What is dressage in equestrian? Rules, format, history, origin

Equestrian is a broad term used to refer to sporting disciplines performed on horseback. Dressage is one such event and is one among three equestrian events in the Olympic roster, alongside eventing and show jumping.

Published : Sep 26, 2023 17:59 IST - 3 MINS READ

Gold medalists Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Vipul Chheda Hriday, Anush Agarwalla of India celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony of the Prix St-Georges of Equestrian Dressage team event during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on September 26, 2023. | Photo Credit: AFP

Equestrian is a broad term used to refer to sporting disciplines performed on horseback. Dressage is one such event and is one among three equestrian events in the Olympic roster, alongside eventing and show jumping.

INDIA WON GOLD IN THE 2023 ASIAN GAMES, IN TEAM DRESSAGE
Indian equestrian dressage team won gold at the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday. This is India’s maiden gold medal in the event at the Asiads. The Indian team, comprising of Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, Anush Agarwalla clinched an Asian Games gold in equestrian for India after 41 years

History:

Sports on horseback were a product of equine use in war and its roots can be traced to ancient Greece. One of the core principles of equestrian is harmony and synergy between rider and steed, a key component for the efficacy of cavalry in any army. Dressage came up, therefore, as a form of ‘training’.

A standout feature of equestrian sports is that men and women participate in one bracket.

What does dressage involve?

Dressage is a routine which involves the rider and horse ‘performing’ predetermined set of movements from memory within a standard arena. Dressage is believed to be the highest form of horse training and riding as it requires immaculate coordination between rider and animal. Dressage routines are set to music and judges evaluate the fluidity and ease with which the routine is performed. Agility, technique and coordination form the core of dressage.

At the international level, dressage tests governed by the FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) are the Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, and Grand Prix. The dressage tests performed at the Olympic Games dressage competition are Grand Prix. This level of test demands the most skill and concentration from both horse and rider.

How is dressage evaluated? What should the rider and horse do in dressage?

Piaffe: An elevated trot in place, no backward movement allowed, small forward steps to maintain rhythm is allowed but movement to be isolated to one spot

Passage: A trot with pauses

Collected gaits (trot and canter): A shortening of stride in which the horse brings its hindquarters more underneath himself and carries more weight on his hind end. The tempo does not change, the horse simply shortens and elevates his stride.

Flying changes in sequence: Informally called “tempis” or “tempi changes” at this level, The horse changes leads at the canter every stride (one time tempis or “oneseys”), two strides (two time tempis), three strides or four strides.

Pirouette: A 360 degree turn in place, usually performed at the canter.

Half-pass: A movement where the horse goes on a diagonal, moving sideways and forward at the same time, while bent slightly in the direction of movement

Horse specifics: What kind of horses are used in dressage?

Dressage usually prefers the use of warmblood horses, even though this is not a compulsion. Warmblood horses were bred by crossing hot-blooded horses (thoroughbreds - known for their liveliness, speed and emotions, used primarily in racing) and draught horses (heavier horses bred to work, have gentle temperaments).

Equestrian sports involve a lot of styling of the horse. It is not a discipline compulsion but the ‘turnout’ of the horse is as carefully looked at as other areas. Horses need to be neatly styled, their manes are often braided and quarter marks (patterns on the skin made by combing the coat in different directions) are all common elements seen. The decorative elements should not distract the horse though.

INDIA’S MEDALLISTS IN EQUESTRIAN AT THE ASIAN GAMES
1982 - Raghubir Singh - Gold in individual eventing
1982- Rupinder Singh Brar- Gold in individual tent pegging
1982 - Raghubir Singh, Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Bishal Singh, Milkha Singh - Gold in team eventing
2022 - Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda, Anush Agarwalla - Gold in team eventing
1982 - Ghulam Mohammed Khan - Silver in individual eventing
2018 - Fouaad Mirza - Silver in individual eventing
2018 - Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, Jitender Singh, Fouaad Mirza - Silver in team eventing
1982 - Prahlad Singh - Bronze in individual eventing
1986 - Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia, Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Raghubir Singh - Bronze in team dressage
1986 - Ghulam Mohammed Khan, Adhiraj Singh, Raghubir Singh, Ishwar Singh - Bronze in team eventing
1998- Imtiaz Anees, Amlokjit Singh, Rajesh Pattu, Palwinder Singh - Bronze in team eventing
2002 - Indrajit Lamba, Bhagirath Singh, Rajesh Pattu, Deep Kumar Ahlawat - Bronze in team eventing
2006 - Bhagirath Singh, Deep Kumar Ahlawat, Palwinder Singh, Rajesh Pattu - Bronze in team eventing