How To Dressage

Main Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Article Categories
    • The Scales of Training
    • Dressage Theory
    • For The Rider
    • The Horse’s Paces
    • Dressage Movements
    • Dressage Competition
    • Horse Care
    • Dressage Troubleshooting
    • Interviews with GP Riders
  • Training Forum
    • Recent Posts
    • Register
    • Login
  • Our Book Range
  • Our Podcast
  • FREE STUFF!

logo

Header Banner

How To Dressage

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Article Categories
    • The Scales of Training
    • Dressage Theory
    • For The Rider
    • The Horse’s Paces
    • Dressage Movements
    • Dressage Competition
    • Horse Care
    • Dressage Troubleshooting
    • Interviews with GP Riders
  • Training Forum
    • Recent Posts
    • Register
    • Login
  • Our Book Range
  • Our Podcast
  • FREE STUFF!
Dressage Theory
Home›Dressage Theory›How are Dressage Horses Trained?

How are Dressage Horses Trained?

By How To Dressage
October 14, 2019
1574
4
How are Dressage Horses Trained
big book of dressage exercises


One question that many people would love to know the answer to is, “how are dressage horses trained?”

That’s a big question that doesn’t have a simple answer!

There are many facets that make a successful dressage horse, and it takes many years to train one through from novice to the very highest level.

In this article, we take a closer look at how dressage horses are trained.

The dressage horse’s paces

Although any correctly and diligently trained horse can perform all the movements up to advanced level, only those animals that possess naturally expressive paces usually make it through to Grand Prix level.

However, that doesn’t mean to say that every successful dressage horse has a big floating trot and a huge, off-the-ground canter. Big movers often fly through the early levels. However, progress in their training grinds to a frustrating halt when these horses are asked to compress their bodies and develop collection.

The ideal dressage horse will have a natural athleticism and ability to use his hind legs to balance himself. Also, the perfect dressage horse should have a naturally balanced canter.

All the paces must be correct. That is, each gait must have pure, uncorrupted rhythm. Flaws in the walk and canter are severely penalized by dressage judges and cannot easily be improved.

The horse’s natural trot can be quite ordinary. But through correct schooling to make the horse fitter and stronger, the trot can be made bigger and more expressive, compensating for any limitations. Also, if the horse’s trot is not huge, it’s easier for him to learn and understand piaffe and passage and master the transitions between the two.

Related Reads: 

  • About The Horse’s Walk Gait in Dressage
  • About the Horse’s Trot Gait in Dressage
  • About the Horse’s Canter Gait in Dressage

Trainability

A dressage horse must have a trainable attitude. If the horse tends to be resentful, stubborn, or excessively “hot,” training him to work in harmony with his rider will be challenging.

Ideally, the horse will enjoy his work and have a relaxed, willing, but forward-going demeanor.

What’s the correct age to begin training a dressage horse?

The age at which to start training a dressage horse depends on several factors, including his build and temperament.

Generally, heavily built horses should be started later than lighter boned individuals.

The usual age to start work under saddle is three or four years, when the horse is mentally and physically able to handle the work. At that age, the horse is not strong enough to offer resistance and is not so set in his ways that he can’t learn.

Whatever age you begin training your dressage horse, you should always be patient and encourage respect, rather than fear.

How long does it take to train a dressage horse?

When training a dressage horse, it’s vital that you don’t rush things and make the mistake of asking the horse for too much too soon.

You must ensure that the horse is physically strong enough to do what you are asking him to do. Some people make the mistake of trying to forge ahead with the horse’s training, forcing him to perform movements that he finds physically difficult. That often results in the horse picking up an injury that can sometimes end a promising dressage career.

It usually takes around five years to train a horse to Grand Prix level, assuming that you don’t suffer any setbacks along the way. That’s how long it takes for the horse to develop the physical and mental strength that he needs to be able to perform the movements required at that level. If you experience any problems, progressing up the levels can take longer than this.

How are dressage horses trained?

Dressage horses are trained in accordance with the Scales of Training:

  1. Rhythm
  2. Suppleness
  3. Contact
  4. Impulsion
  5. Straightness
  6. Collection

You can read an in-depth article about the Scales of Training and how they should be applied by clicking the links above.

Each of the scales has a direct correlation to the others. So, you can’t skip over one or two of the scales and make progress in the horse’s training.

Training a dressage horse takes time, hard work, and dedication. There are no shortcuts! Even the most experienced and successful dressage riders have regular lessons and training to increase their knowledge and improve their riding.

How much does a dressage horse cost?

The cost of buying a dressage horse depends on many factors.

If the horse is a young, unbroken animal, his breeding will, to a large extent, dictate the price. In essence, you’re paying for potential based on the competitive record of one or both of the horse’s parents.

Horses that already have a competition record will often be more expensive than those that don’t. Basically, you’re paying for an animal that’s “ready-made,” rather than buying a blank canvass. In theory, you should be able to pick up the reins, continue the horse’s training and begin competing on him right away.

However, horses that have already started competing often come with problems and flaws in their way of going that you may have to correct before much progress can be made.

A horse that is working at Grand Prix level and has a good competition record will command a high price. But before parting with your cash, make sure that you are experienced and competent enough to be able to ride a horse that’s working at that level! Because contrary to popular belief, a Grand Prix horse doesn’t just do the movements on its own.

Is dressage training cruel to horses?

If the horse is trained sympathetically, systematically, and correctly, dressage training is not cruel.

A schooling whip and spurs are not there to punish the horse but to back-up the rider’s leg aids and give the horse clearer direction. A correctly fitted double bridle is not used to fix the horse’s head and neck into an “outline,” but rather to encourage and enhance self-carriage.

However, one controversial training technique reared its ugly head recently. “Rollkur,” as the method is known, involves the aggressive hyperflexion of the horse’s neck, manufacturing a deep, low outline and forcing the horse to maintain it for long periods.

Rollkur has been banned by the F.E.I, and its use has led to one international dressage trainer receiving a ban from competition.

Rollkur flies in the face of the principles of classical dressage and correct schooling of the horse.  The resultant false outline and way of going is incorrect, and it has no place in the dressage arena.

Due to the compression of the vertebrae during Rollkur, all throughness and impulsion are lost, as the horse’s topline is stiff and lacking suppleness and elasticity. The contact is seriously flawed, as the horse evades taking the bit by coming behind it, rather than offering the rider an elastic contact and taking the bit forward.

A horse worked in Rollkur has a tight, hollow back and trailing hocks and will probably carry most of the weight on his shoulders.

Related Read: Rollkur Explained: What It Is And What It Isn’t

In conclusion

Training the dressage horse is an ongoing, challenging process, and it can take many years to take a horse from novice to advanced level.

The dressage horse should be trained in accordance with the Scales of Training, which apply to all levels.

If you’ve successfully started a dressage horse, share your story with us in the comments section below.

Related Reads: 

  • How to be a GREAT Dressage Rider
  • How to Build a Good Dressage Foundation
  • How ‘Ordinary’ Horses can Excel in Dressage Competitions
  • How Any Dressage Rider Can Become a More Professional Equestrian

Previous Article

How to Fit Your Horse’s Noseband

Next Article

How to Import a Dressage Horse (from ...

How To Dressage

We are an information blog breaking down the How To's of dressage. All of our articles are put together by British Dressage judges to help you train your horse correctly, get higher scores and win your next dressage competition.

Related articles More from author

  • What Does it Take to get to Grand Prix How To Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    What Does It Take To Get To Grand Prix in Dressage?

    February 11, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Teach Your Horse to Accept The Bridle how to dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Teach Your Horse to Accept The Bit & Bridle

    May 18, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Become a Dressage Judge (British Dressage) how to dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Become a Dressage Judge (British Dressage)

    August 29, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Activate Your Horse's Hind Legs Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Activate Your Horse’s Hind Legs

    October 6, 2020
    By How To Dressage
  • how to introduce your horse to a double bridle dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Introduce Your Horse to a Double Bridle

    March 3, 2019
    By How To Dressage
  • How Quickly to Progress with Your Horse's Training How To Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Know When to Move up to the Next Level in Dressage

    March 6, 2018
    By How To Dressage

4 comments

  1. Helen 24 October, 2019 at 19:46 Reply

    Really interesting article; a good read!

    • How To Dressage 24 October, 2019 at 19:49 Reply

      Thank you very much!

  2. Heather 27 October, 2019 at 19:57 Reply

    Awesome article! It was just what I was looking for!

    • How To Dressage 27 October, 2019 at 19:57 Reply

      Glad we could help x

Leave a reply Cancel reply

0

WANT MORE?

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How to Keep Your Horse up Through the Corners Dressage

    How to Keep Your Horse “up” Through the Corners

    By How To Dressage
    January 12, 2021
  • How to Understand a British Dressage Test Sheet

    How to Understand a British Dressage Test Sheet

    By How To Dressage
    January 5, 2021
  • How to Stop Your Horse From Coming Too Short in the Neck Dressage

    How to Stop Your Horse From Coming Too Short in the Neck

    By How To Dressage
    December 29, 2020
  • how to piaffe dressage

    How to Piaffe

    By How To Dressage
    December 22, 2020
  • How to Passage Dressage

    How to Passage

    By How To Dressage
    December 15, 2020
  • how to sit up straight dressage

    How to Sit Up Straight

    By How To Dressage
    December 8, 2020
  • How to Ride a Crazy Horse Dressage

    How to Ride a “Crazy” Horse

    By How To Dressage
    December 1, 2020
  • Dressage Training Plan

    How to Structure a Dressage Training Plan for Your Horse

    By How To Dressage
    February 13, 2019
  • how to create the ideal arena surface footing for dressage

    How to Create the Ideal Arena Surface Footing for Dressage

    By How To Dressage
    October 31, 2019
  • How to Import a Dressage Horse

    How to Import a Dressage Horse (from Europe to the U.S.)

    By How To Dressage
    October 19, 2019
  • How to Fit Horse's Noseband

    How to Fit Your Horse’s Noseband

    By How To Dressage
    October 5, 2019
  • How to Safely Ride and Lead horses

    How to Safely Ride and Lead

    By How To Dressage
    March 13, 2019
  • What is the Difference Between Bend and Flexion dressage

    What is the Difference Between Bend and Flexion?

    By How To Dressage
    June 25, 2018
  • How to use Poles to Improve Your Horse's Way of Going how to dressage

    How to use Poles to Improve Your Horse’s Way of Going

    By How To Dressage
    September 5, 2018
  • How To Dressage
    on
    January 7, 2021

    How to Safely Ride and Lead

    Hi from the UK! ...
  • Donna Vild
    on
    January 6, 2021

    How to Safely Ride and Lead

    Hi from the US! ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    December 15, 2020

    How to Sit Up Straight

    Hello Marilynn, So glad ...
  • Marilynn Canitz
    on
    December 13, 2020

    How to Sit Up Straight

    In the unmounted exercises ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    December 10, 2020

    How to Ride a Good Canter-Trot Transition

    You're more than welcome! ...
  • Elizabeth Ford
    on
    December 10, 2020

    How to Ride a Good Canter-Trot Transition

    Canter - trot transition, ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    December 3, 2020

    How to Identify, Manage & Prevent Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)

    Hello Teresa, Firstly, thank ...

Article Categories

  • Dressage Competition (28)
  • Dressage Movements (44)
  • Dressage Theory (44)
  • Dressage Troubleshooting (45)
  • For The Rider (29)
  • Horse Care (39)
  • Interviews with Grand Prix Riders (8)
  • The Horse's Paces (22)
  • The Scales of Training (8)

Free Email Courses

how to dressage paypal dressage newbie email course

how to dressage competition email course

WANT MORE?

Useful Pages

Home
About us
View Our Book Range
Join Our Facebook Group
Forum
FREE STUFF!
Contact Us

See our social side

Our Podcast

how to dressage podcast
Copyright © 2018-2020 How To Dressage
Privacy Policy
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links that are included on this website are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you would like to support this website in some way, using these links will help you do exactly that. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.