Dressage Study

In Dressage Study, Sean Rush captures the elegant motion of a horse’s dressage trot through time-based layering of leg positions on canvas. Each outline serves as a frame, tracing the rhythmic two-beat diagonal gait and the suspended moment between beats—an homage to classic motion studies such as those by Eadweard Muybridge.

The overlays chart subtle biomechanical shifts—stride extension, leg angles, and engagement- reflecting the evolving impulsion and uphill balance as the trot transitions from collected to extended. These sequential patterns abstract the pulse and cadence that are central to dressage training.

Rendered in muted arena tones, the composition strikes a balance between scientific precision and expressive rhythm. The repeated leg forms suggest movement and athletic control, while the soft background anchors the energy in a familiar tonal palette.

Painted on canvas, Dressage Study invites viewers to slow their gaze. Each discrete frame merges into a continuous flow, revealing the discipline and artistry behind the horse’s refined movement.