How Do You Build A Dressage Court?
Dressage is a French word meaning “training.” It comes from a military tradition and is very regimented and exacting. Dressage is performed in an arena called a dressage court, which is a rectangle, either 20 feet by 40 feet for a short court or 20 feet by 60 feet for a long court. There are letters placed around the court to give a specific place where each movement is performed. These letters and the walls of the court give the rider a boundary, assisting her in riding exact figures. At home, you may wish to decorate your dressage court with flowers, plants and balloons to get your horse used to them before going to a competition. For the latest rules on dressage and competition, visit the USEF rulebook at http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2008/08-DR.pdf Make sure your arena area is as flat and level as possible. Remove rocks, shrubs or any other inconsistencies in the terrain, including filling in any holes. Measure out your dressage court and mark the ground where the rails wi
