How to Recognize a Dressage Horse Show
Distinguishing Dressage from Other Horseback Riding Competitions
Oct 23, 2009
Dressage is an English style of riding, and competitions range from a local show to an international event. Competitions seen on television are often at the highest levels, called the FEI (Federation Equestrian Internationale) levels. “Grand Prix” is the highest level of dressage, and this is what is shown at the Olympics. Determining if the horseback riding event is dressage include how the horse carries himself, what he wears for tack, how the rider sits on the horse, what she wears, and what the venue looks like.
The Dressage Horse
He will be highly collected, with an arch in his neck and moving in a very controlled manner. His face will be straight up and down – his nose will not poke out or be tucked in towards his chest. He will be “braided,” with small braids in his mane, all the way down his neck. He will not be wearing any kind of protection on his legs – no wraps or boots. His tail will be long and free. He will be wearing his competition number as a small white oval pinned to the sides of his bridle.
The Dressage Horse’s Tack
The horse will be competing in a “double bridle,” which is a bridle with two bits, and this is distinguishable by the rider holding two reins in each hand. The horse will wear a dressage saddle, which is most often black, with a very long flap that the rider’s leg lays against. He will be wearing a square white saddle pad – no contours and not fluffy, just plain white and flat.
The Dressage Rider
She will be sitting very tall in the saddle, and her legs will be “long” – meaning fairly outstretched but still with some angle in her joints, and still very relaxed. Her head will be directly above her shoulders, which will be directly above her hip bones, which are directly above her anklebones when viewed from the side. Her upper arms will fall by her sides, and her lower arms and hands will be held up above the horse’s withers. She will keep her thumbs up, so her hands will remain upright instead of flat like a piano player.
The Dressage Rider’s Clothes
She will be wearing a black top hat, or maybe a helmet. She will be wearing a Shadbelly coat, which is a dark blue or black tuxedo coat, with long tails, and two yellow notches at her abdomen. Her shirt, under the Shadbelly, will be white with a ruffle at the collar – this is a stocktie. She will be wearing white breeches and tall black boots. Her gloves will be white. This outfit is traditional and standard at dressage competitions. It is a common joke that horseback riding is the only sport where competitors wear a suit and tie.
The Dressage Venue
Where the competition takes place and how it is set up are very important clues to what kind of event is taking place. A dressage show will often have flowers set up around its ring. The ring (where each horse and rider pair performs their test) is a low chain that an out-of-control horse could easily step over. Around the ring are markers with letters on them: each test calls for certain movements at an indicated letter, and that’s how the rider knows where to begin or finish a movement. The letter marking the entrance of the ring is A, and at the opposite end is C. The judge’s booth is right behind C, so when the horse comes down the centerline after entering the ring, it is coming straight on towards the judge. The very center of the ring is X, which is an unmarked letter, but the riders know that it is halfway between A and C and also halfway between E and B (the middle letters of the long sides).
A dressage show is generally very quiet, so the rider can concentrate and the horse can focus, but the audience will clap respectfully at the end of every test. The ring is rectangular and usually composed of sand for footing; there are no jumps or obstacles.
With these clues, anyone can determine whether he is watching a dressage competition on television. Viewers can see the difference in the horse’s carriage and tack, and most obviously, the rider’s position in the saddle and her apparel. For more information on what an advanced level dressage horse is expected to do in competition, please see Dressage’s Lateral Movements.
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