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One
of the more popular competitive equestrian sports,
dressage first became included as an event in the
Olympic Games of 1912. Dressage is a true test of
a horse's fitness and obedience to the rider and
is considered the foundation training for equestrian
sports. Its objective is the harmonious development
of the physique and ability of the horse which will
result in a horse that is supple, calm, loose and
flexible but also confident, and keen, thus achieving
a perfect working partnership with the rider.
It may appear boring to
one who does not understand the sport but in dressage,
the horse and rider partnership must perform a set
pattern of related movements on the flat. The horse
should give the impression of happily doing of his
own accord what is required without too many visible
'aids' or too much 'steering' from the rider, doing
what comes naturally but with a rider astride.
A good dressage horse takes
many years of dedicated training to develop and
is a sport that demands pace and precision from
both the rider and horse.
In a dressage competition,
the horse is put through the different paces and
change of direction. The horse is required to walk,
trot and canter and the transition from one gait
to the other must be smoothly and precisely executed.
For each gait, the four paces of collected, working,
medium and extended are judged. Additionally, the
halt, rein back (stepping backwards), transitions
from one pace to another, the half halt and the
smoothness of the changes of direction are also
evaluated.
The duo is also required
to do several figures. The volte, the serpentine
and the figure eight, the lateral movements (moving
sideways), the full and half pirouettes, the changes
of leg and the flying changes, the passage and the
gaffe for which they will be judged. The pirouette
is a full 360 degree turn at the canter with the
hind legs marking time on the spot while the passage
is a slow elevated trot forward. Slow trotting on
the spot is called the piaffe
Like in showjumping, horses
are also graded and the levels are Preliminary,
Novice, Elementary Medium and Advanced. Grading
is based on the number of points earned by placings
in recognized competitions each year.
The competition takes place in an arena that is
marked by letters placed outside the enclosure.
These letters are not placed in a running order
as one will expect. However, when the rider is doing
a test, he has to follow a set cone around the arena.
There are several classes
in dressage competitions, from Preliminary to Grand
Prix. If a competitor is doing an official FEI test,
he must do it from memory, i.e. like what movement
is required at which section of the course car when
the transitions, etc. Other tests may be 'commanded',
or read aloud from the side of the arena by the
rider's associate.
The number of judges for
each test depends on the level, the higher the level,
the more the number of judges. The judges will observe
all the same movements from different viewpoints
of the arena. Marks are awarded for paces, impulsion
and submission as well as the rider's position.
It is hard to get unanimity in marks because judges
have their own opinions.
Freestyle to Music is the
most popular by far with spectators where dressage
is concerned. Riders will choreograph set movements
to suit their horses and the music, enabling them
too show off the horse's stride and rhythm to the
best advantage. If this test is well executed one
will see the synchronisation of the horse's movement
to the tempo of the music.
Top Level dressage can
be described as 'the ballet of equestrian sport'
and many do regard it as an art form. Movements
are given the same terms as in ballet like 'pox
de deux' and 'piroutte'. Very good and experienced
riders make it look really easy, but that is far
from the truth.
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