| Equestrian Olympic Games - Dressage: | | | | Competition's in dressage will test the physique and |
| The origin of dressage, this type of training can be | | | | ability of the horse, this will also place a high degree of |
| tracked back to Greece. This is traced back to the | | | | demand and understanding between the horse as well |
| third and fourth century Greeks. Ancient Greeks | | | | as the rider. As with the Olympic Games, A most |
| studied in the system of training there horses, both | | | | advanced part of the international test, competition |
| artistically and as an efficient means of improving there | | | | must be able to with stand the Grand Prix test. Each |
| cavalry performance. Greeks realized that a properly | | | | of these riders are given the same amount of time to |
| trained obedient horse would be of much greater use | | | | complete this test, all competition must ride the same. |
| to the riders wish, Hence of more use for the soldier's | | | | A prescribed test and demonstration of a variety of |
| to have in there possession. If a proper trooper was | | | | figures and movements. These entries are to be |
| on a horse he could not control, he was in turn of no | | | | judged on how they execute these required tests of |
| use to his fellow soldiers. | | | | movements. |
| Therefore improving the cavalry was of great | | | | Almost any breed of horse may be trained in the art |
| importance to the Greeks. Greek horsemen were | | | | of dressage, usually the larger European breeds are |
| innovators of devising a systematic approach to the | | | | chosen. These include the Swedish Warmblood or the |
| keys of horse management. General Xenophon was | | | | German Hanoverian, these types of horse are well |
| one of the first to write two books on the subject of | | | | suited for this type of training and are very popular. If |
| horse training. In the world of modern and changing of | | | | you are thinking about dressage training, there are |
| constants, its very interesting that Xenophon's theories | | | | some points to look for in the horse itself. The horse |
| on training and riding horses is just as much value as it | | | | should be energetic, and show an interest to the rider, |
| was at his time. Today what General Xenophon's | | | | the horse also needs to under the riders control, also |
| style and training is now called dressage. | | | | willing to carry out the riders commands. Control and |
| It's interesting to note that the word dressage is | | | | energy are what were looking for in the quest of the |
| actually a French word, it was not a widely used word | | | | proper horse for dressage. |
| to describe this classic form of horse training until the | | | | If its only to read and study about the history and love |
| time of the early eighteenth century. The word | | | | of things Equestrian. |
| dressage is derived from the French word dresser, | | | | It still holds a lot of information and learning potential for |
| this in turn means “to train or adjust”. Of course, | | | | your mind to develop on something new. |
| the true goal of what we call dressage training is for | | | | See the potential and learn about things that are |
| our horse to produce harmony and peace with its rider. | | | | Equestrian today. |