Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The guiding of a horse through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's hands, legs, and weight.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun maneuvers of a horse in response to body signals by the rider.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable the schooling of a horse
  • noun uncountable an equestrian sport in which the horse and rider perform a test of specific movements in an arena, and are judged on the horse's obedience, acceptance of the bridle and of the rider's aids, gaits, impulsion, and the harmony between horse and rider
  • noun countable an event or competition of the sport of dressage

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun maneuvers of a horse in response to body signals by the rider

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, preparation, training, dressage, from dresser, to set up, arrange, train, from Old French drecier, to set up, arrange; see dress.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Borrowing from French dressage ("training").

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Examples

Comments

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  • Dressage is a French term meaning "training". It is the largest FEI discipline within the sport-horse category in the United States and has enjoyed the title of the fastest growing discipline (English or Western) in the U.S.

    Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and ability of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. It may look effortless, but truly it is the result from years of training. To guide a horse through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's hands, legs, and weight require extreme coordination of the riders muscle's. This can be achieved only with proper exercise.

    May 14, 2009