What is 'classical' riding

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djlynwood

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How is classical riding different from everyday riding?
I understand that this is what the Spanish Riding School do but isnt it the same as dressage?
 
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How is classical riding different from everyday riding?
I understand that this is what the Spanish Riding School do but isnt it the same as dressage?

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Congratulations on opening this can of worms.
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I once heard
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of a student who tried to do a comparison of the BHS seat and the classical seat....but after extensive research, she could find no difference.
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This is a hard one, but my own definition would be:

"Classical" could be considered training for its own sake to develop the horse as far as it can within its own limits. You might end up with a beautifully trained horse that could do the movements correctly but because of its conformation would never progress very far in competition. I think it would also include training without any artificial aids such as draw reins.

Training for a dressage competition is to prepare for a competition, in which case you would probably want to start with the sort of horse that has good paces, etc. and has the temperament to be able to stand up to the atmosphere.
Also the rider might find that they have to "go with the fashion." So if the fashion is to have the horse behind the vertical, and you want to win, then you would ride with the horse behind the vertical (which wouldn't be classical!).
I have seen draw reins used in dressage competition yards
and I have seen a "classical" yard that bans the use of any artificial aid apart from a whip and side reins for lunging including all livery clients.


There shouldn't be any difference in riding position or the tack or the aids or the aims.
 
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