Do you have a favorite animal? People are going to have different opinions when it comes to this question, and often they base it on a pet that lives in their home. But, other times, people may mention a majestic wild animal, like a lion or elephant. This is one question without a wrong answer, as there are thousands of animals deserving of our admiration and respect.
However, some animals tend to rise to the top of the ranks when it comes to taking our breath away with their beauty and grace. Included in that number are horses. Most of us, when we think of a horse, picture big, beautiful, and powerful majestic beasts running freely in an open meadow, perhaps jumping over a stream or log. But, when you have an opportunity to see a horse in person, it tends to be an unforgettable experience.
However, you might be surprised to learn that horses can be excellent dancers.
One of the sports that horses are involved in is called dressage.
In dressage, horses will dance and perform in front of a crowd, and they are judged based on their skills and graceful movements. This is much like figure skating in the Olympics.
In fact, back in the 1900 Summer Olympics, a form of dressage was introduced into the games. At that time it was called Equestrianism and consisted of four different equestrian sports.
Polo and Grand Prix Jumping were two of the sports involved.
However, equestrian sports soon disappeared only to reemerge in 1912 and has appeared in every Summer Olympics event since then.
While there are all kinds of sports you can enjoy, there is something special about watching the bond between horse and rider expressed in such a manner.
Watching a horse perform dressage flawlessly is something everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes.
According to EquiWorld, dressage is a high-stakes, high-level competition. And there are a number of factors considered when judging dressage, including submission, paces, impulsion, and the effectiveness of the rider.
“It is the judge’s responsibility to give the guidance to the rider to tell them if they have consolidated the horses correct training enough at the level required before advancing.”
All of these factors are perfectly illustrated by watching this rider and horse in the middle of a breathtaking routine.
The rider’s name is Andreas Helgstrand, and his horse is Blue Hors Matine.
The first thing that becomes obvious very quickly is the fact that they must have practiced for countless hours to get to such a high level.
The competition they are in is called the WEG2006 Freestyle Dressage, and these two great athletes have managed to make it to the finals.
What’s so incredible about watching their performance is how quickly the horse is able to change his trot along with changes in the music. It is truly amazing to watch such a smooth and rhythmic performance by a horse.
Some of the music is typical of most dressage routines, and the choreography may resemble other routines as well.
However, for this routine, the music is entertaining, and both the audience and the horse seemed to have a good time jamming to it.
And when Blue Hors Matine puts on his best moves, the audience is thrilled. This horse puts me to shame with his incredible dance skills.
It’s tough to describe the beauty of this horse’s routine, which is a favorite among the judges.
By the end of the performance, the crowd showers both horse and rider with their appreciation for what they just had the pleasure of witnessing.
Check out Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine’s fantastic performance in this video: