Proper names for dressage moves

Thursday, when we went to the Dressage Exhibition, we saw some incredible dressage moves, but didn't know the names of them, as they're not something you see every day. Probably only classically trained expert dressage riders would perform them.  Yesterday, when we visited the museum at the dressage school, there was a handy display that named all of the moves, and also gave an explanation.
Here's what we saw, with links to short Youtube videos:

Courbette: the horse jumps on his hind legs; there was no rider on the horses doing this - just a rider guiding them from the ground.

Pesade: the horse rears at a 45 degree angle.

Piaffe: the horse trots in place; there's not supposed to be any forward or backward movement.

Capriole: probably the most dramatic move; the horse jumps up and then kicks out his hind legs behind him.

Levade: the horse rears up, but then sort of sinks down, so that they're at a 30 degree angle.

Spanish Walk: a slow, high stepping walk where the legs are thrust out in front.

Passage: a vigorous trot, high stepping where the legs seem suspended in the air.

More Jerez dressage school

Yesterday we went back to the Dressage school for a tour and to watch horses and riders training. There are a few different things you can study here: saddlery, riding, driving, to be a vet assistant, or a groom.
The most popular program is riding, and students can study for either two or four years; then they usually go home and become dressage instructors. To apply, you have to be between 16 and 24 years old, speak and write Spanish, and be a fairly high level dressage rider. As well as a written exam, applicants have to do a practical test, on one of the School's horses that they've never ridden before; they only get 10 minutes in the warm-up ring on the horse before the dressage test.
While on average 60 people apply every year, only 6 are accepted. Students pay only 1000 Euros per year, since the school provides scholarships, in order to encourage the best students to apply.

Our guide in the tack room

In contrast, private students pay 2000 Euros per week! We saw two of those in the ring; they're easy to identify as they wear whatever colour they want, whereas Dressage students wear green, and instructors wear dark blue. Fourth year students may be invited to ride in the exhibitions, like the one we saw yesterday; only two or three students were in it yesterday we were told, all the rest were instructors. There are 15 riding teachers and 2 driving instructors. Some of the instructors have been to the Olympics and also competed in the World Equestrian Games, which was held in Jerez in 2002.

There are 120 horses on site; all are stallions if they're pure Spanish horses, or geldings if they're a mixed breed horse. Most come from their own stud farm, but some come from the Military, as they're one of the sponsors of the school. The horses' training starts at age 3, and by the time they're 7 they may be participating in the Exhibitions. When they're 20 they're retired to the stud farm (the best), or sold.



A student lunging a horse in the outdoor arena with the indoor behind

After the tack room and stables, we walked over the Carriage Museum; one big carriage was used a few years ago for the King's daughter's wedding in Seville, the carriage was pulled by 6 bay horses. We then went to the arena to watch some training, and also walked through the saddlery. Each horse has his own made-to-fit saddle and bridle.

It was a very enjoyable tour; Brad did an informal survey of our tour group: most of the women were riders, the men were not. One fellow said "I just cut hay..."








Jerez dressage

Dressage training by Alcalaina CC



This morning we walked to the Dressage School; it's so well known here, and so many people come to see their performances, all you need to say is "the school," and people know what you mean. Started in 1973, La Real Escuela Andaluza Del Arte Ecuestre (the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art) trains riders in riding and driving. We saw individual riders (one woman and the rest men), four riders and then eight at a time, doing drill team moves. Two carriages, one with three horses and one with four performed, one doing such tight circles you held your breath.
No photos were allowed once the show started, so we only have the one below of a rider in the warmup ring at the end; people were starting to arrive.

The ring at the Dressage School

After that we walked around the corner to the Sandeman sherry cellar for a tour, tasting, and tapas. After learning that they use only American oak barrels, and much detail about the process, we got to the tasting room where we sipped three types of sherry: Palomino fino, much like a dry white wine, a medium sherry, very smooth, and a dark one which was really sweet. Two flamenco dancers performed on a small stage with a guitarist, which was a unexpected treat.

Our guide at Sandeman Cellar