14/11/2017
The word Dressage comes from a French term meaning "training." The object of Dressage is the harmonious development of the physical ability of the horse, resulting in a calm, supple, flexible animal, both longitudinally and laterally. The horse should be confident and in perfect understanding with his rider. Dressage is not only a method of schooling, but also a competitive equestrian sport. It is considered "classical training," as it uses a series of gymnastic exercises and movements which have been studied and developed for centuries.
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, with its white Lipizzan stallions is, perhaps, the most familiar institution dedicated exclusively to the art of Classical riding. The history of Dressage dates back more than 2,000 years to the Greeks and the Romans, the former, being the first to practice Dressage in preparation for war. It was this culture that believed nothing could be obtained correctly or harmoniously without the strict adherence to the laws of the universe. The Greek Commander, Xenophon, born in 431 BC, believed in sympathetic horsemanship and is cited to have been the original ‘horse whisperer.’ He wrote the earliest obtainable work on training horses, titled ‘Peri Hippike,’ or ‘On Horsemanship.’ The Greeks did not use a saddle or stirrups, but historians are convinced they used a jointed snaffle. Remarkably, most of what Xenophon wrote in his book still holds true today. (Dressage 101: The History of Dressage By Linda Weldon.)
At Shekinah Glory Stud, we teach our riders the classic way of Dressage, as we believe in working harmoniously with our horses. Instead of "hanging in their mouths" the rider learns to engage using their seat just as Xenophon did. This builds confidence and re-assurance within a rider, as well as independence.
