Communications and Media

Historically, the word dressage was used in reference to a mode of battle field training and movement where horse riders were supposed to ride harmoniously on their horses. It never required the riders to rider against their battle filed horses. Currently, the word is widely applied in the modern war zones where battle men ensure a well monitored riding process on their horses. Accordingly, riders maintain body balance on their horses by ensuring a good sitting position which therefore provides a position to be in rhythmic motion with the horse. With such a posture, battle men could and can even up to date perform their battle field activities without any fear of falling form their horses. Therefore, classical riding requires an individual to have the right seat and balance his body correctly in order to move in rhythm with the horse.
           
 The necessity of classical dressage is to make a horse to behave in a similar manner under pressure, just as it behaves when free. When a horse is trying to make an impression, it pumps its chest, raises its neck and changes its walking style in order to portray an upward movement. The most ancient and available documentation on theory of classical dressage is from Xenophon who insisted that a horse ought to be trained with kindness and reward (Loch, 15). The use of force and brutality while training horses ended in the 15th century and was replaced with indoor riding.
           
A new beginning which defined the classical dressage made horse riding a classic art which took many years to perfect. Also, this training required the horse to make in specific movements while in the air. The school jumps, is a set of above ground dressage movements which a horse does when it jumps. Modern dressage emanated from classical dressing despite the fact that it appears to be different. During ancient times, horses were used as a means of transport and mostly for battle (Ziegner, 67).
           
Currently, many people suggest that a person would be more successful if he trained in modern dressage than classical dressage. Classical dressage involves teaching a horse to carry a rider, teaching it to obey his orders and uplifting the athletic nature of the horse. When a horse is deemed to have gained enough knowledge in its gymnastic performance, it can smoothly and easily respond to the riders instructions. Ancient Europeans showed off their horses capabilities in equestrian pageants. However, modern dressing competitions involve riding the horse in properly arranged motions in front of a panel of judges.
             
To add on, judges assess each movement in relation to the standard of the test and give it a score of between zero and ten.  When a rider attains a score of nine, he is considered excellent while an average score of six is fit for a person to proceed to the next stage. Unlike classical dressage, competitive dressage does not dictate the airs to be above ground since even the well trained horses cannot perform well due to physical limitations. Controversies surrounding modern dressage are the fact that wrong movement may actually seem correct during lower stages. Moreover, people hold the belief that the best trained horse and rider are not always rewarded (Cunffy, 29). A classical rider can also fail to command his horse to perform certain movements, a situation which can be penalized at lower levels of the competition.
         
In conclusion, advanced classical riding and dressage takes many years for the rider and the horse to perfect. Perfection therefore enables the horse to not only carry out grand prix movements, but also above ground airs.