What is Dressage?
Dressage means "training" in French. It is a sport that involves teaching your horse to be very obedient and perform certain movements. Basic dressage movements include simple transitions, circles, diagonals and the halt, so you are already learning dressage in your lessons. Some other movements include:
Why Should I Practice Dressage?
Even if you choose not to compete in dressage, practicing the movements will help you and your horse in whatever sport you choose. Dressage can help make your horse more obedient and responsive to your aids, making him easier to handle and more fun to ride. Practicing the different movements will also help improve the horse's muscling, balance, and suppleness making him into a better athlete. It will also help you learn to "talk" to your horse better and make the two of you a better team.
How Do I Compete?
Dressage shows are divided into classes based on the ability of the horse-rider combination. Most shows have beginner or training classes that only require very basic movements at a walk or trot. These are a good start for young and inexperienced riders.
Riders compete one at a time by riding a "test" (a pattern that includes certain movements). The judge marks each movement based on how well it is performed. The final score is given as a percentage. At the end of the class, you will receive your scorecard. Use the judge's comments to improve for next time.
What Do I Wear?
Dressage is a formal sport with the top riders wearing dark tail coats, top hats, hunting stock, white breeches, white gloves, black dress boots and spurs. Fortunately, the dress code at lower levels is much less strict. Check with the rules of the show before you go.
At the very least you will need to wear a hard hat or helmet and brown or black boots with heels. Depending on the show, you may also have to wear a black or dark blue jacket and light colored jodphurs or breeches. Your shirt should be light colored with a tie, hunting stock or choker. A hunting stock is like an ascot tie and a choker is a strip of cloth that goes around the neck. Both of these are worn with a stock pin. Gloves should always be worn - preferably black since light colored gloves draw attention to unsteady hands. If your hair is long enough to show beneath your helmet, tie it back in a bun or in a hair net. Neatness counts!
Neatness also counts with your horse. He should be very clean and well groomed and his mane should be braided. Traditional knob-style braids require a mane but other styles can be used for horses with long mane.
Blaze's HoofBeats - December 2001 Issue, 2nd page
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