When I began learning dressage, I often wondered what made advanced riders look so effortless. The answer lies in the dressage training scale. It gives me a clear path to build a harmonious connection with my horse. Step by step, it helps me understand rhythm, balance, energy, and lightness. This scale is not just a list of skills — it’s a journey toward true partnership.
1. Rhythm: The Foundation of Every Movement
Rhythm is where everything begins. It is the regular, consistent beat of each gait. Every stride should have equal length and duration. In walk, trot, and canter, I check if the rhythm stays steady. Even in transitions, turns, and corners, the rhythm must remain clear.
When rhythm is lost, the horse often shows tension or imbalance. Therefore, I watch closely how my horse moves in every basic gait. Only when the sequence of steps flows evenly can I say the rhythm is correct. A clear rhythm gives my horse confidence and relaxation.
2. Suppleness: The Key to Softness and Trust
Suppleness follows rhythm. The goal is to make my horse’s body soft, elastic, and free from stiffness. A supple horse moves through the back and reacts calmly to my aids. The joints bend and straighten equally on both sides.
Suppleness means both mental and physical relaxation. A horse that swings through the back, breathes calmly, and chews softly on the bit shows true suppleness. When I release the reins, my horse should stretch forward and downward without losing rhythm or balance. That is the best proof of relaxation and trust.
3. Contact: The Language Between Horse and Rider
Once rhythm and relaxation are steady, I focus on contact. True contact is not pulling — it is listening. Good contact feels alive yet soft in my hands. My horse reaches confidently into the bit and seeks my hand. With this it is showing trust in my aids. Contact is where communication becomes clear and balanced. I never pull; instead, I drive the energy from the hindquarters forward over a swinging back.
The contact should stay steady and elastic. The poll remains the highest point, and the line of the nose stays slightly in front of the vertical. My horse’s mouth stays quiet, chewing gently. This harmony allows balance and rhythm to flow through the body. Contact, therefore, connects the aids of rider and horse into one fluent dialogue.The reins feel elastic, alive, and light.
4. Impulsion: Energy and Power from Behind
Next, I focus on impulsion. It is not speed. It is the controlled, forward energy that comes from the hindquarters. Impulsion adds life to the movement. When impulsion develops correctly, my horse’s steps become expressive and elastic.The energy must stay controlled and rhythmic, not rushed. The moment of suspension becomes visible, especially in trot and canter.
The energy flows from behind, through a supple back, to the bit. That power creates lightness in the forehand and a feeling of uphill movement. To build impulsion, I ride transitions, lengthenings, and gymnastic exercises. Step by step, my horse learns to carry more weight behind and move with athletic power.
5. Straightness: Balancing Both Sides of the Horse
Straightness helps me guide my horse evenly on both reins. Horses are naturally crooked, so I work to align shoulders and hindquarters.Therefore, straightness means that the hind feet follow the line of the forefeet. My horse is straight when it bends equally to both sides and keeps its body aligned on curves and straight lines.
A straight horse can use its hind legs evenly. It learns to push equally from both hind legs, directly toward the center of gravity, not sideways. Straightness prevents uneven wear and strengthens both sides equally — everything becomes smoother and more harmonious. Only a straight horse can be truly supple, balanced, and ready for collection.
6. Collection: The Expression of Balance, Lightness, and Strength
Collection is the final step of the scale of dressage training. It develops naturally from the previous levels. In collection, my horse shifts more weight to the hindquarters, lifts the forehand, and shortens the frame slightly without losing energy. It’s not about shorter strides, but about carrying power in balance. Collection feels like dancing — soft, proud, and connected. It is the result of trust, patience, and years of building from the basics.
Through half-halts and lateral work, I teach my horse to carry more weight behind. The joints bend, the back becomes round, and the movement feels elevated. A collected horse moves with ease and self-carriage. I feel light in the saddle, and my aids become subtle.
However, collection must develop gradually. If I demand too much, the base of support becomes too short, and balance is lost. True collection always combines engagement, elasticity, and calm energy.
How I Use the Training Scale in My Everyday Riding
I follow the training scale in every session, whether I ride a young horse or practice advanced exercises. If something feels wrong, I go back one step. Maybe rhythm needs more attention, or relaxation is missing. The scale helps me find what to improve — logically, calmly, and without frustration. It’s a simple structure that guides complex work.
Conclusion: Step by Step to Harmony
The scale of dressage training is not a checklist. It is a living system that guides me every day. At the same time it teaches me that progress comes from patience and understanding. Each step supports the next. Rhythm creates relaxation, relaxation enables contact, contact channels impulsion, impulsion builds straightness, and straightness leads to collection.
When all six elements work in harmony, my horse becomes balanced, powerful, and confident. The result is a partnership built on trust, clarity, and joy in movement. That, to me, is the true art of dressage.
