Dressage is the first phase in three-day eventing.
It is a very disciplined form of English riding, if you look at dressage in the
competition sense, but really dressage is training of a horse. In German dressage is
Dressür, and in German Dressür can also mean training. This is just to clarify what
aspects there all are in dressage.
Dressage in the competition sense requires horse and rider to move and think as one. When a rider is riding a dressage test their cues are practically invisible. The only ones that should know that the cue is being given are the horse and rider.
Dressage dates back to cavalries in wartime. The horses ridden by the soldiers were often taught some of the intricate movements, still used today, as a strategy in battle. When the other side saw some of the movements the horses did, they became scared and sometimes retreated.
I recommend that every horse be taught dressage. Just a little bit of basic dressage knowledge by horse and rider can really benefit you, no matter what your riding discipline. It helps you to better understand your horse and move as one with him, which will help you in any form of riding. It also teaches the horse how to carry himself in a way that is comfortable to him, resulting in less strain on your horse’s back. So give dressage a try!
Some of the advanced movements in dressage are High School Movements. Not all horses can do these, even Olympic horses. Some of them are:
Slow to medium trot, with suspension between beats.
