Deciphering Dressage

Karen L. Davis

Description

The definitive guide to dressage--the art, science, and secrets of graceful horsemanship for riders who want to exude natural elegance in the saddle

Dressage has been described as "a beautiful ballet on horseback." It embodies an innate grace, a seemingly effortless flow, and an easy harmony between horse and rider.

Dressage elevates riding from a sport to an art form. One of the fastest growing equestrian sports in America, it appeals to competitive riders as well as those who simply want to improve their mounts and their skills. Because the principles of dressage encompass the art and science of horsemanship and every aspect of the horse-rider relationship, dressage training enhances other equestrian disciplines. The exercises and patterns help improve the horse's overall balance and athleticism and make the mount more responsive. Ideal for beginning enthusiasts or people who simply want to appreciate the elegance and finesse of classical riding, Deciphering Dressage unlocks the secrets of classical, precision riding. It covers:
* Choosing and caring for a suitable dressage horse
* Buying tack and riding apparel
* Sitting the horse correctly and using aids or subtle signals to cue the horse
* Preparing for competitions
* Riding a dressage test
* Competition and scoring
* Recognized shows, schooling shows, ride-a-tests, and eventing


Complete with over fifty photographs and drawings, as well as step-by-step explanations of exercises and maneuvers, this guide helps riders master the basics of this exceptionally demanding and rewarding discipline.
PREFACE.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

1. What Is Dressage?

Dressage Defined.

A Brief History of Dressage.

How Dressage Competitions Are Governed.

2. The Discipline of Dressage.

An Overview of the Rider’s Aids.

Dressage Training Principles.

Overview of the Gaits.

Overview of the Levels.

Additional Movements and Figures.

3. Your Dressage Education.

The Importance of Dressage Instruction.

Arranging Dressage Lessons.

Finding a Dressage Instructor.

Preparing for Your Lessons.

4. Becoming a Thinking Rider.

The Mind Game.

Dispelling Some Riding Myths.

The Thinking Rider versus a Joy Rider.

The Thinking Rider Understands the Horse’s Senses.

The Thinking Rider Is a Safer Rider.

The Thinking Rider As Trainer.

The Thinking Rider as Communicator.

5. Choosing a Suitable Dressage Horse.

What about Breed?

Why It’s Best to Learn from a Schoolmaster.

Searching for a Horse.

Knowing What to Look for in a Dressage Horse.

6. Caring for Your Dressage Horse.

What You Need to Know.

Boarding Your Dressage Horse.

Secure and Safe Containment.

Manure Management.

Protecting You and Your Horse with Equine Insurance.

Keeping Your Horse Healthy.

Feeding Your Dressage Horse.

7. Buying Tack and Riding Apparel.

Dressing for Dressage.

Saddles.

Bridles and Bits.

Riding Apparel.

Caring for Your Tack and Riding Apparel.

8. Preparing for Your First Competition.

To Show or Not to Show.

Choosing a Show.

Selecting Your Tests.

Participation Requirements.

Entering a Show.

Who Does What at a Show.

Grooming Your Horse for a Show.

Cleaning Tack.

Packing for a Show.

The Night Before.

9. Riding a Dressage Test.

Preparing for the Test at Home.

Riding the Halt.

The Salute.

Understanding a Dressage Test.

Warming Up at a Show.

When It’s Time to Ride Your Test.

10. Moving Up and Learning More.

Moving up the Levels.

Riding to Music.

The Quadrille.

The Learner-Judge Program.

When Sport Becomes Art.

GLOSSARY OF COMMON HORSE TERMS.

REFERENCES.

Books.

Horse Magazines.

National Dressage Organizations.

Other Equine Organizations.

Breed Associations and Registries.

Horse Equipment Catalogs.

INDEX.

Sujets

• Animal Sports
• Sports
• Equestrian
• Recreation
• Sport équestre
• Sports équestres
• Sports équestres
• Sports équestres

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 30 juillet 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470238288
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Deciphering Dressage
Deciphering Dressage
KAREN LEIGH DAVIS
Copyright 2005 by Karen Davis. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Photo credits: Page 6 courtesy of Alice Alley. Page 75 courtesy of Marilou Black. Pages 130, 192, 221, and 224 courtesy of Michael and Marie Klimchuk. Pages 3, 214, and 217 courtesy of Anne Medina and Holly Veloso. All other photographs are the author s.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Davis, Karen Leigh, date.
Deciphering dressage / Karen Davis.- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-10: 0-7645-7820-0 (cloth)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-7820-5 (cloth)
1. Dressage. I. Title.
SF309.5.D36 2005
798.2 3-dc22 2005007308
Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Scott Meola, with Melissa Auciello-Brogan and Beth Brooks
Cover design by Wendy Mount
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
Contents
P REFACE
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

1 What Is Dressage?
Dressage Defined
A Training Method
A Riding Foundation
A Competitive Sport
An Equestrian Art
A Personal Journey
A Common-Sense Science
A Brief History of Dressage
Ancient Origins
Combined Training
Cavalry Competition
American Dressage
How Dressage Competitions Are Governed
The U.S. Dressage Federation
Types of Dressage Shows
Recognized Shows
Schooling Shows
Ride-a-Tests
Eventing or Combined Training Competitions
The National Governing Body
The Federation Equestre Internationale

2 The Discipline of Dressage
An Overview of the Rider s Aids
Your Hands
Contact
Control
The Rein Effects
The Opening or Leading Rein
The Neck Rein
The Reins of Opposition
The Leg Aids
The Seat
The Classical Seat
Three Points of the Seat
Developing an Independent Seat
The Forward Seat
Cross Training
The Back and Abdominal Muscles
The Whip
Spurs
Your Voice
Dressage Training Principles
Training Objectives
The Training Pyramid
Overview of the Gaits
The Walk
Collected, Medium, and Extended Walk
Free Walk
The Trot
Rising Trot
Sitting Trot
Working versus Collected Trot
Extended Trot
Passage and Piaffe
The Canter
The Aids for the Canter
Change of Lead
Flying and Tempi Changes
Counter-Canter
Overview of the Levels
Introductory Level
Training Level
First Level
Second Level
Third Level
Fourth Level
The FEI Levels of International Competition
Additional Movements and Figures
The Dressage Arena
Voltes and Circles
Figure Eights and Serpentines
The Halt
The Half-Halt
The Rein-Back
The Lateral Movements Defined

3 Your Dressage Education
The Importance of Dressage Instruction
Reasons for Taking Dressage Lessons
Signs That You Need an Instructor s Help
Arranging Dressage Lessons
What to Expect in the Beginning
How Long Will You Need Lessons?
How Long Will You Spend at Each Level?
Finding a Dressage Instructor
Starting with Instructor Certification
Extending Your Search
Arranging Lessons for Children
Arranging Lessons for Your Horse
Discerning Teaching Styles
Appraising a Training Facility
Preparing for Your Lessons
Donning Safety Gear
Helmet
Boots
Riding Pants
Shirt
Gloves
Coat and Vest
Being Fit for Riding

4 Becoming a Thinking Rider
The Mind Game
Dispelling Some Riding Myths
The Thinking Rider versus a Joy Rider
The Thinking Rider Understands the Horse s Senses
Eyesight
Hearing
Smell
Touch
The Thinking Rider Is a Safer Rider
The Thinking Rider As Trainer
Facing the Fear Factor
Thinking through Problems
The Learning Process
Self-Education
The Thinking Rider as Communicator
Communicating Leadership
Communicating Trust

5 Choosing a Suitable Dressage Horse
What about Breed?
Why It s Best to Learn from a Schoolmaster
Searching for a Horse
Knowing What to Look for in a Dressage Horse
Assessing Gaits and Movement
Tracking Up
Straightness
The Prepurchase Exam
Evaluating Conformation
Evaluating Temperament

6 Caring for Your Dressage Horse
What You Need to Know
Boarding Your Dressage Horse
Benefits of Boarding
Selecting a Boarding Facility
The Riding Arena
Looking at an Arena s Features
Evaluating a Riding Arena s Footing
Safety First
Practical Considerations
Secure and Safe Containment
Fencing
Stalls
Manure Management
Protecting You and Your Horse with Equine Insurance
Keeping Your Horse Healthy
Selecting a Veterinarian
Keeping Up with a Vaccination Program
Understanding Equine Diseases
Equine Encephalomyelitis
Equine Infectious Anemia
Equine Influenza
Rhinopneumonitis
Tetanus
Rabies
Potomac Horse Fever
Strangles
West Nile Virus
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
Disorders of Dietary Origin
Colic
Laminitis (Founder)
Ulcers
Avoiding Internal Parasites
Common Types of Internal Parasites
Parasite Control
Keeping Up with Hoof Care
Selecting a Farrier
Routine Hoof Care
Common Foot Problems
Dental Care
Feeding Your Dressage Horse
Forage and Commercial Feeds
Supplements

7 Buying Tack and Riding Apparel
Dressing for Dressage
Saddles
Saddle Fit
Saddle Pads
Girths
Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers
Bridles and Bits
The Snaffle Bridle
The Double Bridle
Riding Apparel
Show-Ring Attire
Dress Boots
Riding Pants
Gloves
Caring for Your Tack and Riding Apparel

8 Preparing for Your First Competition
To Show or Not to Show
Choosing a Show
Ride-a-Tests
Schooling Shows
Recognized or Rated Shows
Selecting Your Tests
Participation Requirements
Entering a Show
Who Does What at a Show
Volunteers
Scribes
Runners and Scorers
Gatekeepers
Ring Stewards and Show Managers
Technical Delegates
Judges
Grooming Your Horse for a Show
Clipping
Giving Your Horse a Bath
Pulling and Braiding Manes
Tails
Cleaning Tack
Packing for a Show
The Night Before

9 Riding a Dressage Test
Preparing for the Test at Home
Memorizing the Test
Visualization
Riding the Halt
The Salute
Understanding a Dressage Test
How a Dressage Test Is Scored
Elimination
Scratches
Warming Up at a Show
When It s Time to Ride Your Test
Enter at A
Ride Flawless Figures
Stay Calm, Even If Things Go Wrong
The Final Halt and Salute
Check Your Score
10 Moving Up and Learning More
Moving up the Levels
Training Level
First Level
Second Level
Third Level
Fourth Level
Riding to Music
The Quadrille
The Learner-Judge Program
When Sport Becomes Art
G LOSSARY OF C OMMON H ORSE T ERMS
R EFERENCES
Books
Horse Magazines
National Dressage Organizations
Local Dressage Organizations
Other Equine Organizations
Breed Associations and Registries
Horse Equipment Catalogs
I NDEX
Preface
Classical dressage is widely recognized around the world for turning out the best riders because of its emphasis on correct training. But what is it? While it s been practiced for centuries in European countries, dressage is a relatively new equestrian discipline in the United States, having arrived here only within th