Although freestyles were a normal part of the dressage world by 2003, the debate continued over how to marry the artistic and technical merits.
The musical freestyle, once a rarity, is now firmly entrenched in the world of competitive dressage. The World Cup first required freestyles in 1986, and they were added to the Olympic format in 1996. And while it is growing in popularity among riders and spectators, many people are not sure just what it should be.
By the time Steffen Peters won individual bronze at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.), the Grand Prix freestyle was firmly fixed into competitions. Photo by Sara Lieser.