Here is another installment to familiarize you with the different horse sports. From the title you are wondering "How is dancing with your horse a sport?" Well, believe it or not, it is. It is included in the Olympic Games. It is actually called Dressage. (It is pronounced as dress-ahhhdge.) Dressage means the training of the horse.
Dressage is ridden on the flat and it is judged on how obedient your horse is to your aids. (Aids are signals you give your horse so he understands what you are asking him to do. Natural aids are given with your body. They are you legs, seat, back, hands and voice. Artificial aids are spurs and the whip.) In dressage you are not allowed to speak to your horse. You are only allowed to use you physical aids.
In dressage, you ride different tests that have different patterns and levels of difficulty. It starts at Training Level, which is your simplest test, all the way up to Grand Prix, which is the most difficult. The Training Level only has walk, trot and canter and a couple of circles to ride. Very basic really. The Grand Prix Level has many difficult moves and patterns. Some of the moves are trotting in place (piaffe), pivoting around on the hind leg (pirouette), skipping (lead changes), moving sideways (leg yielding), etc. These moves are quite demanding of the horse and it looks like the rider is just sitting atop the horse, not doing a thing. The Olympians ride the Grand Prix tests.
The most interesting phase to watch are the musicals. This is where the dressage moves are put to music and it looks like you are dancing with your horse. You are able to pick out your own music and choreograph it like dancers would. There are certain movements that must be included. It brings out the beauty of the horse. 
Click onto the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
and you will see a perfect example of a musical performance. It was ridden at an International Competition in 2006.
The ones to really watch, if you have the opportunity, are the Lipizzaners from the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. These horses do an even a higher level than the Grand Prix. Included in their movements are the "Airs above the Ground". This is where you see the horses just jump up in the air. It is absolutely breathtaking to watch. I will write about these magnificent horses in another post.
The next installment will be eventing or combined training, which includes cross country riding.
Brigita, nice post. But you really did not have to call me a horse... LOL, just kidding.
Back to the post, horses are beautiful animals. I love them.
BLRGuy:
That is funny. My horse tends to check out my pockets every time I go up to him.
I must say, though, that the beauty of the horse comes out when they are ridden in the musicals. BTW, I have been trying to upload the most perfect musical ride at one of the International Competitions, but have been unsuccessful. Here's the link so that you can clilck onto it and see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
I hope you enjoy it.
Danny:
Horses are beautiful and noble animals. I have loved them since I can remember. I will insert the link to click onto so that you can see as close to a perfectly ridden musical performance as possible at one of the International Competitions. I hope you will enjoy it.