Dressage is one of the events in the Olympic games under the equestrian catagory. It is all about elegance and balance, to keep your horse at a steady trot or an extended trot. There are specific horse breeds allowed to enter such as the Andalusian, Danish Warmblood, Hanoverian, Lusitano, Oldenburg, and the West Phalian. Dressage made it's first appearance in the 1912 Stolckholm games. It took a 60m x 20m arena to hold this sport, it also needs a panel of seven judges. Dressage keeps a skilled level of riders to enter. The athlete's horse is considered as skilled as she/he is.
Laura Bechtolsheimer
She started riding when she was three years old,she couldn't yet ride a horse but she rode a pony. She wanted to start concentrating on Dressage at age 13. She was chosen to ride in the European pony competition and won a silver medal. In 2005 she was the youngest British Dressage champion at age 20. She is on the Olympic team for Great Britain and stands strong. She is Britain's Golden Girl. She is good enough to compete at an olympic level. She had competed in the Olympic games in 2008 coming in 18th place. A year after, she competed in the 2009 European Championships. She is ranked third place in world riding championship.
Her biggest influence was Ian Woodhead and her trusted horse Alf. She is now 27 years old and is ready to play in 2012 summer olympics.
Quotes
" To do Dressage you need a good saddle and a trusted horse." " I feel pretty relaxed and sports aren't relevant to me."