must first master basic English horseback riding. The fundamental skills and muscles take approximately 1 year to develop. At this point, you may start to look for a dressage instructor. The instructor should be associated with a schooling barn, where they will have horses at various stages of training to work with. Only after you have mastered the basic skills should you purchase a horse to train in dressage. After your training, will you be able to identify the traits in a horse that will make them able to learn and succeed in dressage.
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