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

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 to be a Dressage Rider

How to be a Dressage Rider

By How To Dressage
May 13, 2019
2775
0
How to be a dressage rider

Many aspiring riders assume that they cannot be called “dressage riders” until they have reached a good level of competition. However, that’s not the case!

Every rider has the potential to compete in dressage classes, provided that they adopt a systematic approach to training their horse along the correct lines.

So, what defines a “dressage rider?”

What is a dressage rider?

Dressage is not just for those who want to compete at the very highest levels. Dressage is for every rider and every horse, regardless of what discipline they want to take part in.

The word, “dressage” is taken from the French word, meaning “training.” Dressage forms the base from which you build, much like the foundations of a house.

The dressage horse is developed mentally and physically through methodical and gymnastic training so that he can perform any exercise to the best of his natural ability.

Not every combination will reach the dizzy heights of Grand Prix competition, but understanding the basis of dressage will create a happy, supple, balanced, and confident equine athlete that is a pleasure to ride.

Through using systematic, correct, and fair training, you will end up with a horse that is cooperative, willing.

Harmony

A vital element of the successful dressage rider is the ability to ride in harmony with your horse.

You can only achieve harmony when you have a supple seat and can sit in perfect balance so that you appear to be an extension of your horse, not just someone who is sitting on top of him.

Your aids must be so quiet and subtle that they are invisible to onlookers. Your horse should move forward fluently and effortlessly into the contact, and the whole impression should be natural and calm.

Dressage is a form of equestrian art. Harmony cannot be achieved through the use of force. Instead, you must use subtle and refined aids to communicate with your horse, so as to present a harmonious picture.

To achieve true harmony with your horse, you need to build a partnership that’s based on mutual trust and respect. You must be able to read your horse’s mood, gauge his energy levels, and be in tune with him, both in and out of the saddle.

The Scales of Training

The key to becoming a successful dressage rider is to put the basic foundations of your training in place. Only when you have achieved that, can you accomplish advancement.

Dressage is judged along what is known as the “Scales of Training.” The Scales of Training are:

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

All of the Scales are intrinsically linked. For example:

  • If your horse is not working in a correct rhythm, he cannot be supple through his back.
  • If your horse is not working over his back, the contact will not be elastic.
  • If your horse’s back is stiff and hollow, and he is not working into an elastic contact, he will not be able to develop true impulsion.
  • If the horse is not working freely forward through a swinging back to an elastic contact, he cannot be straight.
  • A crooked horse cannot be balanced or collected between the rider’s leg and hand.

The Scales of Training apply to all levels of work, from the most basic tests right through to Grand Prix.

What’s the point of dressage?

Dressage is not about merely teaching your horse to perform “tricks.”

The art of pure dressage is the development of the horse’s physique and thus improving his natural paces.

A correctly trained horse will be less likely to sustain injuries that could cut short his working life.

That said, too much schooling work can make a horse dull and stale. Good dressage riders include variation in their horse’s work regimen such as hacking, jumping, lunging, and long-reining. All of this helps to condition the horse’s body and mind.

In conclusion

The sport of dressage is all about correct, systematic training and attention to detail. However, amid all that dedication and hard work, you must keep the work fun for you and your horse.

So, in a nutshell, dressage is a discipline for every horse and rider. Your success in the arena is measured by the quality of your riding and the harmony you have with your horse, not the level at which you compete.

Related Reads: 

  • What is “The Correct Way of Going” in Dressage?
  • How is Dressage Scored?
  • Why ALL Dressage Riders Need to Know The Scales of Training
  • What Does the Term ‘Happy Athlete’ Mean in Dressage?

 

Previous Article

How to Know if You are Over-Horsed

Next Article

The Origins of Horseshoes

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

  • How to Develop Self-Carriage dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Develop Self-Carriage

    April 15, 2019
    By How To Dressage
  • What Does the 'Happy Athlete' Mean in Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    What Does the Term ‘Happy Athlete’ Mean in Dressage?

    March 14, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Correctly Time Your Aids dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Correctly Time Your Aids

    June 5, 2020
    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
  • Does a Good Looking Horse get More Marks How to dressage
    Dressage Theory

    Does a Good Looking Horse get More Marks in Dressage?

    February 13, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to get your horse to bend dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Get Your Horse to Bend

    March 15, 2018
    By How To Dressage

Leave a reply Cancel reply

0

WANT MORE?

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How to Create Cadence in the Dressage Horse

    How to Create Cadence in the Dressage Horse

    By How To Dressage
    March 2, 2021
  • How to Transition Between Piaffe and Passage Dressage

    How to Transition Between Piaffe and Passage

    By How To Dressage
    February 23, 2021
  • How to improve rider confidence dressage

    How to Improve Rider Confidence

    By How To Dressage
    February 16, 2021
  • How to Stop Your Horse From Changing Canter Leads Dressage

    How to Stop Your Horse From Changing Canter Leads

    By How To Dressage
    February 9, 2021
  • How to recognize an unhappy dressage horse

    How to Recognize an Unhappy Dressage Horse

    By How To Dressage
    February 2, 2021
  • How to Connect Your Horse Through the Use of Transitions Dressage

    How to “Connect” Your Horse Through the Use of Transitions

    By How To Dressage
    January 26, 2021
  • How to Have Patience With Your Dressage Training

    How to Have Patience With Your Dressage Training

    By How To Dressage
    January 19, 2021
  • 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
  • How to Keep a Consistent Rein Contact How to dressage

    How to Keep a Consistent Rein Contact

    By How To Dressage
    June 13, 2018
  • How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition how to dressage

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    By How To Dressage
    May 1, 2018
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 15, 2021

    How to Keep Your Horse Straight

    Thanks so much! :)
  • Niavoequestrian
    on
    February 15, 2021

    How to Keep Your Horse Straight

    Its a great post! ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 14, 2021

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    So glad we could ...
  • Adriana Roessner
    on
    February 14, 2021

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    thank u so much, ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 4, 2021

    How to Plan Dressage Freestyle to Music in 7 Steps

    Hi Anmari, That's a ...
  • Anmari
    on
    February 3, 2021

    How to Plan Dressage Freestyle to Music in 7 Steps

    Where can i find ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 2, 2021

    The Scales of Training: Scale 1 – Rhythm

    Hi Sandi, It's a ...

Article Categories

  • Dressage Competition (28)
  • Dressage Movements (45)
  • Dressage Theory (48)
  • Dressage Troubleshooting (46)
  • For The Rider (31)
  • Horse Care (39)
  • Interviews with Grand Prix Riders (8)
  • The Horse's Paces (23)
  • The Scales of Training (8)

Free Email Courses

how to dressage newbie email course

how to dressage scales of training 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 © 2018-2021 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.

SAVE & ACCEPT