Dressage Movements

In dressage, the gaits that the horse will show are walk, trot and canter. Each of these gaits may be shown in collected, medium or extended. The strides of the horse get bigger from collected to medium and extended. The collected stride, the horses hind end comes under the body. The steps are higher, the least amount of ground is covered in collected gaits. The medium stride has longer steps. In the extended gaits the horse stretches his neck out and takes longer steps. The hind end really pushes in the extended paces. The walk has a 1-2-3-4 sequence of footfalls. The near hind, near foreleg, off hind leg, and then off foreleg. The walk can also be shown as a free walk. This is where the horse stretches his neck forward and downward on long reins.

The trot has a 1-2, 1-2 rhythm. The horse moves from one diagonal pair of legs to the other diagonal pair.

The canter is a three beat movement with a moment of suspension. The change of lead is shown in the canter. They can occur as single changes to tempi changes. In tempi changes the change can happen every fourth stride, third stride, second stride or every stride.

The halt happens in the beginning and the end of every test. The horse should be square and round. The halt should remain immobile.

The reinback, the horse starts forward from the halt, but is restrained from the reins, and immediately steps back. After the required steps the horse moves forward again. During the reinback, the legs move in diagonal pairs. The shoulder-in is used to improve the horse's suppleness and strength. The horse moves forward and sideways in about a thirty degree angle. The horse travels on three tracks. The inside hind steps in the same path as the outside front.

The half pass is a diagonal movement across the arena. The horse is bent in the direction of travel with a slight shoulder lead. The horse crosses its outside pair of legs over and in front of the inner pair.

The pirouette is a turn on the haunches with the rear feet remaining in a small circle. The front legs move around them. There should be 6-8 strides in the pirouette all equal and in rhythm.

Piaffe and Passage are the two extremes in trot. The piaffe is highly cadenced trot in place. The horse springs from one diagonal pair of legs to the other with even rhythm and a large moment of suspension. The haunches are lowered and forehand raised. The horse should appear very uphill. The hind feet should come up a few inches. The front forelegs should be raised so the forearm is almost level.

The passage is an extremely cadenced trot. The period of suspension is longer than any other form of trot. The horse should appear to float. The trot is very collected almost in slow motion.