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here for the Training Pyramid | Dressage
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) 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 its
roots in classical Greek horsemanship, mainly through the influence of
Xenophon, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit
during the Renaissance in Western Europe. 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.
Early European aristocrats displayed
their horses' training in equestrian pageants, but in modern dressage competition,
successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance
of "tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard arena.
Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate
to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten
- zero being "not executed" and 10 being "excellent." A score
of 9 (or "very good") is considered a particularly high mark, while
a competitor achieving all 6s (or 60% overall) should be considering moving on
to the next level.
For more information from this site go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressage#Olympic_level
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Half
Pass - lateral movement preformed in collection. The horse travels diagonally
forward between two parallel lines. The horse is bent around the rider's inside
leg, toward the direction of travel, with the forehand slightly in advance whilst
the body of the horse remains parallel to the lines between which he is working. |  |
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- the maximum ground covered by lengthening of the stride with in the gait. The
horse's neck may lengthen slightly and the nose should be just in front of the
vertical. The rhythm and tempo must not alter within the variation in the gaits.
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Pirouette
- the horse moves the forehand around the hindquarters, as in a circle executed
on two tracks with the radius equal to the length of the horse from the tail to
poll. Pirouettes are executed in competition at collected walk and collected canter,
and also can be performed in piaffe. At all paces, the approach, the pirouette
and the departure must be in the same rhythm and tempo, maintaining the same line
and correct sequence of foot falls. |
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Passage
- is a very elevated, cadenced trot. The graceful, prolonged moment of suspension
is in regular equal steps. It is a beautiful elegant and expressive movement. |
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Piaffe - is a collected, elevated trot on the spot. The movement is in regular
equal beats with a moment of suspension between each diagnol. This movement should
give the impression of power and elegance. |
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Losgelassenheit - looseness (translated by Claudia Staubitz, "Dressage
Tips Petrat Wolfgan Holzel") - translated literally this means 'letting loose(ness)'
and implies a state of relaxation, both mentally and physically. To achieve this,
muscles and joints are to be used in a natural unrestrained manner, with maximum
efficiency and minimum strain, while the horses attitude should be one of calmness
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In this losgelassen state, he is able to use his energy to its
full extent. | |
concentration. In this state he can use his energy to its full extent because
he is not tense, afraid or tired and therefore shows no resistance. The outward
signs can clearly be observed in a 'losgelassen' horse - he goes forward rhythmically
and energetically, with loose muscles and a swinging back. It is self evident
that the rider needs the same level of losgelassenheit in order to sit quietly
and smoothly and give soft sensitive and effective aids. |
Durchlassigkeit - submission - of the three technical expressions discussed
here, this one suffers the most distortion when translated into English. To equate
it to 'submission' puts too much emphasis on complete obedience and overlooks
the way of going. Again, the literal translation shows where the German term is
pointing 'a state of letting through'.
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This 5 year old gelding
illustrates the development of durchlassinheit.
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This
'letting through' embraces the aids, the energy, the movement and eventually,
when it has developed, the 'schwung'. Regarding the aids, this does not only mean
that the horse lets the rein aids through to the hindquarters, but also, that
he lets the driving aids through from the hindquarters back into the rider's hands.Further,
there has to be a willing reaction to lateral and weight aids. It is obvious that
such willing and prompt reaction to the aids can only be provided by 'losgelassen'
horse, who has no mental or physical tension or resistence in the way he co-operates
with a sensitive and knowledgeable rider. | |
Schwung - swing - Sometimes people are described as having a certain spring
in their step, and the same combination of physical and mental implications are
contained in the German expression 'schwung'. In general, it describes a containment
and redirection of energy that allows forward movement which comes from the whole
body lifting itself out of the restraints of gravity for a split-second with each
step. A well-trained dressage horse gains increasingly more forward implusion
from his hindquarters, and this, together with a well-developed topline, allows
him to swing through his back and therefore move his limbs freely and efficiently,
almost like a puppet on a string. His athletic power, losgelassenheit and subsequently,
'durchlassig' attitude allow him to submit all his energy and ability to the demands
of the task that the rider is setting, gaining ground with elastic, bouncy steps
and eventually giving expression to his energy in the grace and suspension of
a passage or the concentrated power of a canter pirouette. |
TRAINING
PYRAMID (Dressage Today, March 2002)
 Rhythm
- Germans refer
to this quality as Takt, which means regularity of the rhythm, correct
sequence of the footfall and purity or evenness of the gaits. Relaxation
- Losgelassenheit in German means relaxation in both the mental and muscular
sense of the word. Connection
- The German term, Anlehnung, means a staedy, continuous, elastic connection
in which the horse seeks contact and accepts it. Impulsion
- The German term is Schwung: the powerful swinging thrust from the hind
end, propelling the horse forward and travelling through an elastic back and relaxed
neck. Straightness
- A rider can't even think of collection if the horse has lost his balance on
one of his four legs - if either a shoulder or a hind leg falls out or in. |
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