#pesade

Above left: Baucher. - Capitaine en pesade. 

Above right: Fillis. - Maestoso en pesade. 

In the 18th century, at the time of Gueriniere, the performance of the nowadays so called ‘levade’ was actually the ‘pesade’ and vice versa. Also in the original German version of Steinbrecht’s book (19th century), he mentioned the ‘pesade’ which we now call ‘levade’. The English version of Steinbrecht’s book only mentions the ‘levade’, interestingly enough. ‘Levade’ and ‘Pesade’ are both French words and these words are descended from Italian, the equestrian language that was used before the French became European’s equestrian language in the 17th century: 

- Levade comes from the French word "lever" to lift, and the Italian word ‘elevare’. 

- Pesade comes from the root word "peser" to weigh down or press, and the Italian word ‘pesare’. 

Various Higher School Movements following the development of Piaffe and Passage.

i figure it's time we come to a consensus about what all of these are! they're called different things by different sources everywhere.

cbb with major descriptions so here's the name and basics

1. School Halt - from the piaffe, horse takes more weight, one leg comes up, significant angle in hind etc etc

2. Pesade - i think it's something like a 40 degree angle to the ground? can't remember

3. Levade - much lower angle to the ground than the pesade

4. The Courbette - horse leaps into air from pesade position, lands in pesade position, hind is 100% shock absorption, front legs not allowed to touch the ground, etc

5. The Mezair - from the pesade, the horse throws one leg out into the air

6. The Croupade (???????) a precursor to the Capriole, where the horse leaps into the air, with the hing legs completely tucked under the body

7. The Ballotade (????) the next stage in training for the Capriole, where the hind legs face outwards but do not violently kick out as in the Capriole, making it less tolling.

8. The Capriole - the most difficult - the horse leaps into the air, violently and quickly kicks out before landing on all four feet. the best Caprioles involve the horse landing simultaneously on all four feet.

9. Apparently also the Croupade???? idk. Horse quickly and precisely kicks out with back legs, highly desireable for the battle field.