DRESSAGE

The meaning for Dressage is the training of horse & rider to perform movements with ease in a harmonious way.

  Reasons for training:   The Rider:

·        Improve the way you ride your horse / pony.

·        Gives the rider better balance & learn how   to sit more securely  in the saddle.

·        Helps the rider to ride independently & learn how to have contact between hands & legs.

·        Listen to the horse & feel how he goes. Working as partnership together to improve.

Reasons for training:  The horse or pony;

·        Flatwork training working towards dressage

·        Improves  the horse’s balance, straightness, rhythm, contact, suppleness.

·        Impulsion: Encouraging the horse to move forward from your leg, so that the rider is being carried forward, rather than the rider pushing the horse forward all the time.  

·        Suppleness:  The horse works through his back with his muscles free from tension. This then  improves  the suppleness throughout his body,  meaning he can bend his whole body in either direction & straighten with ease.

·         Contact:  this means a soft steady connection between the horse’s mouth & the rider’s hands. The horse shouldn’t bear down on the bit  - which will cause the rider’s arms to ache! or have his head too  high or  become over bend.

·        Rhythm: the horse’s steps become even & regular in the walk, trot & canter.

Any horse or pony from 4 yrs  - 20 yrs old  can improve with schooling, flatwork training makes  good basis from eventing & show jumping.

Area 12  Dressage competition qualifiers are every year.

 Novice / Intermediate / Open class levels.

 More information on the tests & training dates will follow.

 Competition dates – to go along & watch top riders competing:

Addington Manor EQ, Winslow, Nr Buckingham.

 Other Dressage competitions dates can be found on various Equestrian centre websites:

  MKEC: www.mkec.com.uk  

  Addington Manor EQ: www.addingtonmanor.co.uk

  Patchetts Eq: www.patchetts.co.uk

  Bury Farm : www.buryfarmestates.co.uk

  Wing SJ & Dressage centre: www.wingjdc.co.uk

Warehill Eq; www.warehill.co.uk