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Debbie Bowman rides Deacon, an 8-year-old Danish Warmblood, at a recognized dressage show in Lexington. Deacon is owned by the author's daughter, Deb Glaser. |
For THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Dressage, as described by the United States Dressage Federation, is derived from the French word "dresser," meaning "to train." The word may evoke thoughts of elegant riders in top hats and tails, or perhaps memories of the magnificent Lipizzaner stallions of the recent Spanish Riding School tour. It also may elicit groans and thoughts of seemingly endless repetitions of prescribed patterns!
To the everyday rider, it actually lies somewhere in between. Dressage does involve many, many circles, changes of direction and gait. But learning and performing these tasks improves the overall balance, coordination, elasticity and rideability of any horse.
As with so many other sports, the basic skills create the foundation on which the more difficult ones are built. Indeed, there is a distinct pyramid upon which all dressage education is based. It involves communication between the horse and rider, achieved by tiny signals not visible to the onlooker.
Every test is ridden individually. This may attract riders with green or nervous horses (and even nervous riders) because there is only one horse and rider in the ring at a time.
Each test is made up of a series of movements, scored on a scale of one to 10. The horse and rider team with the highest average score wins the class.
Dressage tests are divided into levels, increasing in difficulty from training level through Olympic level. This progression is designed to follow the dressage training scale pyramid. Each test must be performed at a certain spot in the arena.
Training level tests are great for everyone as they require only the basic walk, trot and canter. The patterns are large, and there is plenty of time for each transition between gaits. The movements become more complex for each subsequent level.
Most of the time these complicated tests must be ridden from memory, although on certain occasions the rider may have the test read aloud by someone else.
Learning dressage does not mean that the rider has to show his horse. Some riders simply love to learn the skills and are quite content to practice and build their horse's education. Others want to test their skills at schooling shows as a measure of their progress. Still others like the more formal atmosphere of "recognized" U.S. Equestrian Federation shows and other upper-level shows.
For the dressage enthusiast, skills are practiced until perfect (or nearly so) and accomplishment may be measured in a balanced straight line or a beautifully executed half circle with perfect geometry. For riders of other disciplines, the improved balance and elasticity from dressage helps create better turns to jumps and overall responsiveness of the horse.
The sophistication of dressage lies in the subtle cues given to the horse. The old adage, "If you can see it, it's not correct" certainly applies. Therein lies the fascination and appeal for so many. It requires almost mathematical precision and body awareness. A quiet shift of a single seat bone, tightening of the stomach muscles or gentle vibration of a single finger will cause a shift of direction, an upward transition, or the lifting of the horse's back. It takes years of training to achieve.
Thus, a solid dressage foundation will provide any rider with a horse able to perform intricate movements with grace and precision.
BARBARA SNAPP is a member of the Virginia Dressage Association, Fredericksburg chapter. She can be reached at
Email: tempi97@yahoo.com or 540/895-5118.
