Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements trained for the battlefield. The horse was highly developed in its training with many years spent perfecting an ideal mount.
The horses were trained for a number of airs above the ground movements that enabled their riders to escape if surrounded, or to fight more easily.
These included movements such as levade, capriole, courbette, ballotade and other movements still seen today in dressage such as piaffe and passage and half-pass
Today the only remaining large schools of classical dressage are the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and the French school in Saumur. There are a number of classically based trainers of classical dressage who endeavour to keep the art alive.
Modern dressage evolved from the classical school.
