Dressage is a French
word meaning "training". 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." Although the discipline has its
roots in classical Greek horsemanship, mainly through the influence of Xenophon,
dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit during the
Renaissance in Western Europe. The great European riding masters of that period
developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and
classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.
