HAVE WE LOST OUR WAY??

(This post discusses dressage as a sport but applies to any discipline.  Horses need to have their back’s engaged and carrying the rider!!)

Are we sacrificing the principles of Classical training for sport??  Are our horses paying the price??  Gerd Heuschmann DVM describes in his book “Tug of War” and his DVD “If Horses Could Speak” the damage that is being to horses by this deviation from the Classical principles.

Written in 1959 Udo Burger details in his book “The Way To Perfect Horsemanship” how “Complete harmony is the whole essence of the art of dressage and it is unfortunate that it cannot be better rewarded in dressage competitions”…”Art is pleasurable activity which only involves appreciation of beauty and happiness in selflessly pursuing an ideal. Sport is a test of strength and courage in which ambition and the desire for applause play a major part.”

Dressage competitions are the face of dressage for the public.  It is unfortunate that they seem to be ignoring their own rules and rewarding training and riding practices that are detrimental to the horse and un-educating the public eye.

TENSE, HOLLOW AND DISUNITED

The most basic of the foundation principles are being ignored resulting in horses that have over exaggerated movement with their legs but are hollow in the back, completely disunited and certainly not engaged…hmmmmm…this seems like Saddlebred showing.  Saddlebred’s are intentionally hollowed (disconnected) to help produce the high animated movements in the forelegs which is so desired in the showring. There is no lowering of the hindquarters, the hindlegs are not carrying weight and the animation is produced by over excitement, not training.

Compare the horses below, winners in both disciplines.  The similarities are evident. Both horses are completely disunited, the front legs and hindlegs are on two different planes leaving the backs hollow and the hindquarters dis-engaged.

DROPPED BACK AND DISUNITED, LOSS OF PURITY OF GAIT

Connected, Engaged, Balanced

Yet examine this “backyard” rider whose horse is far more correct and far more pleasant to look at. The horse is working over the back, connected, relaxed and supple.  Is it as flamboyant??  No

and this is apparently part of the problem. The uneducated eye is bedazzled by the hyperactivity and hyper-animation of the legs in the upper photos and can not see the lack of harmony and  engagement through the topline.

TENSE, HOLLOW AND DISUNITED

A YOUNG RIDER ON HER WAY TO BECOMING AN ARTIST

Here is another comparison of what wins in the international showring verses a young equestrian who is obviously capable of following the classical foundation training a horse requires to full-fill the requirements put forth by the Dressage Federations. The differences between the “winner” and the young rider are also evident.  The horse on the left is very hollow and dropped through the back, the hindleg is taking weight behind the hip, the front and hind legs are on two different planes (yet was considered to be one of the best in the world).

The horse on the right has more bending of the hindquarters (and is actually carrying weight) with the hindlegs further under the body, the front and hind legs are on the same plane and this horses back is engaged.

DOWNHILL OR UPHILL??

This is an interesting photo.  You could argue that the back appears engaged but the horse is obviously on the forehand, rolling over and leaning on the bridle and if the rider would let go of his grip on the reins the horse might very well fall on it’s face.

There is a site I would highly recommend, www.sustainabledressage.net