Dressage?

[Mid]

<font color="669999"> My parents have said we can get a horse share!!!!

To be honest, I'm not too interested in competing, other then the grooming and pony pampering aspect. We couldn't afford a horsebox anyhow.

Buuuut, recently, I have really, really got into dressage. We do a bit on saturday morning lessons (which I'll have to give up when we get our horse), but it's really only jumping. Would you say it'd be worthwhile to invest in a couple of semi - private dressage lessons before then, even though I never intend to compete? </font>

 

[Tierra]

Flatwork lessons with a good trainer are always useful regardless of what you planning on doing with your horse eventually.

A good trainer will help you to gain an understanding of the physiology of the horse as well as how to actually improve your riding. Choose your trainer carefully though... bad lessons can be detrimental

 

[Mid]

We'd ask the lady who owns the riding school! She rode at badminton (got around xD) and has a lippi who she uses for dressage.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It doesn't matter which discipline you intend to do. Infact it doesn't matter if you never intend to compete, dressage/flatwork lessons are very important.

If you're showjumping or doing cross country your horse is only in ther air for about 5% of the time. The rest of the time he's on the floor &amp; that requires good flatwork to remain balanced &amp; moving correctly. Without good flatwork your horse will not move correctly &amp; you won't get the best out of him.

Certainly if you have the opportunity to have some quality flatwork lessons then go for it.