sustainabledressage

Often called equine ballet, dressage can be just as intricate to understand as its human counterpart. The purpose of this article is to provide a quick glossary to some of the more frequently used and heard terms around the barn, training arena, and show ring.Impulsion: The releasing of a horse’s energy as it carries itself forward in a seemingly eager and desirous manner.Lightness: Simply stated, the horse’s lightness on its feet in relation to movement, carriage and gaits a sign of willingness, eagerness, and obedience. Continue Reading »

Often called equine ballet, dressage can be just as intricate to understand as its human counterpart. The purpose of this article is to provide a quick glossary to some of the more frequently used and heard terms around the barn, training arena, and show ring. Activity: Refers to energy and liveliness of the horse’s movement with special emphasis placed on the hind legs.Alignment: How straight the horse carries itself from poll to tail.Balance: A horse is considered in “good balance” when the distribution of weight between the fore and hind legs (longitudinal balance) and the left and right legs (lateral balance) is equal in all gaits and strides.Bend: The curvature position of horse’s body during certain movements that is even in curvature from poll to tail. Continue Reading »

A previous article stated that one of the beauties of dressage (apart from the agility and grace of the equine athlete) is that horses of any breed, sex, age, color or size can compete respectably within the dressage court and yes, that even includes the mustang and the mule.The American Mustang and Bureau Association writes that the American Mustang is “athletic and durable;” two traits that rank pretty high on the wish list for any dressage prospect.In fact, a visit to the association’s website show cases a stunning bay gelding named Leviticus (Levi) who was captured in the wilds of the Black Rock Desert, adopted out in late 1996 to his current owner, and is now competing at Prix St. George. Continue Reading »

Not only is the discipline of dressage beautiful, but the beauty OF dressage is that horses can be of any breed, sex, age, color or size.All that is really required are the basics of exceptional movement in gaits (walk, trot and canter) and a good temperament and sound conformation.There’s no doubt that some breeds seem more popular than others, but in actual fact, all breeds (even mules) have competed successfully in the dressage court. Continue Reading »

Since competitive dressage is descended directly from royal presentations by European aristocracy it’s critical that the horse be turned out at a very high level of visual appearance to pay homage to the discipline’s regal history.There are rules that regulate the types of tack that can be used in competition, and dressage competitors are urged to check the rules pertaining to equipment such as nosebands, saddle pads, types of bits, or protective boots as there are strict guidelines that must be adhered to. Continue Reading »