Many Horse Illustrated readers love this discipline and/or practice parts of it to improve their riding in other disciplines. This Olympic equestrian discipline, which also means "training," involves training the horse up through set levels using specific movements put together in a pattern, called a test. Competitions are available for riders of all levels. The United States Dressage Federation governs competitions in the U.S. Horses of all breeds are capable of participating in the sport, and exercises can improve any riding horse's skills, and that of his rider. In addition, Horse Illustrated publishes news from this discipline as well as features on how to do certain movements, how to participate in the sport, stories from riders in the discipline, and more.

Dressage Begins at the 2016 Olympics in Rio

August 10, 2016

Dressage competition got underway today at the Rio 2016 Olympics. The first team and individual riders completed their grand prix tests under steel-gray skies and rain started to fall on the Olympic Equestrian Center by afternoon. Half of the field rode their tests today and the remaining half will compete...

Read More

Lighten Up!

August 2, 2016

Riding a horse that’s lugging you about is probably not your idea of a good time. With a few simple tips from Grand Prix dressage rider Reese Koffler-Stanfield, you can put a stop to the endless tug-of-war. Are you ready to lighten up? A Heavy Load A horse that’s pulling,...

Read More

Meet the 2016 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team

June 27, 2016

The following athlete-and-horse combinations will compose the Team (in alphabetical order): Allison Brock and Rosevelt   Allison Brock (Loxahatchee, Fla.) with Claudine and Fritz Kundrun’s Rosevelt, a 2002 Hanoverian stallion Hailing from Hawaii, Allison Brock has been pursuing her dressage goals for 20 years. Although Rio will be her first...

Read More

Hunter, Jumper and Dressage Show Clothes

June 23, 2016

Trends in the hunter and jumper rings can take decades to change, which is great news for riders who want to stay current on a limited budget. Currently, color is one trend sweeping the show arenas, as are light, technical fabrics seen in everything from show shirts and coats to...

Read More

What is a Half-Halt?

May 5, 2016

Q: My trainer explains the half-halt as pulling and pushing at the same time, but it’s still a mystery to me. Can you explain the mechanics of the half-halt? A: In its rawest form (meaning without balance or technique), the half-halt is part pull and part push, and many instructors...

Read More

A Responsive Horse

April 26, 2016

Is a sharp and peppy response to your leg missing from your horse’s vocabulary? While a laid-back horse might otherwise be speaking your language, a forward-thinking tune-up could be in order. Horses with a cool and calm temperament are just the right fit for many riders in a variety of...

Read More

Three Riding Workouts at the Walk

December 14, 2015

Staring ahead at the short, chilly days of winter can leave riders feeling desperate. Poor weather and lack of daylight might force them to abandon their riding routines. Their horses will lose fitness, their skills rust over. By revising our routines, though, winter does not have to be so bleak....

Read More

A Wild Horse in the Dressage Arena

November 24, 2015

Any breed of horse can compete in dressage, but as you look further up the levels, the competitive field becomes a bit less diverse. Tall, muscular European warmbloods dominate the upper levels as they have been bred for generations to do. Cobra is an American Mustang, selectively bred by nature...

Read More

Scenes from the 2015 U.S. Dressage Finals

November 8, 2015

The United States Dressage Finals for 2015 are in the books. The event took place at the Kentucky Horse Park from Nov. 5-8 and featured horses and riders who had qualified for the competition at all levels, from training through Grand Prix. This year marks the third year of the...

Read More

Dynamic Duo: Boyd and Silva Martin

October 11, 2015

Boyd and Silva help school each others’ horses if they are having a particular issue that can be resolved by the other’s riding strengths.   It’s a typical lunchtime at Windurra. A group of riders stands around the kitchen eating sandwiches while Olympic eventer Boyd Martin leans against the kitchen...

Read More