| Dressage is a word for the French language; it simply | | | | amount of time spent in this stage of training is of |
| means "to train." | | | | course, dependent upon the horse's conformation and |
| In its purest form, dressage is meant to improve the | | | | the rider's ability to be steady and consistent. |
| horses balance, and quickness of response to the | | | | Confirming the connection is something that is a must |
| clear communication of the rider. All styles of riding | | | | even when the horse has progressed to a higher |
| come down to these two elements, balance and | | | | degree in its training.o The fourth point of this discourse |
| connection. If one of them is missing, riding ceases to | | | | is about, beginning to work with the horses muscles like |
| be fluid and graceful. | | | | a rubber band. This would be referred to as, working |
| This may sound so simple on paper but, to execute | | | | to develop the longitudinal suppleness of the horse. |
| this type of fluid graceful motion from the horses back | | | | Once there is a degree of suppleness combined with |
| side; a totally different story. Here are some simple but | | | | obedience, the horse can begin to build the increased |
| all important tips to follow in riding dressage:o First, one | | | | muscle power for carrying; compression and thrust. |
| must accomplish the ability to go with the motion of the | | | | The horse must be able to move quickly from a light |
| horse to such a degree, you become as one and the | | | | squeeze of the calf and in turn understand he is to |
| horse moves as if you are not even there. After all, | | | | stop or slow down from a slight resistance to the |
| dressage is meant to enhance the natural beauty, fluid | | | | motion from the rider and a little pressure on the bit. |
| and graceful movement of the horse.o Secondly, a | | | | The objective here is to develop obedience and |
| young, or green horse that does not understand or | | | | confidence to the aids so the horse is able to lengthen |
| accept the contact with the bit, will try to find a position | | | | and shorten the stride within a particular gait.o Lastly, |
| of carriage where that contact no longer exists. Since | | | | we will address what I call lateral suppleness. This is in |
| horses are truly creatures of habit, they will repeat | | | | reference to the side to side balance the horse needs |
| whatever movement or specific carriage provided | | | | to be able to maintain during circles, corners and |
| them with even just a moment of escape from the | | | | particular dressage movements. The spine of the |
| contact with the bit. Therefore, to encourage | | | | horse does not bend as humans. Instead, their spinal |
| confidence and acceptance of the bit, a rider must | | | | column is rather ridged and there is more bend being |
| work to keep the contact as much the same at all | | | | achieved just behind the fore legs and in front of the |
| times, no matter where the horse places its head. | | | | hind legs. As long as the requests of the rider are not |
| Once the contact is accepted, the horse will no longer | | | | extraneously beyond the horse's capability, the horse |
| try to negotiate or escape the consistent pressure of | | | | will continue to gain confidence in the rider and be |
| the bit and will carry its head and neck in a position that | | | | willing to yield its massive body to their request. The |
| is comfortable for that horse in relation to its | | | | horse must continually be pushed as in, "pushing the |
| conformation. The amount of consistent pressure is | | | | envelop," otherwise no progress would be made and |
| not necessarily important, within reason of course, but | | | | both horse and rider would eventually fizzle out from |
| the lighter the contact; the more difficult it is to keep | | | | shear boredom. Lateral suppleness then increases with |
| exactly the same.o Thirdly, when you have arrived at | | | | the use of smaller circles, deeper corners and |
| that place where the horse has accepted the contact; | | | | particular dressage movements. |
| maintaining a steady carriage, with a fluid consistent | | | | Main point to remember, balance and connection need |
| gait. You need to continue to build confidence with | | | | to be maintained first and foremost. It is not sheer |
| your steady feel and motion, creating one singular | | | | repetition that gets results, it is practicing perfect |
| mood. This is the beginning of a connection. With a | | | | repetition. If the quality, freedom, graceful fluid |
| connection, you are now able to effect and improve | | | | movement is lost when performing any exercise with |
| the balance. Young or green horses frequently lose | | | | the horse, then you know one of the elements has |
| their balance, especially if the rider is over zealous in | | | | been lost. Once the horse is confirmed in the |
| their demands on the horse. Such as, riding too deep | | | | connection, it is generally the balance that has been |
| into the corners or circles that are too small or | | | | lost first, and if this is not recognized and restored |
| requesting collection when the ability for the horse to | | | | immediately, the loss of connection will soon follow. |
| be in self carriage and shifting weight to the rear is not | | | | This is riding (training) dressage in a nutshell, without |
| present. At this stage of training, the rider just needs to | | | | delving into the description and elements needed to |
| concentrate on the steadiness, performing mostly | | | | perform movement's particular to dressage. |
| straight lines connected by gradual curves. The | | | | |