Forgive my ignorance, but what the (bleep) is "Dressage?"

[Archae]

I never even heard of it, until Ann Romney got in the news.

[elleng]

1. This:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressage

images:

http://www.google.com/search?q=dressage&hl=en&prmd=imvnsbl&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n2XeT8KREsie6AHA0vWsCw&ved=0CHQQsAQ&biw=1112&bih=558

[Archae]

5. Thanks, just wondering though...

Why is this an Olympic event?

[elleng]

6. That, I can't answer!

[riderinthestorm]

8. The moves are from battle techniques that horses and riders were taught for war

So its like fencing - an ancient military art.

All of the equestrian events are old military tests but then so are a lot of Olympic sports like wrestling and shooting.

[madinmaryland]

9. Over in the Sports Forum/Group it is not considered a sport.

OTOH, chess is, thanks to Jack Rabbit.

[Archae]

12. I don't like any Olympic event that is judged subjectively.

Floor gymnastics, figure skating, etc.

Just too much opportunity for corruption just to get the gold.

[hlthe2b]

2. It is the "pinacle" of horse competitions- with the horse put through all kinds of defined movements

If you watch the Olympics, you'll see it. A very elitist competition though as the horses, the equipment, the travel to competitions is incredibly costly... Not that western "barrel racing" or jumping can't likewise get a bit costly, but this is just a major order of magnitude different.

[rox63]

3. Basically, it's horsey-dancing n/t

[MNBrewer]

4. Not sure who said it first, but it's "horse ballet"

[Graybeard]

7. Circus acts for the very, very wealthy.

Or maybe a Rodeo...all scrubbed clean and in it's

Sunday clothes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. It's getting horses to dance.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. When I was a kid in the 1950s

my dad was transferred to the U.S. Air Force base in Weisbaden, Germany. One day he took my mom and I to downtown Weisbaden into an old apartment building that showed bomb damage on the outside left over from World War II. We took an elevator up to about the 4th floor. Up there they had knocked down the walls on about half the floor's apartments and had about a dozen horses and riders being trained in dressage. Most of the riders were German kids. I couldn't get over the fact we were way up in an apartment building that survived the war with the weight of a number of horses, riders, and several spectators seated in a viewing area. At times, the entire floor would shake and my mom was freaked out. I think those guys must have really loved the sport to do that.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. wow. neat story.

thanks for sharing it.

[hobbit709]

13. I love JuanitaJean's description.

http://juanitajean.com/2012/06/14/uh-thats-a-sport-really/

"Okay, I will be the first to admit that although I grew up around horses and did a little barrel racing in my day, I am certainly no expert in the horse arena.

However, I simply do not get dressage. To me, it looks like you put on funny clothes and ride a horse who needs to pee real bad. And that’s an Olympic sport?"

[Marie Marie]

14. And the most typical part of this for the Romneys is that, once again,

they don't actually do the competing. They buy the horses and pay someone to train them and then someone else to actual ride and compete. Then, The Romneys get the glory, accolades and trophies and prize money if their horses win. Sounds like their standard MO, winning off the backs of others.

[MrScorpio]

16. Fancy horse dancing

Or boring entertainment created solely for the benefit of stuck-up rich fucks

[jp11]

17. I'm going out on a limb here but I think it has to do with

side dishes like cranberry sauce and baked potatoes.