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StableexpressAmerican Dressage Riders
Posted by Stable Express
5 things you didn`t know about American Dressage
When it comes to showing there are three main categories: show jumping, cross-country and dressage. While we all know what dressage is, there are so many little facts about it that many people may not even know. While having a good foundation of riding is the essence of dressage, there`s so much more to it than you realize. In addition to that, there are slight variances of dressage in the US versus the UK, something many people don`t even realize.So, what are the five top things you probably didn`t know about dressage? Read on to find out.
Dressage Actually Originated In War Time
Dressage was not always the show-offy and well-known sport that it is today. In fact, it began purely for practical reasons, not at all for competition. Back in the 1600s, dressage was used to prepare people and cavalry horses for battle. Today, movements resembling that resembled the piaffe and passage were referenced in text as far back as 350 B.C.
Breed Doesn`t Matter
While many disciples, such as show jumping, are breed-specific or have breeds that excel significantly better than others, dressage isn`t like that at all. In fact, any breed can compete in dressage and one can do it just as well as the next. It`s all about discipline and training.There are of course always going to be horses that tend to be more common, such as the warmblood, you can have any horse, whether it`s a draft or a quarter horse, compete as well.
It Became Popular Much Later
Dressage in America became popular many decades after it was already a competitive sport in much of the rest of the world. It became an International Olympic sport in 1912, but it wasn`t until as late as the 1980`s that the US began to participate in the sport as well.This was primarily because the dollar hadn`t been as strong in the past, but once that changed people could afford to travel to Europe and immerse themselves in it.
Markers are Different
This is a very small difference that many people aren`t even aware exists.
US Dressage Is Based On German Dressage
US dressage training is entirely based on a method developed in Germany. This includes six different aspects to train under which include: rhythm and regularity, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection.Many people don`t realize Germany really developed this and the US borrowed it entirely.
Dressage is all about training and discipline and excelling at developing a bond with your horse. It`s about being elegant and being responsive, which makes it a fascinating difference to other sports such as hunter or show jumping. American dressage does differ slightly and it`s always cool to learn about where this ancient art form and sport came from.
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