Dressage

Background
The equestrian discipline of dressage is unique in as much as it does not include jumping, galloping at great speed or over extreme distances, and yet, dressage requires enormous power and energy because it involves a change of the centre of gravity of the horse’s body in order to perform movements of great collection and propulsion. For this purpose, the last 30 years have seen the production of horses possessing conformation and rideability that the great riders of the past could only dream of, but has also created a demand for better riders and increased the vulnerability of the horse as an athlete.

Clinical evaluation
For dressage, the centre of locomotion, i.e. the horse’s back and its state of relaxation, are the keys to success when training a horse. The purity of the 3 basic gaits pays testament to the correctness of its training; consequently, any impurity in any of the gaits is frequently the precursor or even an early manifestation of lameness. Assessment of dressage horses for underperformance therefore requires comparison of all 3 gaits, both with and without a rider. Without acknowledgement of the difference in the quality of paces and/or difference in the degree of lameness between in-hand and ridden assessment, it becomes impossible to acknowledge the ‘whole picture’ and vital information is missed. Ridden assessment is also essential for evaluating factors related to state of education, horse/rider mismatch, incorrect riding etc., bearing in mind the 6 key factors in the correct training of dressage horses: rhythm, looseness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection. […]