Dressage
Principles of the Dressage Horse:
Principles of the dressage horse - Because dressage training is systemic and sequential, the horse will look more polished and elegant over time. He does what is required and by his own free will without any resistance, submitting to his rider, without hesitation, remaining straight in all movements on a straight and balanced throughout tracking, movements, gaits and paces His gaits are free, supple, active and but not restricted or tense. The canter is united, light and cadenced. The quarters never are inactive or sluggish. He responds to slightest cue of rider and looks lively, spirited body shows impulsion, supple joints. He responds to various aids calmly and with precision, displaying natural and harmonious balance- physically and mentally. He is always on the bit, meaning his neck is more or less raised and arched accordingly to stage of training and extension or collection of the pace. He also accepts the bridle with light and soft contact, holding his head in a steady position, slightly in front of the vertical and with a supple poll. His gaits are rhythmic and maintained in all different exercises and variations of paces.
The following is a list with definitions of the types of dressage:
Principles of the dressage horse - Because dressage training is systemic and sequential, the horse will look more polished and elegant over time. He does what is required and by his own free will without any resistance, submitting to his rider, without hesitation, remaining straight in all movements on a straight and balanced throughout tracking, movements, gaits and paces His gaits are free, supple, active and but not restricted or tense. The canter is united, light and cadenced. The quarters never are inactive or sluggish. He responds to slightest cue of rider and looks lively, spirited body shows impulsion, supple joints. He responds to various aids calmly and with precision, displaying natural and harmonious balance- physically and mentally. He is always on the bit, meaning his neck is more or less raised and arched accordingly to stage of training and extension or collection of the pace. He also accepts the bridle with light and soft contact, holding his head in a steady position, slightly in front of the vertical and with a supple poll. His gaits are rhythmic and maintained in all different exercises and variations of paces.
The following is a list with definitions of the types of dressage:
Classical
Classical is the traditional form of dressage as per the ancient, classical schools of horsemanship. Refer to the International Rider Levels. The Classical tests are currently under revision. Continue using the currently posted ones until the new ones are ready. They will be using the same arena but with the same markers as the Spanish Riding School and the test directives will be a bit differently written.
Walk Trot - This is an excellent beginning class. The gaits are Medium Walk, Free Walk and Working Trot. The horses get used to 20 meter circles. Rider I is strongly suggested. It is also suggested to have a capable coach to help you learn hands on practical horsemanship.
Demi Degree- This is a basic class. Gaits are Medium Walk, Free Walk, Working Trot and Working Canter. In test 4, the horse is asked to stretch down and forward in a circle.
1st Degree- The horse must be working with a level to uphill top-line and has good working gaits. The lengthened stride is also called for. Horses canter the 15 meter circle and are also asked to leg yield.
2nd Degree- This is the start of lateral work. The horse must canter voltes, perform the plié, the renvers, the passade. The turn on the haunches is started. Gaits are Medium and Collected.
3rd Degree- Gaits are Medium and Extended. The horse is also asked to perform the quarter and half pirouette, half pass and flying change.
4th Degree- The gaits are the same. The horse is also asked to show uberstreichen at the canter circle, canter half pirouette and 3 flying changes suggested every 4th stride.
5th Degree- The horse must show excellent collection and extension ability. The horse must also develop the ability to do tempi changes with optional 2, 3, and 4 time. Canter working pirouettes are required.
6th Degree- The horse must show complete collection and extension ability. The horse must also develop the ability to do single tempi changes. The Airs of Manège are performed, including pirouette, natural passage, soft passage and passage. The piaffe is developed up to 10-12 steps. Tempis are 5, 7, 9 and 11 with optional 1 or 2-time.
Classical is the traditional form of dressage as per the ancient, classical schools of horsemanship. Refer to the International Rider Levels. The Classical tests are currently under revision. Continue using the currently posted ones until the new ones are ready. They will be using the same arena but with the same markers as the Spanish Riding School and the test directives will be a bit differently written.
Walk Trot - This is an excellent beginning class. The gaits are Medium Walk, Free Walk and Working Trot. The horses get used to 20 meter circles. Rider I is strongly suggested. It is also suggested to have a capable coach to help you learn hands on practical horsemanship.
Demi Degree- This is a basic class. Gaits are Medium Walk, Free Walk, Working Trot and Working Canter. In test 4, the horse is asked to stretch down and forward in a circle.
1st Degree- The horse must be working with a level to uphill top-line and has good working gaits. The lengthened stride is also called for. Horses canter the 15 meter circle and are also asked to leg yield.
2nd Degree- This is the start of lateral work. The horse must canter voltes, perform the plié, the renvers, the passade. The turn on the haunches is started. Gaits are Medium and Collected.
3rd Degree- Gaits are Medium and Extended. The horse is also asked to perform the quarter and half pirouette, half pass and flying change.
4th Degree- The gaits are the same. The horse is also asked to show uberstreichen at the canter circle, canter half pirouette and 3 flying changes suggested every 4th stride.
5th Degree- The horse must show excellent collection and extension ability. The horse must also develop the ability to do tempi changes with optional 2, 3, and 4 time. Canter working pirouettes are required.
6th Degree- The horse must show complete collection and extension ability. The horse must also develop the ability to do single tempi changes. The Airs of Manège are performed, including pirouette, natural passage, soft passage and passage. The piaffe is developed up to 10-12 steps. Tempis are 5, 7, 9 and 11 with optional 1 or 2-time.
Veteran Dressage
Veteran Dressage is open to horses 15+ years as an option! AND OR riders 40+ years as an option. This is done to support the longevity of the classical horse, who may suffer from a malady or most commonly is arthritis. As well, this type of dressage is aimed at riders, who through the trials of life are also struggling with medical conditions and stress. A horse and rider combination may switch to Veteran Dressage to keep earning awards with previous scores, but a combination cannot use Veteran Dressage scores to count for any other type of dressage awards. Enrollment is FREE but if you need academic help, refer to the International Rider Levels. The Veteran dressage tests are based on the Classical dressage system and the same arena will be used. Keep using the currently posted tests until the news ones are ready.
Veteran Dressage is open to horses 15+ years as an option! AND OR riders 40+ years as an option. This is done to support the longevity of the classical horse, who may suffer from a malady or most commonly is arthritis. As well, this type of dressage is aimed at riders, who through the trials of life are also struggling with medical conditions and stress. A horse and rider combination may switch to Veteran Dressage to keep earning awards with previous scores, but a combination cannot use Veteran Dressage scores to count for any other type of dressage awards. Enrollment is FREE but if you need academic help, refer to the International Rider Levels. The Veteran dressage tests are based on the Classical dressage system and the same arena will be used. Keep using the currently posted tests until the news ones are ready.
Western Dressage
Western Dressage uses the western saddle, there are a few slight differences in this type of dressage. Gaits may not be as dramatic as they are in Classical and Veteran Dressage. The Western Dressage arena is the same as the Modern Dressage arena.
Western Dressage uses the western saddle, there are a few slight differences in this type of dressage. Gaits may not be as dramatic as they are in Classical and Veteran Dressage. The Western Dressage arena is the same as the Modern Dressage arena.
Modern Dressage
Even the Modern dressage program is under reconstruction, the logistics are public. The arena will be the same arena that is used in competitions. The rider will have to wear formal attire as in competitions and may use the whip and spurs regardless of what riding level, however overuse will be penalized.
Even the Modern dressage program is under reconstruction, the logistics are public. The arena will be the same arena that is used in competitions. The rider will have to wear formal attire as in competitions and may use the whip and spurs regardless of what riding level, however overuse will be penalized.
Gaited Dressage
Some horses are trained or bred to have a 4 beat intermediate gait, such as the Standardbred. These tests are similar to Classical Dressage, but are altered because of the inability to show the 2 beat trot. This course is meant to be fun, and to give the gaited riders a place to practice a bit of classical riding. The Gaited Dressage tests use the same arena as for Modern Dressage. This is the classical form of dressage, but designed for horses who naturally have a trot with lateral pairs instead of diagonal pairs. Some breeds are Tennessee Walking Horse, Missouri Fox Trotter, Rocky Mountain Horse, Spotted Saddle, Kentucky Mountain Horse, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso and Icelandic Pony. The goal of this course is to allow riders with gaited horses to try unbiased testing in Classical Dressage. There is absolutely no switching allowed between the types allowed.
Some horses are trained or bred to have a 4 beat intermediate gait, such as the Standardbred. These tests are similar to Classical Dressage, but are altered because of the inability to show the 2 beat trot. This course is meant to be fun, and to give the gaited riders a place to practice a bit of classical riding. The Gaited Dressage tests use the same arena as for Modern Dressage. This is the classical form of dressage, but designed for horses who naturally have a trot with lateral pairs instead of diagonal pairs. Some breeds are Tennessee Walking Horse, Missouri Fox Trotter, Rocky Mountain Horse, Spotted Saddle, Kentucky Mountain Horse, Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso and Icelandic Pony. The goal of this course is to allow riders with gaited horses to try unbiased testing in Classical Dressage. There is absolutely no switching allowed between the types allowed.
Natural Dressage
Dressage done bridleless and without a saddle. The exact same performance is expected. Have fun and ride safe!
Dressage done bridleless and without a saddle. The exact same performance is expected. Have fun and ride safe!
Baroque
Under construction
Under construction
For more information and help with these disciplines refer to International Rider I.
Dressage KÜRS – A kür is a musical freestyle test, where the rider chooses the music to best match the horse and choreographs a pattern to ride to. The goal of this course is to promote musical riding such as done as by the Spanish Riding School. The only three types currently recognized are Classical, Western and Veteran. Tack, Attire and Turn-Out are the same as pending which type of dressage. Each level requires different component movements. Riding higher level movement earns penalty points. Level Time Requirements are: Level 0 – 3 to 4 minutes, Levels Demi to 3rdº are 3.5 to 4.5 minutes and higher is 3.5 to 5 minutes. Each level requires different component movements. Riding higher level movement earns penalty points. Some movements are doubled for points as they are called co-efficients, making them more important. Some movements can be done to the left or the right. It is only necessary to do them once, however they be done both ways in any one test. If any movement is done more than once, each movement is scored and an average is taken for a final mark. The required movements are tallied in the Technical Marks section. Artistic impression marks are scored on the second at the bottom of the test. The Technical score and the Artistic score, less deductions are tallied and calculated to figure the percentage.
the different dressage arenas
The Classical Dressage arena is based on the markers used at the Spanish Riding School. The arena is measured the same as the Competition arena but can be modified to be whatever size a person has with the ration still being 1:3 for width and length, or 1:2 for those with smaller arenas. Even the Spanish Riding School is not the perfect 20 by 60 meters.
There are lines, dots, cross-points and a line on each side of the midline. The tests read a different but are easier to understand and letters are non-existent.
There are lines, dots, cross-points and a line on each side of the midline. The tests read a different but are easier to understand and letters are non-existent.
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CLASSICAL ARENA
(Same as in the Spanish Riding School) 
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