The “Prancing Horse” is a tomb figure of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) The horse symbolized strength, bravery, and beauty.Also horses were considered as having divine attributes.
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (AD 712-56) a troupe of 100 horses belonging to the Emperor performed complicated exercises to music.
I have not associated modern China with dressage and have not seen any competitors from China competing internationally in dressage. I thought that despite the history of dancing or prancing horses the tradition had died out. But then I saw this on Facebook. I do not know too much about this performance but was told it was in China and that Spanish instructors had trained the horses and riders. I find it interesting that all of the riders are women and all have perfect, almost mask like, makeup. Quite a spectacle.
Information on the history of horses in art in China from Tamsin Pickeral’s book “The Horse. 30,000 Years of the Horse in Art.
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