Talking to non-horsey people ...

[happihorse]

Some non-horsey person recently said to me 'dressage is just the art of getting horses to do what they do naturally in the field'. I didn't respond but smilled sweetly, but have been thinking about this more and more recently.

To what extent do you think that this is true and what would oyu have said back to them?

 

[georgiegirl2]

well i guess there is some truth in what they are saying....horses will naturally perform high school movements in the fiels such as pirouettes or passage when larking about although certainly not as the FEI guidelines would state!

My definition would be horse and rider working in harmony to achieve lightness and energy without restriction.

If only i could practice what i preach eh? lol

 

[hadfos]

Definately agree with what they r saying,and also what goergiegirl2 is saying,ALL horses carry out the most amazing movements naturally in a field whilst showing off,playing etc!Come on if we could get trots like that in a dressage test it would look pretty damn amazing eh??lol!!I for one wud be impressed if somebody could take their horse into a skool and get that amazing natural trot that they display in a field,i have watched grand prix dressage and although the partnership between horse and rider is amazing it never looks as good as a horse that wants to show off to its pals,lol!However it is just that-PARTNERSHIP and when you understand each other the sky is the limit!!x