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THE HISTORY OF DRESSAGE...

Definition: "The word dressage is derived from a French term meaning "training."  Dressage is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. For this reason, dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet." It is not only a method of schooling, but also a competitive equestrian sport. Dressage is considered "classical training," because it uses gymnastic exercises-a series of movements and figures-which have been studied and developed for centuries. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, with its white Lipizzan stallions, is perhaps the most familiar institution dedicated exclusively to the classical art of riding. Once an activity of royalty, today dressage has evolved into a discipline and competitive sport accessible to all horses and riders."

"Although dressage has its roots in classical Greek horsemanship and was influenced by the knights in shining armor of the Middle Ages, it was not until the Renaissance that dressage was recognized as an important equestrian pursuit."

The history of dressage dates back to the Greeks and the Romans. Dressage began as a form of battle movements that were very helpful to the soldiers. During the Medieval times, the art of Dressage was lost when the soldiers resorted to very heavy armor and also covered their horses with anywhere from 50 to more than 150 pounds of heavy armor. Dressage became the popular style of riding again when pistols and rifles became a common part of battle. The armor was reduced, seeing as you could take aim from further away, and it was much easier to take aim with much less armor.