Dressage is the oldest of equestrian disciplines and the basis for true harmony between rider and horse. Greek philosopher Xenophon wrote the 1st recorded book on horsemanship in 350 BC. At that time and long after horses were trained for warfare. During the Renaissance the riding schools of Vienna and Saumur contributed a lot in sophisticating dressage.
However only in the 20th century the public discovered the beauty of the ‘dancing horses’. 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm were the 1st to stage dressage on an Olympic level. Dressage has never left the Olympic podium since and with the introduction of the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music in 1996 in Atlanta, dressage quickly gained popularity all over the world. Grand Prix Dressage, the highest expression of horse training, is considered to be the art of equestrian sport.