Ya'll ever see Ann Romney's favorite sport?

[riderinthestorm]

41. Dressage is the foundation of battle maneuvers they used to teach horses

at the apex is the Spanish Riding School where many of the "airs above the ground" are actually tactical war moves utilized to take out opponents.

Its really useful for virtually all horse sports, english or western, as it teaches the horse to be obedient and responsive regardless of whether they have the athletic abilities to master the moves at the highest levels.

The old military equestrian test used to last 3 days and included dressage, show jumping, and cross country jumping. A modified form of the old military test also still exists in modern form as combined training or eventing. Many of the western show classes at rodeos are also testing field skills for ranch hands.

These are simply sports that have persisted from the past. Honestly, I'm glad there are people who care enough to keep these old "arts" alive and thriving. Like fencing (another venerable sport) it's a remnant of an older era.

Edited to add that I don't begrudge Ann Romney her passion for dressage. What's aggravating is that she tries to portray herself as just another SAHM - dressage queens are anything but that....