High School Dressage (horse)
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The purest form of classical riding, as well as dressage, High School dressage, of Haute Ecole, take years for both the horse and rider to master. When a horse has finished its training, it can not only perform Grand Prix dressage movements like collect and extended gaits, passage, and piaffe, but can perform "Airs Above the Ground." These include the courbette, capriole, levade, and ballotade. All these movements come from when the horse was used in war, and these were for protection against the enemy.
The courbette is a movement where the horse balances on its hindlegs and jumps, keeping its forelegs off the ground, thus it "hops" on its hindlegs.
The capriole is a movement where the horse leaps into the air and pulls his forelegs in towards his chest at the height of elevation, while kicking out with his hindlegs.
The levade is a movement where the horse is balanced on its haunches at a 45 degree angle from the ground. It requires great control and balance, and is very strenuous.
There are two main breeds that are most well known for their abilities for airs above ground: the Lipizzaner and the Andalusian. Other breeds that are known for their abilities in High School dressage include the Friesian and Lusitano.
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, as well as the Cadre Noir from the French Riding School in Saumur, still practice and teach Haute Ecole. The Spanish Riding School uses strictly Lipizzaner stallions for their work.
