Competitive Dressage
by Don Blazer
It's a shame about dressage. Or at least to me it is.
I always thought of it as such a "pure" thing; such a "beautiful thing; harmony in union."
For me, Dressage was practiced by those who wanted "art with horses."
It was for horsemen and women who wanted to take a horse to his maximum performance ability, suppleness, flexibility, balance and grace. It was a work of art between a rider and a horse, and that is all that it had to be.
It was, but it is no more.
Dressage: a noun, French, originally meaning "basic dressing."
The basic dressing was applied to all horses and at all levels and that was the extent of it. It was done with any horse that a nobleman (and only noblemen could afford both the luxury of a horse and the time to develop its gaits, grace, balance, suppleness and flexibility) saw fit to ride.
The idea originally was not to compare horses, but to enjoy the development of a single horse's unique talents.
One horse and one rider, being all they could be.
And that was the original goal.
Then disaster struck; dressage became a competition.
One of my most admired dressage authorities, Waldemar Seunig (he attended the French Cavalry School at Saumur and the Spanish Riding School at Vienna and from 1922 to 1930 was the Master of the Horse at the Court of King Alexander of Yugoslavia; he was the coach of the successful German Olympic Team) says this about perfecting the art of dressage: "it is the practical, creative artist, the equestrian genius, who is fused with his horse into one unit, who makes its will his own, and who proves that there are no limits to art."
Great thinking ... and he could do it ... and many in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s could do it .. but by the 1900s competition had corrupted that simple idea of dressage for the sake of dressage.
Seunig was not only an equestrian competitor, he was a judge of international competition. He too was corrupted, and winning became more important than dressage.
But in the 1950s and 1960s, dressage was still defined as training, exhibition riding or horsemanship in which the horse is controlled in certain difficult steps and gaits by very light movements of the rider. The horse is to be relaxed and the performance is to appear "effortless."
Light and gently and subtle were the key words for dressage riders such as Colonel Alois Podhajsky, Jessica Newberry and later Reiner Klimke, a world champion and winner of 6 gold medals in 5 Olympics (1964 to 1988).
When I see pictures of Podhajsky and Newberry riding, or I watch Klimke ride, I see a horse that is relaxed and appears to be performing effortlessly. I see a rider not strained or stressed or rigid, but in a beautifully balanced position with a willing partner.
It's a shame about dressage.
When I see upper level riders today, the art is gone.
Don't misunderstand me. It is not that I am not in awe of the performances they achieve. They are getting more from their horses than the past masters did. (Of course, the horses they are riding have evolved along with training knowledge and techniques.)
What I see in today's advanced level dressage are horses performing phenomenally; they are giving every ounce of effort they have to give. They are reaching new heights in suppleness and flexibility.
And they are unhappy, tense and showing the exertion needed to respond to their rider's demands. Nothing about it appears "effortless." It is not light or gentle or subtle.
I watched a video of a horse score the highest dressage score ever recorded.
The maneuvers were fantastic and the accomplishments of the horse should be applauded again and again.
But the horse hated every minute of that performance; the tail wringing and swishing and twirling and shaking, the ears back, the face knotted with tension.
It wasn't the art I had hoped it would be ... it was man forcing his will onto the horse in the name of competition.
Oh, for the original idea of any horse being helped to reach his potential, with no intention of ever comparing one horse to another.
It's a shame about dressage.
It is a shame and a tragedy, because riders like my daughter cannot get the training they desire to learn the art properly - they are pushed into competition, taught by very unknowledgeable people, because that is all that is available in certain areas and it is a very sad state of affairs. My daughter has given up hope of learning for the time being, she studies clasical dressage and the masters of that art like the SRS and refuses to be pushed into a competition or to attempt shoulder in on her second lesson - yes that has happened. She now rides when she can and tries to practise things that she has seen or read about - invariably her instructor will tell her that there is no such thing as classical dressage, that it is just good riding and all the modern dressage riders are good riders. Hores like any other animal should never be forced into things, and that is pretty much all we see these days - I have seen junior competitions where the horses are being dragged around by the mouth to get them to perform certain movements, and they get applauded - it is heartbreaking. Sadly, until this changes a lot of young talented riders will lose their way or be unable to move forward if they are like my daughter who is unwilling to do the things that these days are required by so many to learn. This is a very good article and sadly it is a shame about dressage.
AntwortenLöschenBrilliant article!!! And exactly how I'm feeling about it all too!!!
AntwortenLöschenI guess you can say it still exists in people like me, who stuggle along, training their horses the best they can, with no intention of ever competing. I must confess, I don't get very far, since I can't afford help. Not to mention the desire to trail ride most of the summer, but I still try the best I can.
AntwortenLöschenDon't ever forget the riders you will never see in competition.
Sad isn't it to know that others struggle with being unable to get the training they desire. My daughter will be like you struggling to do it right and not having the funds to get the help to really improve on a regular basis or at all. One day it will hopefully change and the beauty will return to the art. Maybe one day people will see horses as something other than just a means to get get glory for themselves at any cost - that is what I hope for. I don't even like watching the competitions anymore, they are so disgusting and sadly most spectators do not know it is cruel and that the horses suffer or they do not care which is even worse.
AntwortenLöschenThank you so much for these comments! So perfectly stated, and the
AntwortenLöschenpictures show it all! from face to neck to back to tail. It's not
ballet, its gymnastics.
unkind and painful gymnastics, Well said Gennasart ! ... and thanks for posting this one Romy !
AntwortenLöschenIMHO, until &/or unless the likes of the FEI do more than pay "lip service", due to public pressure ,,, to matters such as the Roulker issue - that to the best of my knowledge, they've produced diagrams of what is allowed in the warm up area ,,, but not of what is not allowed, not only will many equines continue to be worked in such suffering ways in the expectation of achieving the horrors as shown in the 2nd picture & in the competitive dressage arena that can bring the much valued rossette ,,, & prize money!
AntwortenLöschenVery sadly for equines now, those that truly have eyes that can see ~ the difference ~ are becoming few & far between & even more important for the equine, folks seldom understand the difference & have little &/or no opportunity of working beside &/or learning from those that do. The world & his wife in general, are now so money/result orientated & accept that time is money & hang the consequences to one & all - including the equine!
Gone are the days when it took as much time as needed to "do the job".
Today many poor equines suffer from the human condition of anything for a quick fix that can & often does produce results as accepted & shown in the competitive dressage picture !
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I think you are quite right and we live in a time where instant gratification is desired and no-one wants to work hard over time to learn anything anymore. We are becoming more like Ancient Rome everyday and so I will continue to encourage my daughter to strive to meet her goals, because it is her generation and others upcoming that can and need to make a stand for change. There are people obviously trying to change things now, but it is falling on deaf ears mostly, money and greed are the name of the game in many areas of society and for those without the means to learn properly it is hard to make that stand. I would like to know what is wrong with the FEI that they cannot see the brutality involved in the sport, again it is most likely money - I hope not ignorance.
AntwortenLöschenI have just started taking my young horse to British Dressage shows. We are only in novice classes, he is young, had a late start and then some time off with injury. Last outing he did not get good scores, the judge came to find me afterwards to find out what breed he was. She told me, bare faced, that they wondered if he was Andalusian but they couldn't see a brand on his thigh - at this point I am wondering how long they spent playing "Guess the breed" and how long they spent actually judging his test fairly.... She then told me that he needed to be "rounder" - a point which I would not disagree with, but I thought I would ask for clarity, because round means different things to different people. She told me, word for word, that she "would expect to see his face on, or behind, the vertical". I remind you again, this is a 6yo horse in a NOVICE dressage class. I said "BEHIND?!!" She said "Yes, it's the only way you get them to work over their backs" or some other similar tripe, I was too shocked to listen properly. I politely excused myself and went home seething about the state of competition dressage today. Unfortunately, there was no-one else in earshot and she didn't write those words on my test sheet, so I can't take action against her.
AntwortenLöschenBut this was a list 5 BD judge, and the horses who were placed highly in my class were the ones with short necks and heads cranked right in by the rider's hands. If this is what people are encouraged to do at the lower levels, it's no wonder you see such awful riding at the higher levels. I have to say, I don't think all judges are like this, but to even have one or two doing the rounds is not good for the sport, as they are encouraging and rewarding the wrong type of riding and training.
Fine riding skills take many years for the rider to learn. Only when the rider has gained the necessary skills will they be in a postion to influence their horse in a harmonious, clear, positive way. The 'jam & Kram" that is shown in today's dressage competition world robs the horses of their natural gaits and willing participation. They frequently are ruined in their brains as well as their bodies at tender young ages from being forced trained. It's sad, but until we re-train our judges to reward fine horsemanship at all levels will things change for the better for our wonderful horses and horsemanship. Any judge who consistantly scores horses btv over those who are reflecting the ideal frame for the level it is being shown, should be instantly fired!!!!! They are certainly no friend to the horse and do not understand the classic principals behind correct training and what it produces.
AntwortenLöschenThe Harmony and Ease along with willing participation on the horses part should receive a score with cofficient of 5!!!!!!! The problem as I see it with showing is that we have judges who probably don't even know how a horse and rider should appear when representing the ideal goals for each level. There are so very few out there who demonstrate the ideals any more.......Most of what we see is forced training and what it produces with riders who have not taken the time to learn how to sit and influence their horses with well timed, quiet aids. The real goals of fine horsemanship get lost in compeition because they are replaced with winnin ribbons, awards, points etc....the real goal produces harmony, ease, quiet, fluid gaits that are pure and a wonderfully harmonious partnership between horse and rider.
It takes a lot of courage and conviction to uphold the classical ideals of horsemanship. You find youself working against the 'tide' that is so prevelent in todays show world. If one honestly listens to their horse, who is an honest reflection of the truth, the horse will help guide you to do the right things with it.
I have worked with a gentleman who was a long time student of Egon von Neindorff who preached the classical ideals throughout his entire career. We have few masters left to learn from; they have either passed away or are tucked away in some small facility enjoying their harmony with their horses. If one seeks, they will find if that's what one is looking for.......................
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After years of bad training and instruction, I have finally found an instructor who follows the classical ideals. The good of the horse is ALWAYS top priority. Helping to create a partnership between horse and rider is the goal of every lesson/training session. No one here is pressured to get a "better" horse for dressage, each horse and rider is helped to achieve their maximum ability. Competing at a "dressage" show is way, way down on our list, if on it at all. It is understood by all that "there is time", there are no arbitrary deadlines or time frames for either horse or rider. Horses and people are relaxed, friendly and very happy to be here.
AntwortenLöschenRomy
O.k.,but your picture beneath your name shows exactly the wrong way. The two photos above are very
AntwortenLöschenextreme, but the finer version of the wrong way to ride a horse is somewhat which is not that easy to feel?
Perhaps not in your area, but there ARE classical instructors in the world, that do not use force, that adhere to the true classical principles. I have humbly learned from SRS masters, and masters in the Austro-Hungarian tradition. We do not compete rather follow the classical method as taught to us. We do this in Coastal Rural Virginia, USA www.williamsdressage.com. Granted there are not many, but we do exist, and we lack the limelight of show results etc. What we have is our own art, our horses, our own satisfaction, and the recognition by a few patient students (which are few and far between). We work not for the betterment of our own ego but for the well being of the horse therefore, we are, by definition not self promoting and somewhat difficult to find.
AntwortenLöschenGenau !!! For those who truly wish to seek the best, for horse and rider, true classical may be difficult to find in this country, but don't give up!! Ask other riders, check forums like this one, go to dressage barns and watch what they teach-- watch a LOT of lessons, training, clinics. Find clinics with classical instructors any where near you (even a couple of hours away) and audit them. Ask people there who they ride with and where they train. Ask farriers and equine vets. Go to dressage shows and ask people there if they know anyone who trains classical dressage. The barns the SRS riders do clinics with are a good place to find help; even if they are far from you, they may know a trainer closer to your area.
AntwortenLöschenMany classical dressage barns are small, and as rfwilliams37 says, do not enjoy the limelight of "sport/competitive" dressage. They are known by word of mouth and the happy horses and riders they work with.
But most important, don't give up the search for good training.
Romy
We have been to so many barns in our area of SW Illinois, and have just about given up, but of course we won't.. My daughter is not interested in competition as it is today, she just wants to learn correctly and have someone who follows the classical dressage way of riding. We are perhaps unfortunate in not finding anyone in our area. but she will not give up - even though it may take a while and maybe have to wait until we move one day. Right now she is unwell, so is less of an issue, in the meantime we keep looking and asking questions. I am glad there are some places out there though - that is wonderful.
AntwortenLöschenI had to leave my home town and country in rural British Columbia, Canada to study under my first major mentor in California. This was a huge move for me and there were options available in Canada or closer but the opportunity presented itself. As Romy says you must continue the search even across state lines if need be. Good luck.
AntwortenLöschenThanks, as I said, we won't give up, and when my daughter is well again, we will pursue it. She may even return to Europe one day, that option is available to her at least in the UK. Linda
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