Grand Prix is the highest level of dressage.
Movements included in Grand Prix dressage tests are:
- Piaffe: an elevated trot in place
- Passage: a movement done at the trot, in which the horse has great elevation of stride and seems to pause between putting down its feet. Described very well like a horse "trotting under water," it takes great strength and training to get a good passage.
- Extended gaits: Usually done at the trot and canter, the horse lengthens its stride to the maximum length through great forward thrust and reach. Grand Prix horses show amazing trot exxtensions.
- Collected gaits (trot and canter): A shortening of stride in which the horse brings its hindquarters more underneath himself and carries more weight on his hind end. Takes a great amount of strength. The tempo does not change, the horse simply shortens and elevates his stride.
- Flying Changes (one and two tempis): The horse changes leads at the canter every stride (one tempi), two strides (two tempi), or three strides (three tempi).
- Pirouette: usually done at the canter
- Half-pass: A movement where the horse goes sideways and forward at the same ime, while bent slightly in the direction of movement.
Germany is currently the dressage powerhouse of the world.