Horse Ballet (dressage nickname)
“Dressage” is a French term meaning “training,” where a horse and rider perform predetermined movements. Dressage is often called “horse ballet.”
“Col. Chamberlin’s High Hat To Give Dressage Drill Here—Star Army Rider to Show Horse in Ballet Steps” was a 1936 newspaper headline. “Instead of horse opera, the performances will be horse ballet” was cited in 1939. “Horse ballet” was also cited in 1964.
“Dressage horses dance really well for having two left feet” is a dressage joke.
Wikipedia: Dressage
Dressage (/ˈdrɛsɑːʒ/ or /drɨˈsɑːʒ/; a French term, most commonly translated to mean “training”) is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as “the highest expression of horse training”, where “horse and rider are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.” Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse’s gymnastic development, the horse will respond smoothly to a skilled rider’s minimal aids. The rider will be relaxed and appear effort-free while the horse willingly performs the requested movement. Dressage is occasionally referred to as “Horse Ballet.”
22 July 1936, El Paso (TX) Herald-Post, pg. 8, col. 6:
Col. Chamberlin’s High Hat
To Give Dressage Drill Here
Star Army Rider to Show Horse in Ballet Steps
Between Polo Games Sunday at Ft. Bliss
6 December 1939, Kingsport (T)
The farm was at Lipizza, in Austria, and the best Lipizzans were sent to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, where they learned dressage and fancy step- ping.
(...)
Instead of horse opera, the performances will be horse ballet, and Irma Baronova, the premier danseuse whom Metro is so excited about, will do some ballet of her own.
16 July 1964, Alton (IL) Evening Telegraph, pg. B-11, col. 2:
Horse Ballet
Though dressage Is as stylized as ballet and performed to music sometimes, the horse’s movements are only a formalization of the leaps, kicks, curvetting and prancing that can be seen in any pasture.
27 August 1970, Boston (MA) Herald Traveler, pg. 16, col. 4 ad:
ROYAL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS OF AUSTRIA
PERFORMING THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED
‘AIRS ABOVE THE GROUND’
HORSE BALLET
23 September 1976, The Star-Tribune (Markham, IL), “Things to do…and See,” pg. 18, col. 1:
TEMPEL LIPIZZAN STALLIONS will present a 45 minute classical dressage performance, (horse ballet), at the Oakbrook Polo Day benefit for the North American Riding for the Handicapped association.
11 March 1977, San Diego (CA) Union, pg. C-4, col. 1 ad:
Incredible dressage (“horse ballet”)
San Diego Country Estates.
4 September 1978, The Holiday Herald and Leader (Lexington, KY), “Lipizzans Will Prance, Dance at 3-Day Event,” pg. C2, col. 1:
The classical dressage exhibition, sometimes called the “horse ballet,” consists of a series of intricate movements and artistic poses growing out of maneuvers originally used in cavalry combat.
Google Books
Los Angeles 1984
By Commemorative Publications (Firm)
Salt Lake City, UT: Commemorative Publications
1984
Pg. 75:
Dressage, a French word meaning training, is a kind of horse ballet, in which horse and rider perform a series of prescribed movements previously memorized by the rider.
Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Souping
Felice
10/2/09
> Dave Smith
> news:4ac4b001$0$1608$9a6e…@news.newshosting.com: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> Dressage? I appreciate that that it takes a lot of work and a lot of
>> discipline, but it IMO it is as exciting as watching paint dry.
Really? I see it as horse ballet!
Twitter
Gracie Franklin
@GracefulMounts
Red Hills Horse Trials Begin: Dressage is commonly referred to as “horse ballet.” Those watching at the Red Hill… http://bit.ly/epiJ1Z
8:46 PM - 11 Mar 2011
Twitter
Ben
@BenAtLarge
ROFL @ #Colbert opening segment on common man Mitt Romney and his love of dressage, aka horse ballet #tcr #VERYRelatable #p2
10:38 PM - 12 Jun 2012
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Late-night jokes round-up 8/4/12
VickieB
8/4/12
(...)
“Mitt Romney was in London to see his horse compete in the dressage event. Dressage is kind of like horse ballet. Finally something that connects Romney with the average American voter.” –Jay Leno