Classical dressage

From ArticleWorld

Classical dressage is the competitive form of dressage that is seen today.

Emphasis

Classic dressage puts emphasis on rider and horse acting together, in harmony. It focuses on a good seat and well-balanced body, which allow the rider to move with the horse and give the proper aids correctly (and subtly, most are not visible to the eye of an onlooker).

History

Classical dressage began more than 2,500 years ago; the first book known on the subject is “On Horsemanship,” by Xenophone. It was originally developed to prepare horses for fights on the battlefield, as a part of cavalry and focused on training the horse to do moves that would allow the riders to escape if surrounded or to empower the riders to fight better. Key movements, which were mostly above-ground (“airs”), include: levade, capriole, courbette and ballotade, which are not seen in classical dressage today (but rather in exhibitions) as well as movements that are still seen in upper-level dressage, such as the piaffe, passage and half-pass.

Today, only two large schools of classical dressage remain: the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and a French school in Saumur.

Classical vs. competitive

Dressage seen today did evolve from the classical school, but with a different emphasis with a variety of levels (from beginners who only walk and trot to Olympic-caliber riders and horses). It does not focus on airs above ground like its counterpart, but rather on movements such as the piaffe, passage, half-pass, extended trot, pirouette and tempi changes. Riders who study classic dressage often criticize competitive riders (and especially those at the lower levels) for using “quick fixes,” not proper training, to prepare a horse for the show ring. This may include training with severe bits or using side reins (not balance) to teach a horse proper head carriage.