The word dressage sounds like massage - and comes from the French word dresser, to train. To the untrained eye it looks easy, but like many equestrian sports, it serves the needs of a diverse range of horse lovers. It's an Olympic equestrian sport; yet a basic training discipline for the backyard horse.

The fundamental purpose of dressage is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, the horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. Dressage teaches a horse to be obedient, willing, supple and responsive. The horse freely submits to the rider's lightest "aids" or body signals, while remaining balanced and energetic. The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the horse in both mind and body, and every horse, regardless of its type or use, can benefit from this training.

Dressage principles are a logical, step-by-step progression from simple to increasingly complex movements. More and more is asked of the horse as it becomes mentally and physically ready to respond to these demands.


Dressage dates back to classical Greek horsemanship and the military who trained their horses to perform movements whilst in battle intended to evade or attack the enemy. The earliest work on training horses was written by Xenophon, a Greek Military Commander born around 430 BC.

The piaffe movement lent itself as a spring for sudden advance; the levade, a highly collected half-halt for reaching down with a slash of the sword or aim of the pistol, or an evasion tactic. The pirouette could be used to wheel away from or towards the enemy. The courbette, which towers a horse high into the air, could easily disperse foot soldiers. The capriole, a giant leap into the air, was an effective means of escape over the heads of the infantry. Flying changes were an absolute necessity to keep the horse handy and mobile in the battlefield.

 


The graceful movements performed in competition may look effortless, but are the result of years of training. The aids should be virtually imperceptible. A squeeze of the calf, a closing of the fingers, a shifting of the rider's weight in the saddle should be all that is necessary to tell the horse what is required.

Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. The result is truly the best blend of sport and art. The highlight of a dressage competition is the Musical Freestyle in which the rider creates and choreographs to music an original ride of compulsory figures and movements.
 

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