Classical dressage championship Autumn classical dressage at the Caballerizas Reales
All the information
About the event
On 13 and 14 October the Caballerizas Reales de Córdoba host classical dressage once again, with riders and horses performing their tests in the courtyard of the stables founded by Felipe II.
Key points
- 13 and 14 October at the Caballerizas Reales
- Times and tickets: check with Córdoba Ecuestre
- Next to the Alcázar, best reached on foot
- The autumn's second classical dressage event
Classical dressage, the discipline
Classical dressage consists of performing a test, a sequence of movements set in advance, in a rectangular arena marked with letters. The judges score each exercise from nought to ten for the precision, rhythm and lightness with which the horse responds to almost invisible aids. The levels run from classes for young horses up to the Prix St Georges, Intermediate and Grand Prix tests, where passage, piaffe and one-time flying changes come in. It is a quiet discipline that rewards years of work and the understanding between rider and horse.
A 16th-century courtyard as the arena
Felipe II had the Caballerizas Reales built in 1570 beside the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos to breed the royal stud, and it was here that the Andalusian horse, today the Pura Raza Española, came into being. Córdoba Ecuestre, the association that runs the site, has used the main courtyard as the official arena in previous dressage competitions, so the tests are ridden beneath the building's arches and stone. These autumn competitions usually come under Cabalcor, the horse fair that takes over the Caballerizas from September to October.
What is known about October
The City Council's listing gives only the dates, 13 and 14 October, the venue and the backing of the Delegación de Fiestas y Tradiciones. It is the autumn's second classical dressage event at the Caballerizas, after the one in early September. In previous editions these competitions have brought together around fifty horse-and-rider pairs from all over Spain, with classes for young horses and higher-level tests. The levels on offer, the starting order and the admission arrangements for this edition are published by Córdoba Ecuestre; this website only reports what has been announced.
Before you go
No times or prices have been published, so ring Córdoba Ecuestre (957 49 78 43) or look at cordobaecuestre.com before heading over. The venue is on calle Caballerizas Reales, between the Alcázar and the river, in a restricted traffic zone: the easy option is to walk from the Mezquita or park on Paseo de la Victoria. A day of dressage is best followed unhurriedly, test by test, and quiet in the stands is appreciated. In mid-October the weather in Córdoba tends to be the best of the year for spending a morning outdoors.
