Posts Tagged ‘Athletic Ability’

Dressage has ancient roots and is became an important equestrian event in the West during the Renaissance in Europe. It was at this time that the great European riding masters of the world created a sequential training system, which is known today as Classical dressage. This training system is still the basis of modern dressage training today.

Often referred to as “horse ballet,” dressage tests the athletic ability of the horse as well as its disposition and willingness. Due to the dressage being a French term, the maneuvers completed in the various dressage tests are also French. However, before you can completely understand the maneuvers, you must first have a good understanding of the arena that dressage takes place in.

A dressage arena has letters assigned at specific positions. Each dressage test dictates which gait or maneuver is to be performed and at which letter. There are two sizes of dressage arenas, but the arena used at the FEI World Equestrian Games will utilize the standard arena. The standard arena is 66 feet by 197 feet, creating a long rectangle. Around the outside edge of the arena, moving clockwise, you will see the letters A-K-V-E-S-H-C-M-R-B-P-F. Down the middle of the arena, you will not see any letters marked, but the riders know that the letters G-I-X-L-D correspond to the letters marking the outside edge with the letter “X” marking the center of the arena.

A dressage test always begins at marker A and the judge is always sitting at marker C on the far end of the arena from the rider. At a world level competition, such as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, four other judges will be placed at the markers E, B, M and H. This ensures the horse can be judged from all angles.

The tests performed at the FEI World Equestrian Games are of the highest level, which is Grand Prix. The gaits and maneuvers performed at this level include:

• Collected and extended walk, trot and canter
• Trot and Canter Half-pass – This is when the horse travels diagonally across the arena with its body parallel to the arena railing.
• Passage – This is a slow, suspended trot.
• Piaffe – This is a slow, extremely collected trot and should appear as though the horse is trotting in place.
• One, two and three tempi changes – These are flying lead changes at the canter that take place at specific beats in the gait depending on the required tempi change.
• Canter pirouettes – This maneuver is a 360 degree circle that appears to take place on the spot.

For the freestyle dressage test, the horse and rider are able to perform these maneuvers and more to show the ability of their horses. Many riders will include more complicated movements such as pirouettes in a piaffe, a half pass in passage or a double canter pirouette.

If you want to see some of the most talented horses from around the world perform at the highest level of dressage, then you won’t want to miss the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

For more information about the world equestrian games and to find the best world equestrian games housing visit http://weg2010housing.net.

Author: Abbey Dale
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The name Sport Horse is given to type of horse rather than a particular breed of horse; it is a term to define a horse that will excel in equestrian sports such as Showjumping, Dressage or Eventing.

Sports horse breeders follow intensive breeding programs. The breeding goals differ from registry to registry, some more geared towards Showjumping others Dressage, Eventing or all-round top quality riding horses, this is reflected in the breeding, for example to produce a top class jumping horse only prestigious jumping blood lines are used to produce a horse with the physical attributes and athletic ability which is needed for show jumping.

Quality Sports horses have certain attributes which incorporates the following:

o Correct confirmation – Sports horses should have correct confirmation as this has a direct affect on the movement and jumping capabilities of the horse.

o Temperament – Sports horses must have a trainable and willing nature.

o Movement – Sports horse should have an athletic gait with good suspension in trot and canter.

o Jumping ability – Sports horses that are bred for jumping have excellent jumping form and conformation that allows them to jump higher.

If you are looking to buy a horse to compete, a sports horse would be a very good choice. You should set yourself some guide lines on the criteria of the horse you wish to buy; a good place to start is to identify your capabilities as a rider. Less experienced riders should look for an older experienced horse that knows its job; an accomplished rider may want to bring on a younger horse and take it through the grades, it is absolutely essential for the rider to realise their capabilities. Unfortunately many people make the mistake of “over horsing themselves” this is when a less experienced rider has bought a horse that is far too much for the rider to handle. This can ruin good horses and ruin a rider’s confidence. Set a budget, the height range that would suit you best and what you intend to do with the horse. This will narrow down the market and get you focused on the right market of horses for sale.

There is an abundance of Sport horses for sale currently in the U.K. you only have to look briefly at the equestrian classifieds and you will be sure to see several advertisers offering Sports horses for sale. There are many competition yards that have Sports horses for sale.

 Professional horse producers will often travel to Ireland and mainland Europe to source Sport horses from breeders and farmers.  The horses that are brought back to the U.K. are to be sold to the equestrian competition market. A good professional horse producer will help you find the right horse; you will usually find that there will be quite a few Sports horses for sale at any one yard so you will have plenty of Sports Horses for Sale to view. There are lots of yards devoted Sports horses for sale, so you will always have plenty of horses to look at, if they don’t have a horse that is suitable they will often be able to source a Sports horse for sale that meets your requirements, as they are more than likely to have established equestrian links with farmers and breeders overseas.

It is also possible for you to go to Ireland or the Continent to look for a Sport horses for sale yourself. It is good to look on the internet for Sports Horses for Sale to see if there are any abroad that you like, many yards will offer a service where they collect you from the airport and accommodate you while you view their Sport horses for sale.

If you are ever in doubt about what horse would be most suitable for you must always seek professional help from a reputable source, a person who has expertise in your preferred discipline.

Sports Horses for Sale [http://www.horsewizard.co.uk/marketplace?page=show_category&catid=39]

Horses for Sale

Author: Paul Simms
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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