DRESSAGE Dressage is a form of riding similar to the more well-know forms of riding called 'Western', 'Jumping', and 'English Pleasure' in that each is a style of training the horse. The word 'dressage' (said 'dress-ahz and rythms with 'massage') is derived from a French term meaning 'training'. It is not only a method of 'training' a horse (called schooling), but also a competitive Olympic sport. The origination of the sport was first noted in a book by the Greek General Xenophon around 400 B.C. As the history of the world evolved the training method was further developed by the royal court of Europe in the 17th century, first as an aspect of warfare and then as an art and sport.
The most famous of these trainingcenters is the Spanish Riding school in Vienna & Austria,with its beautiful white Lipizzan stallions. While relatively new to Australia, dressage has long been a competitive equestrian sport  throughout much of the world.   Especially in Europe,where countries such as Germany,    Finland & Sweden have dominated, international competitions for decades.
It is important for Pony Club members to realise that Dressage simply means the training of the horse, and a Dressage Test simply requires the rider to show the judge how he is progressing with the training. The Pony Club Association of Victoria have a number of Dressage tests which range in complexity, the Dressage tests at Pony Club are graded from grade '5' to grade' 1'. Grade '5' is the starting point for young riders or inexperienced riders progressing through the grades and finishing with grade '1' which is the top level for the experienced Pony Clubber.

Go to http://www.ponyclubvic.org.au/?Page=106 to watch an animated dressage test

Dressage Lines

• The centerline (green line) runs straight down the middle of the arena from A to C. 
  The letters situated on the centerline in the large arena, beginning at the entrance to the arena, are A, D, L, X, I, G and C. In the small arena the centerline letters are A, D, X, G and C.

• The quarterlines (orange lines) run straight down the arena, halfway between the edge of the arena and the centerline on either side, note 5 metres from edge of arena either side. There are no letters indicating the position of the quarterlines.

• The midline (blue line) runs straight from E, through X, to B. 

• The diagonals (red line) can be ridden in many ways only two are shown.

• The long diagonals are ridden from corner letter to corner letter. The long diagonal includes X, the letter situated in the center of the arena. Therefore, the long diagonals are HXF, FXH, MXK and KXM.

• The short diagonals (red line) have many options. EF, FE (shown)

Riding Circles ina 20x40m arena

• Riding a 20 meter circle, small arena.

• Circles at A and C: the corner letters (H, K, M, F) are six metres from the end of the arena. Therefore, your 20 metre circles at A and C touch the long sides of the arena 4 metres beyond the corner letters you will also cross the centerline at X. (see figure 1 above)

• Circles at B and E: When riding a circle which begins at B or E, your horse's shoulders should leave the track as they pass the letter. crossing the centerline 10 metres on either side of X. (see figure 2 above)

• Riding a 15m circle in the small arena

• 15 metre circles that begin on the long sides of the arena reach to the opposite quarterline. Check the map above to see the quarterlines (dashed lines).