| Since the time of the early Greeks, horses have been | | | | with the heavy horses to come up with a faster style |
| used in military maneuvers. This early use of the horse | | | | of horse to fit their purposes. |
| brought about the need for extensive training before | | | | The breeding of the heavy horses with the swifter hot |
| they could be maneuverable enough to be considered | | | | blooded horses, gave birth, literally, to the lineage of |
| military ready. The training and discipline these horses | | | | warm blooded horses that are the earliest lineage to |
| endured was documented by the early Greek General | | | | the current dressage horses most popularly used in |
| Xenophon, who wrote the training documentation that | | | | dressage events of today. |
| was the earliest writing of the principles of dressage. | | | | As a natural progression of the training regimen of |
| Created around 350 B.C. in Greece, his writings | | | | these early dressage horses, and their primarily military |
| conveyed the importance of selection, care and | | | | uses, it led to the inclusion of the dressage equestrian |
| training of horses for both military and general uses. | | | | events in the Olympics. In 1912, the equestrian disciplines |
| Dressage horses are subjected to non-abusive, | | | | of dressage, jumping and eventing were officially |
| progressive training methods that utilize the natural | | | | included in the Summer Olympic Games. |
| athletic ability and intelligence of the horse. | | | | Dressage can be performed by all types and breeds |
| In the horses' early incorporation into the military, the | | | | of horses, as its training principles are effective on all |
| heavy horses were the horse of choice of the time | | | | different types. Dressage competitions of today vary |
| due to the fact that they needed to be able to | | | | and all breeds are allowed to compete, however the |
| transport knights in full armor onto the battlefield. This | | | | warmbloods usually dominate the upper levels of |
| burdensome task called for strong, heavy horses. As | | | | competitive dressage, due to their inborn natural agility |
| cavalries became the military norm, the hot blooded | | | | and athleticism. |
| and swifter Arabians and Thoroughbreds were bred | | | | |