Dressage (a French term meaning "training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to Olympic. 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, 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 is still considered the basis of modern dressage.

Early European aristocrats displayed their horses' training in equestrian pageants, but in modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of "tests," or prescribed series of movements within a standard arena. Judges evaluate each movement on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten - zero being "not executed" and 10 being "excellent." A score of 9 (or "very good") is considered a particularly high mark.

More on [ Dressage ]

Donegal Direct - Activities - Equestrian RSS Feed

Deane's Equestrian Centre
info@donegaldirect.comBruckless Tel: +353 (0)74 9737160Equestrian Centre with an indoor arena. Trekking along scenic country roads. Farm Hacks. Riding instruction for adults and children, livery service, schooling of young horses. Personal attention given.
Five Oaks Ranch
info@donegaldirect.comBallyshannon Heritage TownTel: +353 (0)71 98 51030Five Oaks Ranch is a family run business specialising in Western Style Riding.
Carrigart Riding Stables
info@donegaldirect.comCarrigart Tel: +353(0)74 9153583Trekking on beaches and sand dunes. Forestry trails. Riding lessons given. 10 ponies/horses. Facilities: Hacking, trekking, trail riding and basic instruction.
Donegal Equestrian Holidays
info@donegaldirect.comBundoranTel: 003537198 41977Donegal Equestrian Holidays offers everyone from the beginner to the more experienced a chance to sample some of the most beautiful riding in Ireland.
Rose Cottage Riding School
info@donegaldirect.comMalinTel: +353 (0) 876311676Rose Cottage is a traditional thatched cottage approximatly 200 years old, it boasts stunning views over Trabreage Bay and has it's own private track down to the bay.
Lenamore Stables
info@donegaldirect.comMuff Tel: +353 (0)74 9384022Lenamore Stables is a well established equestrian centre specialising in show jumping with a National Show Jumping Arena, cross country course, small indoor and large outdoor arena. Facilities: Enclosed manege, indoor school, cross country course, liveries, changing rooms, showers, qualified instructors, hacking, hunting, schooling and basic instruction.

MiamiHerald.com: Horse Racing

Maryland's racing troubles force tough decisions
Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:12:00 -0400
Difficult financial times have forced the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) to slash the stakes schedule for the Laurel Park fall meeting. The racing industry in Maryland faces a shortfall in the purse account by the end of 2008.
Curlin to remain at Saratoga for next start
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:39:00 -0400
Owner Jess Jackson revealed Tuesday that reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will make his next start in the Woodward Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 30. Jackson made the announcement during a national teleconference.
Curlin to race next on dirt at Saratoga
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:29:00 -0400
Curlin is heading back to dirt for his next race - the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga - but his majority owner says that doesn't necessarily mean the turf experiment is over.
Racing Hall of Fame inducts six new members
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:54:00 -0400
Six new members of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame have been inducted as part of the 53rd class. The ceremony took place Monday morning at the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs.
Trainer Nafzger, jockey Prado enter Racing Hall
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:39:00 -0400
Jockey Edgar Prado and trainer Carl Nafzger, who between them have three Kentucky Derby wins, led a group of six new inductees into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on Monday.
Big Brown rebounds to capture Haskell Invitational
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:24:00 -0400
Two months after finishing last in the Belmont Stakes, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown came from behind to win Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Big Brown was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the seven horse field.

USATODAY.com Horse Racing - Top Stories

Big Brown rebounds from Belmont flop to win Haskell
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:57:47 -0000
Big Brown barely bounced back from his last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes with a victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational ...
Curlin to race next on dirt at Saratoga at Woodward Stakes
Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:43:08 -0000
Curlin's majority owner says the 2007 Horse of the Year is going back to a dirt track for his next race later this month. Majority ...
Deweycheatumnhowe wins Hambletonian
Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:47:28 -0000
Deweycheatumnhowe has won the $1.5 million Hambletonian. The 2-5 favorite became the first unbeaten winner of the 3-year-old ...
Which Big Brown will show up at Haskell?
Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:27:14 -0000
The Thoroughbred racing world will hold its breath Sunday when Big Brown enters the starting gate for the $1 million Haskell ...
Horse racing's richest claimer to head back to the stable
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:37:06 -0000
Lava Man was retired Wednesday as thoroughbred racing's richest claiming horse after X-rays revealed changes in the horse's front ...
Trotting's grandest stage could have a perfect champ
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:28:22 -0000
Deweycheatumnhowe has met greater challenges than the one he faces when he risks his perfect 14-for-14 record in the $1.5 million ...

ESPN.com - Horse Racing

Curlin has easy work at Saratoga
Mike Welsch Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:09:43 -0700
Curlin worked five furlongs in 1:02.69 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga early Monday morning.
Bay Meadows: The beginning of the end
Chuck Dybdal Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:49:03 -0700
The final two-week race meeting at Bay Meadows begins Wednesday, when the San Mateo County Fair meeting - better known as the Bay Meadows Fair - begins its 10-day run.
Yankee Bravo making return on turf
Jay Privman Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:57:06 -0700
The La Jolla, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, returns Yankee Bravo to the surface over which he won his first two races.
Seaside Retreat sets record in Nijinsky
Ron Gierkink Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:18:08 -0700
Seaside Retreat ($12.60) broke the 1 1/4-mile course record Monday at Woodbine, taking the $305,900 Nijinsky Stakes over favored Strike a Deal.
Wesley overcomes slow pace in Hall of Fame
Mike Welsch Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:19:33 -0700
Trainer Mark Hennig was getting a little nervous as he watched a series of slow fractions posted on the tote board while Wesley was still "looking at all of them" after the opening six furlongs..
Arlington Million field looks like 8 or 9
Marcus Hersh Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:05:25 -0700
While last Friday's Arlington Million pre-entry deadline has long since come and gone, the composition of the field for Saturday's Million remained - to a somewhat surprising degree - in flux as of Monday.

Subscribe to Equestrian RSS feed