Olympics Dressage Grand Prix Special live stream: Watch online – August 12

Live stream info and how to watch Olympics Grand Prix Dressage Special online on August 12.

The Dressage Grand Prix Special takes the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Equestrian dressage competition up a couple of notches in terms of difficulty and expectations. The top teams and  individuals following Grand Prix dressage move to this phase.

The Team medals will be awarded at the end of the day. The top individual riders will move on to the freestyle that decides the individual medal winners.

Live stream for Olympic equestrian dressage grand prix special

Here is how you can watch Olympics Dressage Grand Prix Special coverage on Friday:

Date: Thursday, August 12

Start Time: 9 a.m. ET and 12:35 p.m. ET
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Arena: Deodoro Olympic Park
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com NBC Sports app

How the rider communicates with the horse

Of course a rider uses the reins that connect to the bit in the horse’s mouth to communicate and direct the horse. The rider’s conversation with the horse extends beyond the reins to include the bodies of both horse and rider.

The signals a rider uses to communicate with her horse are called aids. By the rider slightly shifting and/or applying pressure with the her legs, weight and seat (where the body meets the saddle)  influence the horse.  The rider’s center of gravity must be in alignment with the horse’s. From a side view, look for the rider’s ear, shoulder, hip and heel aligned on a vertical straight line when the horse is halted. From a rear view, the rider’s shoulders should be level, hips even and the stirrup should be at the same length

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To change directions or gaits, the rider shifts his weight and body. The rider’s hips influence how the horses hips move. Similarly, the rider’s shoulders influence the horse’s shoulders. The aids should be imperceptible. At the Grand Prix dressage level, less certainly is more.