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Dressage is a type of equestrian sport which is known to be the highest expression of horse training. Dressage is sometimes called Horse Ballet. Dressage is part of the Olympic Games equestrian events.

The riders are supposed to perform from a memory series of predetermined events. It can be performed individually or in teams, outdoors or indoors. The size of the arena is either small or standard.

There are letters assigned to each position around the area to score the performance. The objective of dressage is to develop a horse’s natural ability to perform.

In today’s dressage competitions, performances are at different levels called tests. Tests are a prescribed series of movements ridden within the arena. The judges score the movement based on the objective standard which is appropriate to the level. The scores are from 0 to 10, zero for not executed up to 10 for excellent. If the rider can achieve all 6s (60% overall), then the rider can move on to the next level.

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Similar Sports

• Reining — equestrian riders guide their horses through a precise pattern of spins, circles and stops.
• Western Pleasure — a horse show competition in which horses are evaluated for their manners and composure.
• Eventing — riders compete in three types of races, dressage, cross-country and show jumping, in a single competition.
• Show Jumping — riders on horseback attempt to jump cleanly through sets of obstacles within a specific time
• Pleasure Driving — a horse and carriage sport judged on a horse's manners, performance, quality and conformation.
• More Equestrian Sports

Related Pages

• More about the sport of Equestrian
• Equestrian Dressage at the Olympics
• List of all sports involving horses
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports