The word
"dressage" (rhymes with massage) is French for
"training". Dressage is about the harmonious training
of the horse to reach their full athletic potential while also establishing
an attentively keen understanding and communication with the rider.
Dressage is a competitive sport and an equestrian art form. The
beauty of a well schooled horse and rider, performing harmoniously, is
clearly recognizable. The purpose of dressage is to systematically
produce a horse that is a pleasure to ride, willing and able to respond to
the lightest most invisible of commands, and physically strengthened and
gymnasticized to perform the tasks asked of him.
It should be noted that similar expectations are demanded of the rider!
Riders must be able to invisibly coordinate a multitude of signals and
communications with the horse and responding to the horse's movement and
communication with the rider. The rider must be balanced and
supple on the horse, not gripping to stay in place. And they must be
able to interpret the horses responses and gauge appropriate aids in order
to achieve the desired results. In competitive dressage, this is
precisely and strictly required while performing in specific patterns of
figures and types of movements called tests.
As training progresses, more difficult and complex demands are placed on the
horse, but always within the framework of correct basic gaits and in
movements natural to equines at liberty.
Dressage tests are governed by national and international organizations and
are standardized by level. Tests standardized in the USA begin at
Training Level, then progress in difficulty to First, Second, Third and
Fourth Levels. Following these tests are the International level of
tests standardized by the Federation Equestre International (FEI) and these
levels are Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I and II, and the Grand Prix test
(Olympic level).