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- What is STRIDE?
- What kind of things does STRIDE do?
- Do you have meetings?
- How do I become a member of STRIDE?
- What is dressage?
- What is the format of a dressage competition?
- How do I enter a competition?
We are a volunteer-based dressage club based in the Ocala,
Florida area. Our members have an interest in both ridden and driven
dressage. Our club name stands for “Striving Toward Rider and Driver
Dressage Education”. As of January, 2009, we have 183 members. We
are a Group Member Organization under the
United States Dressage Federation.
Our primary mission is to provide educational opportunities for members. Things
like clinics, speakers, workshops. To raise money to offer such events, we host 5
schooling shows per year, offering classes for both riders and drivers. Riders compete
for year end awards. We also try to have fun at our shows by offering versatility
classes (trail, Prix Caprilli, cones, equitation and a timed class called dressage by
the letters where riders/drivers negotiate “gates” at the letters of the dressage ring
alphabetically). We also celebrate holidays close to our shows, such as having costume
class at Halloween, egg and spoon class at Easter, mother/daughter class on Mother’s Day, etc.
We meet monthly, generally on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Most of our meetings are
in local restaurants like Ruby Tuesday’s on SR200 in Ocala, but check the website for
specifics. Most people arrive early to enjoy dinner with friends and a business meeting starts
at 7 pm. Speakers provide educational opportunities at nearly every meeting.
Dating back to 300 B.C., the Greek horseman Xenophon is credited as the father of
dressage. He was the first to believe that harmonious and humane treatment of horses
was better than harsh methods and his work led to the eventual development of the Spanish
Riding School in Austria (and some similar schools of equitation in France and
Portugal). Simply translated, dressage means “training” and basic dressage finds utility
in nearly every equine discipline, from driving to reining. Dressage at its highest level
is an Olympic sport and the musical freestyle competition has been compared to freestyle
ice skating. Riders and trainers talk about dressage as a pyramid, where the basic fundamentals
of rhythm, regularity and relaxation of the horse are essential for advancement. As one
progresses in the sport, the fundamentals are not discarded, but remain an essential component
as new skills are added.
For both ridden and driven dressage the horse and human are evaluated by a judge as a unit
by themselves. The same standard test is executed by each competitor within a class. All
tests are divided into 8-30 movements, each of which are scored from 0 to 10, where 10
equals excellent (not perfect). Ridden dressage starts with Introductory Level (walk/trot)
and continues to Training level, then First, Second, Third and Fourth Levels. After success
at Fourth Level, some horses and riders advance to the International or FEI levels of Prix
St. George, Intermediare and Grand Prix. Driven dressage also starts at Training Level, and
then continues to Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced. Copies of the tests can be found at
either
United States Equestrian Federation or
Carriage Association of America.
Download the omnibus and prizelist for the upcoming show. Be sure to have a negative
Coggins test within the previous 12 months of the date of the show (not entry date). Complete
the entry and mail the entry form, Coggins test and your check to the show secretary before
the closing date.
Ride times will be posted on the website a few days before the show.
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