What Is Dressage?

Dressage is a French word for “training.” All riding horses can benefit from the use of dressage principles and training techniques. In the lower levels of dressage any breed can compete successfully, but at the Olympic level the most common breeds are in the Warmblood categories.

There are two sections in a dressage competition, just as there are two sections in figure skating. There are the compulsory exercises, and then the freestyle, which is performed to music and contains certain movements.

Dressage held under FEI rules compete at four levels, which are Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II and Grand Prix. Horse and riders compete against each other, but tests are completed one horse/rider at a time, and judged against a common standard.

Judges evaluate each pair, and assign each movement a score from zero to 10, zero being “not executed” and 10 being “excellent.” At the Olympic level the movements include collection and extension at the walk, trot and canter; trot and canter half-passes; passage (slow motion, suspended trot); piaffe (trotting in place); one-, two-and three-tempi changes (horse changes from one lead to the other); and canter pirouettes (360-degree circle at the canter in place.)

Dressage is very formal and elegant, and sometimes has been referred to as “ballet on horseback.”

Would it be difficult to operate a boarding and training stable in conjunction with one’s siblings and parents? And would it flourish in a rural area, miles away from the nearest city? These were two things Angie Golley had to consider when she started her horse operation, Extreme Stables, located near Tees, Alta.

“Extreme Stables is situated on property that’s been in my family for four generations,” Angie says. “My family allowed me to move here, but I had to agree I would never sell the place.” The stable’s nearest large town is Ponoka, 20 minutes to the west. “Many of our clients come from Ponoka, Lacombe and Red Deer,” Angie says. “Fortunately people have been willing to drive that distance because they like our focus on English riding and they know we’ll take excellent care of their horses.”

Although Angie grew up riding both Western and English, she became enamoured with dressage when attending Olds College’s Equine Sciences program. “I’ve since studied dressage in Canada and Germany,” she says. “I currently have two horses that I compete with here in Canada. One of my life goals is to eventually compete in dressage’s Grand Prix level. I’ve heard that only one per cent of horses that start in dressage every go on to Grand Prix, and only one per cent of that group ever competes in the Olympics. I doubt I’ll ever go that far, but only time will tell.”

“I’ve always wanted to have a stable with an English focus,” Angie says. “Most barns in rural Alberta specialize in Western riding and the English riders are often bumped to the late hours, after the reining and cattle work. I wanted to operate a place that would make English riders a priority.”

So in 2002, Angie, with the help of her extended family, moved onto the property. They brought in a house, built a barn with an indoor round pen, and developed an outdoor riding arena. In 2008 the second phase of building occurred with the addition of a 70' by 220' indoor arena and a 36' by 104' heated barn.

The stable has been busy, with a wait list for outside board and a steady clientele indoors. “I have my dressage horses, plus eight lesson horses I co-own with my sister,” Angie says. “The rest are either horses in training or clients that board here. About 50 per cent of our board horses are used for eventing. We have a good selection of jumps, and bring in an event coach monthly. Since dressage is part of eventing I’m able to support riders in that area. We also have quite a few clients that just ride recreationally.”

Angie’s younger sister, Jamie Hoffman, lives only a mile and a half away and specializes in coaching the stable’s beginning riders. “We’re very family orientated,” Angie says. “Jamie’s youngest daughter comes to work with her every day and the older girl gets off the bus here after school with our other riding students.

“Jamie is also kept busy with her store, Extreme Tack, which is located near the main barn,” Angie continued. “We were always sending riding students to Red Deer to pick up new boots or helmets or gloves and they often came back with the wrong size. Finally we decided that running our own tack store would solve that problem.”

Angie’s parents live less than a mile away. “My father is essential to the operation,” Angie says. “If a waterer freezes, he thaws it. He builds blanket racks, boosts the truck, sets up electric fencing, and even takes garbage to the dump. My mom also plays a big part in keeping the stable operating. She sees a problem and fixes it without being asked — like a fairy godmother!” Another sister, Stephanie Golley, lives nearby and manages weekend chores at the stable. “It’s almost as though we have our own colony!” Angie jokes.

Angie’s boyfriend, Sheldon Henke, is another person who provides support for the stable. “Sheldon is a visionary,” Angie says. “He helps me plan for future expansion, and he helps maintain what we already have by painting, fencing and everything else necessary.”

“Some people thought our rural location would be a problem,” Angie says. “But that hasn’t been the case. Our clients have learned we go out of our way to care for their horses and that makes it worth their time. Riders have to be committed to drive a long distance, so it doesn’t suit everyone. On the other hand, aren’t committed riders the sort you want at your barn anyhow?”