An equestrian movement in which a horse jumps and bends its hind legs without leaving the ground, or a ballet leap with this quality.
From French 'croupade,' from 'croupe' (croup, the rump of a horse), stemming from Old German 'kruppa.' The term entered English from French equestrian vocabulary in the 17th century.
Classical horsemanship developed incredibly specific vocabulary for tiny movements—'croupade' is the horse's version of a ballet jump, showing how riding was treated as high art!
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