Dressage 101
A Crash Course in the Elegant Equestrian Art Form
by Lisa Broadwater

What I knew about dressage before joining the staff of the Roundup could fit in a thimble with room to spare. Basically, I’d seen the Lippizaners once at the Texas State Fair. Big woo. But these days, even in Western circles, the principles of dressage are becoming more and more prevalent. So I decided to put together a crash course in dressage for those of you who, like me, may not even know how to pronounce the word (it rhymes with massage) but are curious about what the discipline entails. (If you’re already familiar with dressage, you might want to skip to the next section, where I talk to local dressage expert Nancy Sobba).
First, I borrowed a bunch of dressage-training books from someone who’s been involved in it for many years. Then I visited a bunch of Web sites in search of its history (for a list of resources, see the sidebar below). From those sources, I learned the following:
— Dressage dates back more than 2,000 years; its roots are in classical Greek horsemanship.
— The ancient Greeks were the first to practice dressage in preparation for war.
— In 1580, the Imperial Austrian Stud began importing Lippizaners from Spain. From this stock, the Spanish Riding School was developed.
—By the end of the 18th century, the Germans set the requirements of the cavalry horse as follows: speed, for attacks at the gallop; obedience, for collection and agility in face-to-face single combat; and safety over cross-country terrain. This commitment to campaign riding helped the Germans develop a highly organized, systematic approach that has led to their enormous success in today's competitive dressage arena.
— America's roots in dressage began with the Spanish Conquistadors and their gineta mode of riding.
— The first Olympic dressage games were held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1912. These equestrian games were only open to cavalry officers; the dressage test consisted of collected and extended gaits, rein-back, turn on the hocks, four flying changes on a straight line and jumping five small obstacles, one of which was a barrel rolled towards the horse.
— Gen. George Patton is credited with protecting the Spanish Riding School and rescuing Lippizaner mares from becoming absorbed into the Communist bloc in World War II. After the U.S. Cavalry disbanded in 1948, the focus of dressage for military purpose shifted to civilian competition and sport and began to gain momentum.

Putting Dressage into Practice
Okay, enough with the history. Let’s move on to the real deal. For help with that, I turned to Nancy Sobba, who has been studying dressage about as long as (or perhaps longer than) anyone else in the state. Owner of Lucky Acres Stables just outside Jacksonville, Sobba has been quite successful as both a dressage competitor and instructor.
We start at the beginning. What the heck is dressage, anyway?
“It’s a French word that just means ‘schooling’ or ‘training,’ Sobba explains. “In a nutshell, it’s basic training of the horse. It teaches the horse to be obedient and supple; it teaches him how to use his body so it minimizes stress on his joints because he learns how to use himself from nuances with your seat and back and legs. And that makes the horse a more well-rounded athlete.
“It’s kind of like gymnastics. Gradually, with years of work, you can build a lot of correct muscle and make a very average animal much more beautiful.”
Sobba got her first taste of dressage work when she was just a kid. Her father was in the Calvary, and she started riding the old remount horses in Fort Riley, Kan., when she was 5. By the time she was 6, she was learning to jump. In the mid-’50s, when she was in her teens, her family moved to Greece, where she received her first official dressage instruction. Her Communist German teacher “made us work a lot on our equitation — how we sat, how we controlled the horse, how we used our legs, our body language with the horse.”
She began teaching and boarding horses in 1963, when she and her husband (and three kids) moved to Arkansas. Both she and her daughter jumped competitively for years.
“What drew me to dressage was that I was really getting too old to be jumping these huge fences I was jumping,” Sobba says. “I began to realize that the horses could be so much better at jumping if they were better trained on the flat — meaning, if they could respond to your aids better, understand what your body meant, instead of just using your hand and your leg to kick to go and pull to stop, which is pretty crude.
“I took my first dressage clinic in about 1983 or so,” she says. “We were still doing a lot of jumping then. This instructor came down and was teaching all these kids in our local pony club. I thought, ‘I’m sure I know all this, but I’ll go ahead and pay my money and ride in a clinic.’ Well, I realized I had a lot to learn! It was quite an awakening.
“I watched the kids ride around and just sit so beautifully and move their horses around without seemingly any effort. I thought, ‘That’s really cool.’ That really piqued my interest in becoming a rider and, in so doing, becoming a better instructor.”

In the Arena
There are five basic competitive levels of dressage recognized by the national governing body, the United States Dressage Federation (USDF): Training, First, Second, Third and Fourth, each of which has multiple tests that must be completed successfully before a rider can move on to the next level.
Beyond that are the advanced Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) levels: Prix St Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special. Those are the levels you see in the Olympics.
“It takes a lot of instruction and a really good horse to get there,” Sobba says. “It isn’t easy. If we get somebody in this state who can bring a horse up to Fourth Level, we think we’re doing really good stuff.”
(Sobba is one of only a handful of dressage riders in Arkansas who have competed at the Fourth Level and one of only four Arkansans to receive a Bronze Medal, which recognizes achievements at the First through Third Levels.)
The dressage playing field is a 20X60-meter arena with 12 letter markers spaced at specific points along the rails. The horse and rider perform a series of required movements at specific locations within the arena.
For example, Sobba says, “In Training Level, you do things like 20-meter circles at a walk, trot and canter. You do a figure. You could compare it to the compulsory figures in ice skating: You have a set pattern, and you have to be able to ride the pattern.”
One to five judges evaluate the performance. Scores range from zero to 10, with each movement receiving a mark. Some movements have more emphasis than others,
“There is a mark at the bottom of the test for the rider,” Sobba adds. “But the base of the test is on the performance of the horse. So the rider could be less than gorgeous and still get a fairly good score, as long as they’re effective in their riding. However, since it’s an aesthetic sport, you want to look good. That’s why we’re always working on our seat and how well we can make the horse perform in a very subtle manner.”
If a dressage rider is doing everything right, the spectator will see very little in the way of movement on his part.
“In the training process, you can see a lot,” Sobba says. “But in the ring, it’s a beautiful thing to watch because it is so subtle. Everything is very controlled.
“When you get to the higher levels, they do multiple flying lead changes and maneuvers like shoulder and haunches in. These are exercises where the horse moves a haunch or shoulder a certain way. They’re all suppling exercises to help the horse use himself in a more athletic, stronger way.
“The higher the level, the more the horse sits on his back end and gets lighter in front. They have to build all that muscle in the back to be able to support themselves. That’s why it’s not a fast sport; it’s very slow, and you have to be very patient. You just can’t take a young horse out and go from Training- to Third-Level in a year.”
Okay, so what is a realistic progression?
“With a nice, athletic horse with a good beginning, you could do Training- and First Level in the first year,” she says. “That’s kind of what I did with my mare last year. I started her at training and by the end of the year, she did one First-Level test, and this year I’m going to hopefully do First and Second.”
What makes a good dressage rider?
“People who like precision and have a lot of patience and perhaps are interested in some of the arts,” Sobba says. “But we have all kinds of people with all sorts of interests and backgrounds.”
It seems as if this is the ideal pursuit for the perfectionist.
“It is that kind of sport — we’re very anal,” Sobba says. “But I’m not a perfectionist. I teach a lot of people who are not. The ones who are perfectionists probably drive their horses crazy because horses can’t be perfect. “
Is there anything about dressage that’s simple?
“No, not really,” Sobba says. “This isn’t a simple sport.
“It’s not that complicated if you have a good basic start,” she adds, “where somebody starts you from the way you sit to how you use your body and you progress from there. If you get somebody who doesn’t understand the basics but just has you go out and canter in a circle, you can accomplish a test, but it won’t be very good. Because there’s so much to getting the horse to perform in this very beautiful, athletic manner.”

Beyond the Arena
By the way, dressage isn’t designed exclusively for those interested in competition.
“No, a lot of people do it just to make the horse more of a pleasure to ride and more of an obedient animal,” Sobba says. “And we do a lot of cross-training. Barrel racers can get their horses much more supple and able to go around the barrels better by just learning how to use their legs. In fact, it’s quite sophisticated now; the Western folks do a lot of dressage-type training in everything they do.
“When you know the correct way to do things, you can take a reining horse that’s having a problem and show the rider how to supple up the horse and teach it to do that movement a lot better and then go do their reining pattern and have a better ride.”
At the lower levels, it isn’t necessary to have a specific breed.
“What dressage does is makes any horse better — it really does,” Sobba says. “Out here we have Arabs, Quarter horses, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas and quite a few Warmbloods. The Warmbloods are a little better suited because they’ve been bred for it — they’re just a little more athletic for what we do. But any horse can do it up to Second Level. From there on, you may be limited either by yourself and your skills or the athletic ability of the horse.”
For now, Sobba says, Arkansas is still a fledgling dressage community (“We’ve left the nest, and we’re starting to fly around a little bit”) but interest is growing.
“The Arkansas Dressage Society has more than 100 members,” Sobba says, “and every year our membership grows. And the quality of riders and horses are definitely improving.”

For More Dressage Information…
Advice from a Research Expert
By Carla Starks

Like many adult beginners, I was horse-crazy from birth. My parents thought it was merely a phase that would pass as I grew up. My dad was in the Army, and we traveled so frequently that it was impossible to own a horse. The years passed, but my love for horses never faded. Finally, at the age of 30, my husband convinced me that we could have a horse on our small property.
What an adventure! I found out that reading Misty of Chincoteague and watching My Friend Flicka was not adequate preparation for owning and caring for a horse. I found out that I only really knew two things about horses: which end to feed and which end to clean up after.
Thanks to many friends and horse professionals, I’ve been able to survive the horse ownership experience. In addition, I became an expert at horse research (my friends and teachers soon became weary of my many questions). This skill became particularly useful when my horse journey led me to dressage. Believe me, there is much more to dressage than riding in 20-meter circles dressed in fancy riding clothes.
When I realized I needed help making sense of dressage, I went back to the books. I discovered there is a wealth of information available on dressage, ranging from books to videos to web sites. If you’re beginning a dressage journey, the list of resources below may be helpful. Of course, there’s no substitute for a knowledgeable instructor. We have several in our area.

General Information:
United States Dressage Federation — The official web site for the United States Dressage Federation. Start here for information on organized dressage in the United States. Links to group member organizations (read: dressage clubs), plus informational pamphlets and videos. Web site: www.USDF.org
Dressage World — Dressage news, articles, classifieds, links. Membership not required to access. Web site: www.worlddressage.com
Dressage Unlimited — User-friendly web site that includes chat groups, news, humor and articles. Membership required to access some functions. Web site: www.dressageunltd.com

Dressage Tack and Riding Apparel:
Dressage Extensions — Dressage tack, apparel and gifts. Print catalog available as well. 1-800-303-7849, www.dressageextensions.com
Dover Saddlery — English tack (including dressage) apparel and gifts. Print catalog available as well. 1-800-989-1500, www.doversaddlery.com
Stateline Tack — English tack (including dressage) apparel and gifts. Print catalog available as well. 1-888-839-9640, www.statelinetack.com

Magazines
Dressage Today — Monthly publication devoted exclusively to dressage. For subscription information, call (800) 829-5910. Email: dressage@palmcoastd.com
Practical Horseman — Monthly publication devoted to English equestrian sports, including dressage. For subscription information, call (800) 829-5910. Email: practical@palmcoastd.com

Videos
On The Levels — How To Ride The 1999 Dressage Tests. The 1999 AHSA Dressage tests from the perspective of the rider and the judge. Learn to avoid common mistakes and the required movements at each of the levels.
Dressage Seat and Position. Top dressage trainer and competitor Michael Poulin discusses seat and position. Originally produced for junior/young riders, this is a good tape for anyone wanting to learn the basic seat requirements.
1999 Symposium Video Series — Featuring Conrad Schumacher. The 1999 USDF Symposium videos, featuring Germany's Conrad Schumacher. These videos highlight the basics that provide a foundation for the dressage horse. Conrad Schumacher has coached Olympic medalists, as well as World and European Champions.
All these videos are available through the USDF at (402) 434-8550 (see web site information above).

Books
Cross-Train Your Horse: Simple Dressage for Every Horse, Every Sport/Book 1 by Jane Savoie, Lynn Palm Rossillon. This is a great book for newcomers to dressage with excellent illustrative photographs. Covers all the riding basics, plus background that explains dressage to riders from other disciplines.
The Dressage Competitors Handbook by Suzanne K.B. Fraser, Cindy Sydnor (foreword). Covers everything you need to know once you’re ready to start competing in dressage. Includes information on required attire, grooming and competition rules. Plus, how to make sense of a dressage test score.
Dressage from A to X: The Definitive Guide to Riding and Competing by Barbara Burkhardt. Just like the title says — everything the beginner needs to ride and compete in dressage.
Dressage in Harmony: From Basic to Grand Prix by Walter Zettl. Read this book once you’re familiar with the basics and decide you want to delve deeper into theory and technique.
There are hundreds of books devoted to dressage. Go to amazon.com and use the keyword “dressage” for a more exhaustive list. You’ll find everything from riding to training to choosing the right dressage horse.

Little Rock-based Carla Starks has been a horse owner and rider since 1993 and a dressage enthusiast since 1995.