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Dressage-ArenaGlossary of Dressage Terms R to ZWhile reading through the Dressage-Arena ( your practical guide to riding) you might encounter unfamiliar words. These words are part of the technical jargon or language used by instructors, trainers and riders when discussing riding and training.
The United State Dressage Federation
has compiled a long list of these words and phrases in order to “improve understanding of, and standardize the usage of, terminology...."I have included terms that would be useful to the rider who is at the introductory to 1st level of riding. The other terms will be added in subsequent pages and associated to specific Dressage-Arena applications. I have also added some other terms that are not considered in the USDF Glossary, but that are commonly used in books and the daily language of riders. Remember
Horse-Training Tip # 4 Dressage-Arena GlossaryR
REACHRefers to the forward extension of the fore limbs, hind limbs, and neck of the horse (or may be used to refer to any one of these individually). REGULARITY Purity of the gait and (at walk and trot) evenness of the length of the steps and levelness of the height of the steps taken by the front or hind pairs of legs (i.e., the left and right legs of the pair are symmetrical in height and length of step). (Note: In the first collective mark on a dressage test, “Gaits [Freedom and Regularity],” “Regularity” is used to address purity and soundness. It does not address the tempo of the horse.) RELAX/RELAXATION 1. Referring to the horse’s mental/emotional state: calmness, without anxiety or nervousness. 2. Referring to the horse’s physical state: commonly used to indicate the absence of muscular tension (contraction) other than that needed for optimal carriage, strength, and range and fluency of movement. Often the physical and mental/emotional states go hand in hand. RELEASE As used in the tests, the brief release of the contact, wherein the rider in one clear motion extends the hand(s) forward along the crest of the horse’s neck, then rides for several strides without contact. Its purpose is to demonstrate that, even with loose rein(s), the horse maintains its carriage, balance, pace, and tempo. This corresponds to the German expression “Überstreichen.” RESISTANCE Active, rigid opposition to the connection or to the aids of the rider (e.g., against or above the bit). Not the same as Disobedience or Evasion. The horse can be resistant, yet still obedient (perform the required task). Can be momentary or pervasive, willful or unintentional. RHYTHM The recurring characteristic sequence and timing of footfalls and phases of a given gait. For purposes of dressage, the only correct rhythms are those of the pure walk, trot, and canter, and reinback and piaffe (not those of amble, pace, rack, etc). ROCKING/ROCKING HORSE CANTER A canter in which the neck/forehand goes too much up and down as a result of lack of sufficient ground coverage, lack of sufficient engagement, or interference by the rider. ROUNDNESS 1. The convexity of the profile of the horse’s topline, and concavity of the underline of the neck. 2. The circular, as opposed to linear or flat, quality characterizing the movements or action of the horse’s limbs. RUNNING Excess MPM and/or quickness of tempo relative to the engagement and balance expected of the pace or movement. Usually used in reference to lengthened, medium or extended trot or canter, or canter departs. RUSHED Usually refers to the tempo, though strictly speaking it could refer to MPM. Therefore, it is best to specify (as in “rushed tempo”). Dressage-Arena GlossaryS
SCOPEAmplitude (reach and roundness) of movement. SELF-CARRIAGE State in which the horse carries itself in balance without taking support or balancing on the rider’s hand. SLACK 1. Used in reference to the reins: lacking contact. 2. Used in reference to the condition of the musculature (e.g., “slack loin”). SNATCHING 1. Attempting to jerk the reins through the rider’s hands. 2. Used in reference to one or both hind legs: picking up the leg(s) jerkily and sometimes excessively high. STIFF/STIFFNESS Inability (as opposed to unwillingness) to flex the joints or stretch the musculature to the degree and in the way required to perform the task at hand. The opposite of Suppleness. Not to be confused with “tense” or “resistant.” SUBMISSION Compliance and throughness. The yielding of the horse’s will to that of the rider, as revealed by a constant attention and confidence in the attitude of the horse, as well as by the harmony with the rider and willingness to: 1. perform the required task 2. operate with correct SUPPLENESS Range of motion of joints. Pliability, flexibility. The opposite of Stiffness. A horse’s suppleness is largely determined by genetics but may over time be improved through training. SUSPENSION The moment or phase of the trot or canter in which the horse has no feet on the ground. SWINGING BACK The springy motion that occurs when the thrust off the hind legs is transmitted through a stretched topline by trunk muscles that contract and “decontract” rhythmically rather than remaining either rigid or slack. SWINGING HEAD The horse’s muzzle moves left-and-right (in trot and canter) or in circles (usually in canter), indicating constraint or incorrect acceptance of contact/connection. Dressage-Arena GlossaryT to Z
TEMPO Rate of repetition of the rhythm, the strides, or of the emphasized beats—beats per minute, as may be measured by a metronome. FEI does not currently use the word Tempo in its Rule Book but uses the terms Rhythm and Cadence instead.) TENSE/TENSION 1. Referring to the horse’s mental/emotional state: anxious, nervous. 2. Referring to the horse’s physical state: commonly used to indicate undesired muscular contraction. Often the physical and mental/emotional states go hand in hand. TILTING Tipping or cocking the head (lowering one ear)—an evasion. TOE FLICKING Refers to the exaggerated or artificial action of the forelegs. Usually applied to the trot. TOPLINE Profile from the poll to the tail along the top of the crest of the neck and along the spine. The horse lengthens or stretches its topline by stretching and arching the neck and rounding the back. The horse can stretch its topline independently of the height of the neck. TRACK/TRACKS 1. (verb) Referring to a foot or feet, to travel in a line or path (e.g., the horse tracks straight with his left hind). (noun) The lines of travel of feet, viewed and counted by the observer as the horse approaches him (e.g., number of tracks for shoulder-in). 2. Direction of travel, as in “track right” (when all corners are right turns, and right hand is toward the center of the arena). 3. Used to refer to lateral movements—movements on “two tracks.” 4. The path next to the rail in an arena. TRACKING UP The hind feet step into the prints of the forefeet. Dressage-Arena Glossary A to C Dressage-Arena Glossary D to I Dressage-Arena Glossary J to Q
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