Dressage
The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the horse in both mind and body. Every horse, regardless of its type or use, can benefit from this training. Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet.
Competitions are held at many levels, beginning with Walk-Trot and Training Level, and continuing through nine levels to Grand Prix. During a dressage test all movements and certain transitions from one gait or movement to another are numbered and scored from 0 to 10. A score of 0 means that virtually nothing of the movement was performed while a score of 10 is excellent. The individual scores are added and then calculated as a percentage of possible points to come up with a score. The highest percentage wins the class. Tests are different for each level and are written so there is a way to consistently measure the horse’s progress through the levels. Judges are looking for accuracy, obedience, suppleness of the horse, quality of the gaits, and the rider’s use of aids. There are also freestyle musical dressage tests for individual riders, pairs and groups or four and more.
Visit the United States Dressage Federation for more information and check out the Pony Club Dressage site for information on Pony Club activities and opportunities in the discipline of Dressage. (You will need to log into the Pony Club site)
Competitions are held at many levels, beginning with Walk-Trot and Training Level, and continuing through nine levels to Grand Prix. During a dressage test all movements and certain transitions from one gait or movement to another are numbered and scored from 0 to 10. A score of 0 means that virtually nothing of the movement was performed while a score of 10 is excellent. The individual scores are added and then calculated as a percentage of possible points to come up with a score. The highest percentage wins the class. Tests are different for each level and are written so there is a way to consistently measure the horse’s progress through the levels. Judges are looking for accuracy, obedience, suppleness of the horse, quality of the gaits, and the rider’s use of aids. There are also freestyle musical dressage tests for individual riders, pairs and groups or four and more.
Visit the United States Dressage Federation for more information and check out the Pony Club Dressage site for information on Pony Club activities and opportunities in the discipline of Dressage. (You will need to log into the Pony Club site)