Basic definition of dressage
Dressage is a French word for 'training'. The basic goal of dressage is to develop a horse's flexibility and responsiveness to aids and balance. 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 movements while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless.
Dressage is the basic schooling for every riding horse. Also show jumpers need a solid dressage training to be succesful in their equestrian discipline.
The idea of dressage is to enable the horse to carry as much as possible of his own and his riders weight over his hindquarters. This results in lightening of the forehand and makes the horse much easier to steer and to stop. In dressage competitions, horses perform tests. These tests reflect the movements used in dressage training and so, assess the horse's correct progress towards the goals of suppleness, balance and obedience. These tests or dressage competitions range from basic levels to professional and even the Olympic Games.
History of dressage
The history of dressage dates back to more then two thousand years ago. The ancient Greeks were the first to practice dressage in preparation for war. The Greek Commander Xenophon, born about 430 BC, wrote the earliest obtainable work on training horses, titled Hippike, translated to The Art of Horsemanship. The Greeks did not use a saddle or stirrups, but historians are convinced that they used a jointed snaffle. Remarkably, most of what Xenophon wrote in his book still holds true today. Xenophon's men rode stallions into battle because they were thought to be braver showing more aptitude for pirouetting, leaping, turning, and moving sideways. The link with our modern top dressage horses is obvious.
The Iberian-Celt form of combat adopted by the Romans later on included the use of similar horses ridden with a curb bit and light armor. Like the Greeks, the Romans rode with a very classical seat creating engagement with the horse well back on his hocks. It is interesting to note that the great dressage masters of our modern times still refer to the Romanic school as a term to indicate a highly collected, agile form of riding based on lightness in hand.
Classical dressage fell into a great lull when Rome fell at the hands of the barbarians in 410 AD. The Renaissance period, originating in Italy and spreading across Europe, brought dressage back to its recognition. With the introduction of small firearms, cavalry leaders needed to regroup their approach to battle in order to be successful. The Spanish, the Barb, and the Lusitanian dressage horse held preference over other breeds because of their ability to perform the classical airs.
The School of Versailles was a name given to the French Court of equitation promoted in all its splendor by Louis XIV. During his reign, the masters who were known as ecuyers published many great works. Of all these masters, the most notable was Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere whose book ECOLE DE CAVALERIE was published in 1729.
The strong classical dressage heritage of the Germanic school was intrinsically linked to that of Austria and Hungary since they were under the same Imperial Crown. Germany was in political upheaval during the Thirty Years War (1618-48), and the need for a superior cavalry horse inspired the Germans to use more hot blood in their breeding program. By the end of the eighteenth century, the Germans decided the requirements of the cavalry horse were as follows: speed, for attacks at the gallop; obedience, for collection and agility in face-to-face single combat; and safety over cross-country terrain. The culmination of this process resulted in the descendants of the modern day warmbloods. It was this commitment to campaign riding that Germans developed a highly organized, systematic approach that attributes to their enormous success in today's competitive dressage arena.
The first Olympic Dressage games were held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. These equestrian games were only open to cavalry officers, and the dressage test consisted of collected and extended gaits, rein-back, turn on the hocks, four flying changes on a straight line, and jumping five small obstacles, one of which was a barrel rolled towards the horse.
Main dressage competitions
Olympic Games
Dressage is an official Olympic discipline. The Olympic Games are held every four years. The last edition of the Olympic games was held in Athens (Greece) in 2004. The ruling dressage champions are: Anky van Grunsven from the Netherlands (individual gold medal) and Germany (team gold medal).
The next Olympic games will be held in 2008 in Hong Kong (China).
FEI World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games (World championship) also take place every four years (in the even years in between two Olympic Games). The latest edition were held in 2006 in Aachen (Germany). the dressage champions here are: Isabell Werth from Germany and Anky van Grunsven from the Netherlands (individual) and Germany (team).
The next World Equestrian Games will be held in Kentucky (USA).
Continental Dressage Championships
These are held every two years in uneven years (in between Equestrian Games and Olympic Games). The latest European championships were held in 2005, current title holders are Anky van Grunsven (individual) and Germany (team). The next European championships will be held in 2007.
With all the individual titels for Anky van Grunsven from the Netherlands and the team titels for Germany it is clear that these two countries dominate the dressage scene.
At international dressage competitions regulated by the FEI, riders and horses are expected to perform the following dressage tests:
- Prix St-Georges (of medium standard)
- Intermediate 1 (of relatively advanced standard)
- Intermediate 2 (of advanced standard)
- Grand Prix is a highly demanding five-and-a-half-minute test requiring all of the basic dressage schooling movements plus the fundamental airs of the Classical High School, including pirouettes (pivots on the spot at a prescribed gait), piaffe, passage and flying lead changes.
- Grand Prix Special is a seven minute test requiring the same dressage movements as the Grand Prix but in a different order and with increased focus on the more advanced dressage movements
- Grand Prix Freestyle (Kür) is performed to the accompaniment of a musical score. Most of the marks, based on purity of action, rhythm and regularity, impulsion and collection, are for technical dressage performance.
Other dressage competitions
Dressage competions for all levels from beginner to professional are held by national and regional equestrian organisation. Check our link directory for websites from dressage competitions and national equestrian organisations.
Dressage Horses
Most horses are capable of performing to preliminary or novice levels of dressage competition. Only few have the conformation, strength and temperament to compete within the highest levels of dressage. The elite dressage horse is indeed a great athlete demonstrating strength, balance and power. The most important skill for the dressage horse to obtain is that of engagement and collection which is required to be able to perform the difficult high level dressage movements. Specific conformation traits make it easier for the dressage horse to perform its task, and take it to high levels whilst maintaining soundness. The most important of these conformation traits are in the horses’ hind quarters, as for the majority of dressage movement the horse needs to carry its weight on its hind.
References: About: Horses, Dressage World, Eques, Wikipedia
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