The Dressage event is one of the three equestrian events included in the Olympic roster, alongside eventing and show jumping, find out more about the event including rules, format, history, origin, and more below
Equestrian is generally a broad term, which is used for defining various sporting disciplines performed on horseback.
What is the Dressage team event in equestrian sport, meaning, rules, format, history, origin explained
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬! 🥹
Here's the 🇮🇳 equestrian team after clinching the nation's first 🥇 in the dressage team event in Asian Games history. 🏇#AsianGames | #IndiaAtAsianGames
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) September 26, 2023
It is a matter of extreme pride that after several decades, our Equestrian Dressage Team has won Gold in Asian Games!
Hriday Chheda, Anush Agarwalla, Sudipti Hajela and Divyakriit Singh have displayed unparalleled skill, teamwork and brought honour to our nation on the… pic.twitter.com/9GtxWKcPHl
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 26, 2023
Just recently, the Indian equestrian dressage team won gold at the Asian Games 2023 marking India’s first ever gold medal in the event at the competition.
Dressage origins and history
Back in the past, horses were used in warfare which eventually produced various kinds of sports on horseback as well. Such kinds of horseback sports have its roots in ancient Greece. In equestrian, one of the core principles is harmony and synergy between the rider and the horse. This unsurprisingly is also a key component for an efficient cavalry in any army. As such, Dressage initially developed as a form of ‘training’. One interesting feature of equestrian sports is that both men and women compete against each other, under one bracket.
Dressage format
In a Dressage event, the rider and horse ‘performs’ a predetermined set of movements from memory within a standard arena. Dressage is considered as the highest form of horse training and riding because the rider and animal needs to have a flawless coordination. Riders compete in Dressage routines to the tune of music while the judges evaluate the fluidity and ease of how they perform each routine.
As such, agility, technique and coordination form are some of the core components of dressage. The FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) governs various dressage tests at the international level. These tests include the Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix. The dressage tests at the Olympic Games dressage competition are the Grand Prix. Notably, the Grand Prix level demands the highest skill and concentration from both the horse and its rider.
Dressage routines and rules
Given below is a list of the various routines and rules followed in a Dressage event along with their descriptions:
Piaffe: This Dressage routine involves an elevated trot in place, with no backward movement allowed. The competitors are allowed to perform small forward steps to maintain rhythm but these movements have to be isolated to one spot only.
Passage: This Dressage routine features a trot with pauses
Collected gaits (trot and canter): The Collected gaits routine features a gradual shortening of stride, where the horse brings its hindquarters slowly underneath itself. This makes the horse carry more weight on his hind end. There is no change in tempo throughout the routine and the horse simply shortens and elevates his stride.
Flying changes in sequence: This Dressage routine is informally called “tempis” or “tempi changes” at the Grand Prix level. In this routine, the horse changes leads at the canter every stride (one time tempis or “oneseys”). It can also take place every two strides (two time tempis), three strides or even four strides.
Pirouette: This Dressage routine is a 360 degree turn in place, usually performed at the canter.
Half-pass: This routine features a type of movement where the horse goes on a diagonal, by moving sideways and forward at the same time. Throughout this routine, the horse must bent slightly towards the direction of movement.
Type of horse used in Dressage
Although there is no strict rule on the type of horses used, Dressage usually prefers warmblood horses. Warmblood horses are horses bred by crossing together a hot-blooded horse (thoroughbreds – known for their liveliness, speed and emotions, used primarily in racing) and a draught horse (heavier horses bred to work, have gentle temperaments).
Moreover, Equestrian sports generally involve a lot of styling of the horse because judges asses the ‘turnout’ of the horse just like other areas of assessment. This is especially true in Dressage events as well. As such, riders need to keep their horses neatly styled, and riders often braid the manes of their horses. Some riders also make quarter marks, which are patterns on the skin made by combing the coat in different directions. Riders should however, ensure that the decorative elements do not distract the horse during events.
ALSO READ: Who is Donna Kelce mom of Travis Kelce, bio, age, height, husband, net worth, Instagram