Becky Moody Freestyle

Well as my dressage judge friend would tell you, I know diddly squat about dressage, but just watched this test for fourth time and it is out of this world…..
Cheer yourselves up, forget what’s happening in the world for a few minutes, go watch a happy horse and rider enjoying themselves
It’s obviously available on YouTube….
 
It was not perfect but it was certainly a deal easier on the eyes than much of upper level dressage has been in recent years; hopefully a sign things are beginning to change for the better, for the horses. The paradigm shift needed in judging and training, riding and raising, of horses in upper level sport -for it to retain its social license to operate - will not happen instantaneously.
 
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Burnttoast said:
Am I allowed to ask whether and why an established GP horse should need pony club kicking throughout the piaffe? But yes, he did have his mouth closed for the majority of the test so well done for that.
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This was exactly what I thought, I was honestly a little tentative about saying it, particularly as I’m not as experienced!

It wasn’t too bad and overall more enjoyable than most, but I’m still extremely skeptical, and I believe Becky Moody has said some things with regards to training that I didn’t like the sound of (can’t remember what, it think it’s on the CDJ or “another good rider” thread somewhere!).
 
Marshpiper said:
If you think that was pony club kicking you haven’t been to any pony club events lately, and seriously could you not for once delight in something beautiful…..
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I don't have to enjoy something if I don't find it enjoyable. I don't find dressage beautiful anymore, seriously or otherwise. Yes, it was an impressive floor plan, did the horse care? Unlikely. Yes, the mouth was closed, even if in the collected diagonalised movements the front legs were often doing different things, meaning the horse wasn't properly through. There's certainly footage of genuine pony club kicks from BM in warm-ups, before she put her spurs on and couldn't get any forward motion at all, and this is the polite public version; and why does a trained horse need to be continuously nagged to stay in a movement? Why? Aren't we all told they should go on their own? Aren't they supposed to be finished? Why is it all so heavy and effortful? Sorry not to follow the majority opinion 🤷‍♀️
 
Burnttoast said:
I don't have to enjoy something if I don't find it enjoyable. I don't find dressage beautiful anymore, seriously or otherwise. Yes, it was an impressive floor plan, did the horse care? Unlikely. Yes, the mouth was closed, even if in the collected diagonalised movements the front legs were often doing different things, meaning the horse wasn't properly through. There's certainly footage of genuine pony club kicks from BM in warm-ups, before she put her spurs on and couldn't get any forward motion at all, and this is the polite public version; and why does a trained horse need to be continuously nagged to stay in a movement? Why? Aren't we all told they should go on their own? Aren't they supposed to be finished? Why is it all so heavy and effortful? Sorry not to follow the majority opinion 🤷‍♀️
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But why come and post on a thread started by someone who did enjoy it, then commented on by other people who enjoyed it, why? The original poster wasn’t asking for opinions….
Couldn’t we just have a happy non contentious post….
 
Marshpiper said:
If you think that was pony club kicking you haven’t been to any pony club events lately, and seriously could you not for once delight in something beautiful…..
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I know very little about the higher levels of dressage but I didn't think it was beautiful at all. Technically accurate, I think, yes but not beautiful. Sorry. There is so much movement in the rider's hands and lower legs and what looks like a frequently braced upper body. I think that is what dressage is like/required to be these days. I don't think it was lovely but I guess well done Beck M for winning and Jagerbomb is a lovely horse.
 
palo1 said:
I know very little about the higher levels of dressage but I didn't think it was beautiful at all. Technically accurate, I think, yes but not beautiful. Sorry. There is so much movement in the rider's hands and lower legs and what looks like a frequently braced upper body. I think that is what dressage is like/required to be these days. I don't think it was lovely but I guess well done Beck M for winning and Jagerbomb is a lovely horse.
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You put it better than I did. This is the among the best that modern dressage has to offer, which is nice for those who enjoy dressage but still not something I particularly want to see anymore.
 
Marshpiper said:
But why come and post on a thread started by someone who did enjoy it, then commented on by other people who enjoyed it, why? The original poster wasn’t asking for opinions….
Couldn’t we just have a happy non contentious post….
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Actually by the time I started writing the comment I thought, menopausally, I was on one of the other dressage threads. But that's by the by. If I'm wrong and ignorant, just ignore me (or educate me, if you feel like it). If I made valid criticisms of things you overlooked or didn't want to see then I apologise for spoiling the experience for you, but not for mentioning them.
 
Burnttoast said:
You put it better than I did. This is the among the best that modern dressage has to offer, which is nice for those who enjoy dressage but still not something I particularly want to see anymore.
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Perhaps you could say exactly what you want to see, because I am so mixed up now, I actually went back and watched it again (not a hardship) and again what I saw was a relaxed happy horse, a rider with soft hands, a relaxed upper body, an accurately ridden test with movements almost 100% matching the music….
ETA, I don’t think you are ignorant, but I don’t think I overlooked or didn’t want to see anything….
Anyway off to watch another excellent person at the top of their sport….Go Rory!
 
Marshpiper said:
Perhaps you could say exactly what you want to see, because I am so mixed up now, I actually went back and watched it again (not a hardship) and again what I saw was a relaxed happy horse, a rider with soft hands, a relaxed upper body, an accurately ridden test with movements almost 100% matching the music….
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The test is accurate, the horses movements well co ordinated and in time to the music. Can you not see Becky M's constantly nudging and moving heels? She is wearing spurs and at times her lower leg moves back a fair way (intentionally) Watch her hands which are continually jiggling the bit in the horse's mouth. At times she leans back, clearly behind a vertical line running from ear to hip to heel. BUT, I think this is the way modern dressage is, even though I think it looks forced and tense and the rider uses their body as a pendulum/bracing force against the horse in not such an elegant, effortless way as other schools of riding. Those are probably not competitive dressage focussed but require greater stillness, softer, quieter hands and legs and a more classical position. If you think this looks lovely, I'm not taking that pleasure away from you - but I don't agree, is all
 
I’ve not watched it, as a former keen dressage rider who trained under a List 1 judge I can’t bear to watch modern top level dressage at all.

But I’m so pleased that people will come out and say it if it was not pleasing to them, and why, and not just suck up and go with those who thought it was wonderful and who don’t seem to welcome any dissent 🙄.
 
Marshpiper said:
Perhaps you could say exactly what you want to see, because I am so mixed up now, I actually went back and watched it again (not a hardship) and again what I saw was a relaxed happy horse, a rider with soft hands, a relaxed upper body, an accurately ridden test with movements almost 100% matching the music….
ETA, I don’t think you are ignorant, but I don’t think I overlooked or didn’t want to see anything….
Anyway off to watch another excellent person at the top of their sport….Go Rory!
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Much as Palo has already said. In the extended movements, his frame doesn't noticably extend and in the collected movements there's constant niggling to maintain the movement. I don't know if you're watching on a phone? On a big screen the niggling is probably more obvious. Dressage used to have the aim of invisible aids and I don't think anyone can deny BM has got to the top of the sport, so why can I see most of the instructions she's giving? She's not alone in this though, as is frequently said on other threads.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I’ve not watched it, as a former keen dressage rider who trained under a List 1 judge I can’t bear to watch modern top level dressage at all.

But I’m so pleased that people will come out and say it if it was not pleasing to them, and why, and not just suck up and go with those who thought it was wonderful and who don’t seem to welcome any dissent 🙄.
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Please pop onto YouTube, you sound as if you know A from B,, then you can make your own decision
 
IKW said:
If you aren't capable of doing it yourselves then keep schtum. Bloody keyboard warriors
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I really thought we were passed this ridiculous type of comment.
A world where you can only have an opinion if you are at the ‘top’ of the sport would be a very dangerous one indeed.
Anybody with an interest in the welfare of horses should always feel free to comment on things relating to using horses for sport or our enjoyment. It does not matter what level that might be at.
 
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