Dressage? Please explain.

[Fordian]

I don't get it (obviously). But surely the horse has been well trained, and just does it's thang, presumably well, with someone sitting on it.

Paradressage.

I know what you mean now, but I first thought, horses jumping out of planes- now that I must see!

havent read the whole thread but i kind of get what the OP means. after all what about circus horses or the spanish riding school Lipizzaner's who can also do all those fancy moves but without a rider, theyve been taught to obey even more subtle instructions because they do it without a rider.

@garlictwist

OP, horsey people get easily uppity, in my experience. I also don't get it. I also feel a bit sorry for the horse.

What!? I have never come across this! If I've ever asked a horsey person a horsey related question they'd still happily have you there an hour later explaining and chatting!

(Horses have been my sisters favourite subject since she was 7 and she's 30 and still the same )

This might be another stupid question. But, are the commands universal or specific to the rider/horse relationship? So could an equally skilled rider, say Carl Hester, ride the routine on Charlotte’s horse? Or would they just not understand each other at all?

I'd love and pay to see riderless horse dancing and agree they'd deserve their own medals. Could there be separate sections for ballet, different ballroom disciplines and disco? Even better if the horses get to pick their own mixtape for disco?

When people are comparing a dressage rider to a formula 1 driver, they’re right, but the dressage rider has often kind of built the car too.

There’s a rapport between horse and rider too. Some riders click with one horse more than others. For example Charlotte du Jardin used to ride and compete the horse Carl Hester was riding at the Olympics, but gave the horse to him because she felt he’d do better with the horse than her. And a lot of those horses are huge, highly strung stallions. The one Charlotte Fry rode is well known for wiping the floor with people!

I’m another qualified instructor with decades of riding experience, and I wouldn’t have a cat in hells chance of riding one of these horses well.

And if anyone does have that mix tape that makes horses perform these routines please could I have a copy of it.

I can ride, have ridden since I was about 4. But getting on a horse that was competing at medium in dressage was a different thing. I couldn't find the right buttons and I struggled even with stuff that should be simple!
I did eventually crack it and had her for a decade, she was my heart horse

The fitness side too.. I did some training which was three lessons a day, some were dressage, some jumping and some lunge lessons. My stomach muscles were wrecked, couldn't sit up from lying down in bed, shoulders/arms/legs everything was on fire

If you've ever seen a novice riding a horse and it's very much kick/stop/go, the talent in dressage is basically being able to basically move one finger/seat muscle and have the horse do exactly what you've asked for and nobody can see you ask. The feeling is.. when it's right, it's unbelievable, you feel like the whole world around you stood

I’ll start that mixtape off:

Crazy Horses - The Osmonds
I wanna be a cowboy - Boys don’t cry
Horse with no name - America
Like a Stallion - Megan Thee Stallion

I have a weird reaction to dressage. The serious bits make me a bit emosh (that's not a difficult thing to do). Then they start the sideways disco dancing to a Phil Collins instrumental medley and I get the giggles!

@izzywizzywont

havent read the whole thread but i kind of get what the OP means. after all what about circus horses or the spanish riding school Lipizzaner's who can also do all those fancy moves but without a rider, theyve been taught to obey even more subtle instructions because they do it without a rider.

They're still trained by a person who is giving them cues from the ground though.

@Losttheequipment

This might be another stupid question. But, are the commands universal or specific to the rider/horse relationship? So could an equally skilled rider, say Carl Hester, ride the routine on Charlotte’s horse? Or would they just not understand each other at all?

The commands are fairly universal. Much like the gears for a car are. Just because I can change gears in most normal cars though doesn't mean I can drive a F1. I'd spin it straight off the track. Skilled riders can and very often do ride other people's horses and ride them well. For instance, Charlotte rides lots of different horses for people and her skill means she always rides it better than the owner. That said, the partnership you build up with your horse means that you finesse the communication between you to such a level that it's barely perceptible. You build up an understanding. It's an incredibĺe sport and is a life's work, so it's really hard to explain all the nuances of it.

I’ve seen Charlotte ride at demos. She really is breathtaking to watch, she does not move in the saddle. Her position is about as perfect as it comes.
She calls her old horse, Valegro, her best friend. The partnership is built on years of trust and training.

Just waiting for the "well, show jumpers are shit" thread

Talking of F1, remember the Top Gear episode when Richard Hammond (a better driver than 99% of car owners) tried to drive a Renault F1 car?

CDJand co make those horses do what they do without any discernible movement, think about a jockey it's all kick whip kick just to make them run.

It's about the relationship and skill of the rider and horse. The horses don't suddenly do piaffe, extended trot etc. It takes years. That's why CDJ has done so well with such a young horse.

This video gets me every time.

It’s a passion. It’s a way of life. It’s a feeling that can’t be compared.

There is so much abuse in dressage it's shocking - anyone who loves horses needs to educate themselves about it - easily done with a Google search 💔

There is abuse, but that’s another reason why I adore Charlotte and Carl - because they treat their horses so well and their horses live great, natural lives. They revolutionised the dressage world, and it’s changing towards their ways thankfully. I used to hate dressage, but it’s got much better.

I can't say I understand the hype. I think for most of the performance it looks as though the horse has stepped in something rather unpleasant and is trying desperately to get it off.

I wish they showed more of it.

It's like dancing, with the human as lead partner.

I was watching the dressage event earlier, it's very lovely to watch. all the skill involved, the beautiful and calm horses, and the well dressed and sophisticated looking riders. It makes a nice change, after watching the frantic table tennis matches.

I think horsey people only get frustrated that the insinuation is that the rider is passive, not with actually answering a genuine question. Saying the rider is just sitting there is akin to saying a waterskiier is just standing there!
The olympics are not that well known for giving medals for sitting about.
“Coming up, the ten minute sofa event, with world record holder Billy Big Buttocks whose record is 12 minutes on a stool.”
A dressage rider probably could train a wild stallion, same as a world class cyclist could do the Tour de France on a £99 bike from Halfords. But they wouldn’t win!

I know someone has used the F1 car as a comparison.

But these riders not only know how to ride this F1 car, they’ve built most of it and have put in most of the buttons!

If you’re interested in the training aspect and how it starts, I’d recommend watching some demos by Monty Roberts and Kelly Marks.