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The WEG Disciplines: Dressage & Para-Dressage

By Brenna Angel

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-922416.mp3

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The World Equestrian Games will attract thousands of spectators to see world championship competition in eight disciplines. Last week, reporter Brenna Angel took a close look at two of the disciplines, reining and driving. Our series continues today with dressage and para-dressage.

What is dressage?

Dressage means "training" in French. Each horse and rider perform a combination of movements and gaits, including extended walk, trot and cantor, passage, piaffe, and tempi changes.

Five judges mark the prescribed movements in each test independently of each other. The horse and rider achieving the highest score is the winner. In the popular Freestyle competition, the rider designs and choreographs an original test to be ridden to music of their choice, using the same movements required in the regular test but combined according to the rider's individual musical and artistic goals.

What is para dressage?

The para dressage discipline provides riders with physical disabilities the opportunity to compete in high performance equestrian sport alongside able-bodied riders from all over the world. For the first time in the history of equestrian sport, para dressage will be included in the 2010 World Equestrian Games.