What the Hell is Dressage Anyways?

Matt Eagan's Dressage Blog

I've had a lot of people ask what the hell I am doing since dressage is not a well know sport here in the States. Below is a brief definition: "Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet" (cf. nl:Dressuur). Although the discipline has ancient roots, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit in the West during the Renaissance. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage." Here a link to a Grand Prix Freestyle ridden at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (World Championships) by Anky Van Grunsven ridding Keltic Salinero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJGEzI3aIc&feature=related.

Side Note: This picture is courtesy of Equestrian of Stockholm. This is not me or my horse but a beautiful picture.

Link to Matt's Dressage Blog: http://mattdressage.blogspot.com