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What is Dressage?

The training of the horse in obedience and deportment (self carriage), and the harmony between horse and rider to create an art where horse and rider perform a movement that is beautiful.

Have you watched your horse playing in the field? All dressage movements are based around the natural ability and athleticism of your horse or pony when running free.

Watch him lengthen and shorten his stride, prance around in passage, swing sideways, rein back, cantering, twirling around in pirouettes and throwing in the flying changes. All he has to do now is perform these movements with a rider on top!! How?

This involves the development and control of the horses natural talent to be eager to work with the rider to show balance, suppleness, submission and power that makes him joyful to both watch and ride.

Why should we do Dressage?

We already do! Whenever we walk, trot or canter our horse or pony. Whether you are warming up to show jump, cross country or even hacking down the road this is all flat work which is what dressage is.

Everyone does dressage all of the time we just don't realise. Show jumpers may need to change the length of stride in between a double or related distance fence to put their horse in the correct place to take off to enable him to jump the fence - this is dressage.

When riding cross country you will maybe need to shorten your horse stride and gather him up before the fence - this is also dressage. Dressage is flat work. The bits before and after the fences.

How do we get better at Dressage?

Practice and training.Riding to music often helps, as this can improve natural rhythm and tempo. It can also help you and your horse to relax. For more details see dressage to music pages.

Where and how?

You can train with the pony club by attending rallies and specific dressage related rallies and training sessions. You may have your own instructor. It is also important to get some match practice in at a level where you feel comfortable.

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