From the Dressage Canada brochure:
Dressage has been described
as ballet on horseback and compared to the freestyle of figure skating.
The art of dressage is a harmonious blend of power, beauty and
precision. At home, dressage takes several hundred hours of patient
nurturing. It takes years to build the necessary strength and fortitude
to enable the horse to perform these difficult movements with ease and
grace. In the competition ring dressages shows us everthing we think a
horse should be. They are obedient yet independent, they are explosive
yet contained. Movements such as Passage, the elevated trot, and
Piaffe, the trot in place, are just two of the compulsory elements these
elegant athletes are required to perform. In an enclosed arena in
specific patterns you can see the horse floating, skipping and dancing.
The favourite event at any dressage show is the Freestyle Kur. In this
event the riders can exhibit their personal style and artistry by
choreographing required elements to the music they feel is best suited
to their mounts.
The walk, trot and canter are known
as gaits or paces. In each of the gaits the horse moves its legs in a
different sequence and therefore each gait has its own rhythm.
Walk
= a four time pace; meaning four beats to a stride. There are four
variations: medium, collected, extended and free. Look for four equally
spaced beats; active and purposeful but calm.
Trot = A two time
pace; the horse moves in diagonal pairs with an important moment of
suspension when all four legs are off the group. There are three
variations: collected, medium and extended. Look for: active hind leg
stepping energetically under the horse’s body.
Canter = a three
time pace; the horse moves with hind leg touching the ground, then the
opposite diagonal pair move together, then the remaining front leg.
This sequence is then followed by an important moment of suspension when
all four legs are off the ground at the same time. as with trot there
are three variations: collected, medium and extended. Look for:
correct three beat sequence; clear and expressive moment of suspension;
nice height to the front leg reaction through a well bent knee joint.
Half
Pass= Effortless gliding sideways across the ring, as if the horse is
on well-oiled castors, crossing legs so easily. The horse moves forward
and sideways across the ring. The horse is bent into the direction of
the movement and keeps his body almost parallel to the side of the ring.
It is done in both trot and canter. The steeper the angle, the
greater the difficulty. Look For: horse remaining almost parallel to
the side of the ring. Fluent steps with regular rhythm; maintenance of
a gymnastic and balanced pace.
Flying Change:
Exciting
to ride, performed with gymanastic ability and attractive to watch.
Flying changes occur when the horse changes from one lead canter to
another in a single moment of suspension. Flying changes are performed
either individually or in a sequence called tempi changes. At the grand
prix level, sequences of changes are performed either every second
stride or every stride, called one time changes.
Pirouettes:
Demand
maximum coordination between both horse and rider. Done at a walk and
canter. In canter the horse moves the forelegs in a cicle around its
hing legs, which canter more or less on the spot. In grand prix you
will see 360 and 720 degree circles. Look for lowering of the hind
quarter, producing a sitting effect. The number of strides should be 6
to 8 in a 360 degree pirouette. The smaller the circular track of the
hindlegs the better, up to a limit.
Piaffe
A very
demanding and exacting exercise wehre the horse trots, almost on the
spot. Look for diagonal beats, lowering of the hind quarters towards a
sitting position; correct placing, never backward creeping only
centimeters forward; even height and placing of hind feet; good height
and equally flexed front legs.
Passage
A highly
elevated dancing trot. Extemely demanding in terms of concentration and
balance. Look for regular even rhythm; equal spring from active,
flexed hind legs,; good height from well bent legs.