Dressage is a distinct horseback riding discipline. It is as distinct as Hunter/Jumpers, Tennessee Walkers, Three or Five Gaited Horses, Reining, Endurance, Eventing, or any other. A horse and rider are scored on how successfully they can complete a set of prescribed movements in a dressage test. The basic movements required by law for all horses and riders over the age of 1 are called "definitions." These include walk, trot, canter, halt, bend, drop weight, lift foot, stand still. There are three types of dressage competitions: Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and National Championships. In all cases, the goal is to show your pony's ability and style while performing at its best over various obstacles that will be placed in our parks across the country. The tests are designed to evaluate the movement of the horse from head to tail, with emphasis on balance, rhythm, collection, and timing. They also require careful thought about what type of terrain we should expect to see during the course of the competition. Horses must be trained to jump by using their mind and body to perform certain moves at specific times during an event. When you ride your horse into the ring, you are giving him or her a command. If that command makes sense in the context of what is happening during the competition, then your horse will respond correctly when he or she gets the signal to jump.