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To be fair, mostly it would be very difficult to keep the horses head correct all of the time.What I did notice, is that a lot of the riders are behind the verticle.They don't sit up straight, but back.One exception is Edward Gal on Totilas.Never seen him ride anything else.I think its because Totilas is quite a light, compact type of horse.Some of those horses are very large and long.Superb paces, but collection must be very difficult.
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But the whole point is that if the horse has been trained correctly and is moving correctly in the first place, you won't need to keep his head there. He will do that himself because he will be in self carriage.
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...also the sudden apperance of posts with people questioning what there vets have told them to do.
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Am I included in this? I don't know about everyone else but I can find a vet's visit quite overwhelming. You're upset about your horse, worried about what's going to happen and having to take in a lot of information at the same time. Sometimes you don't end up having the conversation with the vet that you wish you had because of things that happen in the emotion of the visit.
If I've posted on here asking for further advice following a vet's visit then its because I find it useful to talk through what has happened and reflect on the situation with like minded people. Doesn't mean I think the vet is wrong, just that other people can help you clarify an issue in your own head by sharing their experiences.
I dont know a lot about dressage but........ I did think some of the horses looked uncomfortable at times - mainly doing the pirouettes - I thought the lady that came second - her horse looked good and I cant see how totalis is so far ahead of it. I do think its amazing how the riders can alter how the horse is going so easily and quickly and they seem so responsive.
The trouble is dressage has become about putting on a show it has moved away from classical dressage. I have to say i am glad i'm not the only one that thinks it.
I know i'm not a top rider or judge i compeate in low level dressage mainly because i can't afford a desent horse or the many hours of training it takes to get to the top. I will continu to train all the horses i ride to carry themselves in an natural outline and to enjoy there work.
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The trouble is dressage has become about putting on a show it has moved away from classical dressage. I have to say i am glad i'm not the only one that thinks it.
I know i'm not a top rider or judge i compeate in low level dressage mainly because i can't afford a desent horse or the many hours of training it takes to get to the top. I will continu to train all the horses i ride to carry themselves in an natural outline and to enjoy there work.
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You don't need to have a top horse to do the movements correctly. I've had lessons for most of this year with someone who is sort of classical but moved over, a couple of months ago, to someone I would call truly classical and have actually discovered schooling purely for the sake of now. My horse hasn't turned into a dressage superstar but he is becoming much more gymnastic and athletic - the biggest difference I have noticed is actually in his jumping, in the last couple of weeks he's been jumping out of his skin and his canter has improved no end by just working on his walk. I will never be even half the rider those at Olympia are but I sometimes think they (some at least) become so blinkered by the end that they will employ any means to get there.
I did quite like Carl Hester's test though, love his choice of music and the horse makes me smile
. Little surprised at his riding though as didn't look as fluid as normal.
I have been reading this and have to laugh. If you watch the average test up to PSG all the horses are well trained and not particularly flashy. Normal training methods are used and you will see all shapes and sizes giving it a go. You are talking about maybe 2 horses in the world yet there were 13 competing at Olympia.
I think the dressage industry is very aware about allegations and that it is being closely watched. Dressage has moved forwards just like eventing and Sjing have. Sometimes the sports do not move forwards in directions I think are great but on the whole they are positive.
I loved Totilas at Olympia. I was reticent to like him when I first saw him but now I think he is potentially incredible. For me I do not get excited watching Liebling but I do watching Mistral Hojiris and Parzival.
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I have been reading this and have to laugh. If you watch the average test up to PSG all the horses are well trained and not particularly flashy. Normal training methods are used and you will see all shapes and sizes giving it a go. You are talking about maybe 2 horses in the world yet there were 13 competing at Olympia.
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When you go to low level dressage comps, you usually see the flashy looking WBs being beaten by little cobs anyway
A shining example and I aspire to produce something so beautiful.
I have nothing better to do at work ATM which is why I have time to wax lyrical on here about things that really don't affect me, in the grand scheme of things. Normally I have enough to do to stop me getting involved in it all. Anyway, I am giving up having opinions as I am a s**t rider with a very average horse aiming for the upper echelons of, eventually, Nov level dressage so my opinion isn't worth the paper it's written on. I am educated enough to know what I like and find acceptable so shall be happy to leave it at that I think.
Of course its perfectly valid to question the "experts". And actually, many experts are actually questioning the way this very small, "elite" band of dressage riders are going. There is a whole school of thought that the type of dressage that is currently fashionable puts far too much emphasis on flashy but slightly incorrect movements such as the "flying trot" (over-extended, over-stepping trot), overbending, lack of proper use of hindlegs, etc.. And its also important because lower level riders will copy these shortcuts, to the detriment of their horses.
I really wasn't impressed. So many of those riders looked as if they were trying movements that were too difficult for them or their horses at their stage of their training. If they are supposed to be the most competitive in the world, it is unreasonable to expect them to ride a correct piaffe rather than a walking-forward piaffe? Or to get fluent changes? Or a pirouette that doesn't look mechanical?
Everyone knows these riders use shortcuts such as extreme rollkur, drawreins and goodness knows what else to achieve collection. I also think horses like Blue Hors Matinee and in the past Dutch Courage were much better to watch than the steroid-type creatures that pound round, held in by heavy rein use. Although I quite liked Liebling's test. Totillas is more light and flowing but he is still incorrect in his neck position and his hindlegs. I'd like to see some of the classically trained Spanish horses compete against some of the current top dressage riders but as said above, they train for the sake of correctness, not individual glory.