{"id":1064,"date":"2020-02-19T16:33:03","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T16:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horseproperties.net\/blog\/?p=1064"},"modified":"2020-02-19T16:33:03","modified_gmt":"2020-02-19T16:33:03","slug":"horse-training-basic-dressage-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horseproperties.net\/blog\/horse-training-basic-dressage-important\/","title":{"rendered":"Horse Training: Why Basic Dressage Is Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word\u00a0dressage\u00a0either inspires us to greatness or sends us running; cowering into some far forgotten corner in hopes that we don\u2019t hear the word again. \u201cDressage is often referred to as \u201cdancing with horses\u201d or \u201cgymnastics for horses\u201d and when you watch the brilliant riders at Olympic level you can certainly understand why.<\/p>\n

So What Is Dressage?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Dressage is simply educating your horse and refining its movements.<\/p>\n

Modern day dressage is mostly ridden in a 60X20m arena. This arena has letters marked around the outside so that the rider knows to change the movement of the horse at certain markers.<\/p>\n

The original dressage, however, was used on the battlefield.<\/p>\n

Cavalry horses had to be highly trained so as to be able to respond to the slightest movement or command by their riders. This was essential in keeping both horse and rider alive to fight another day.<\/p>\n

So What Does that Mean for the Average Rider?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Well, dressage is just a series of training steps which are divided into levels. As you improve, you can progress through the levels until finally you are happy with the level of education that your horse has achieved.<\/p>\n

For some, that could mean just completing a nice Preliminary test, for others that may mean competing at Elementary level, and for yet others only the Olympic levels may be the ultimate training goal.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The levels of dressage are as follows:<\/strong><\/h4>\n