Dressage WTF

[OrkneyGirl]

I have just been watching Olympic dressage...a poor horse moving its hooves in time to 'Another one bites the dust'...surely this is done for human entertainment only. The horse wouldn't do this naturally. Commentator saying the horse 'clearly loves moving to the beat'. What a load of crap. Years of making the horse move unnaturally. Probably with a stick or whip. AIBU that this sport is about privileged humans dominating a beautiful animal. Makes me so sad...and angry!

Our dog learned some ‘dancing’ techniques. It was great brain work for him, no sticks involved just treats. He also did agility, which he loved. Only for fun not serious competition level

Switch it off. Watching isn’t compulsory

I think it just looks wrong in 2024. Our relationship with animals has evolved throughout history.

Dressage to music comes across as undignified, disrespectful and inappropriate.

Dressage without music at least appears to have some dignity.

If I was a dressage advocate I'd encourage the sports ruling body to seriously rethink.

Commentator: 'Such a fabulous pirouette'...so natural!

I'm sure the horse was bored in a field, needed stimulation and was fortunate enough to be owned by a rich human who felt that the horse would benefit from learning to pirouette. Really?

Totally agree. Horse are beautiful and dignified. Humans choosing cheesy pop music from the 90s for a horse to 'dance' to is neither.

True. I could do the same for the news. Or life and have no opinion. Thank you for your advice...

Of course it's unreal. Matches the beautiful facilities expected by rich and privileged dressage owners.

All animals should be banned from sport in my opinion. Once money becomes involved it becomes murky and abusive practices seem to come into play.

Whilst I agree with this, I do need to share that today, whilst poo picking his field, I watched dd’s rescue pony having a little canter and buck round the field in a strop (his field mate had just gone out for a walk) and then change to the most beautiful extended trot complete with flicky toes. This is a rescue happy hacker who has never been dressage schooled in his life (and who jumped out of the ring in protest when dd tried to do a dressage test with him at a local charity show)

Dressage to music, is no different to dressage without music. Same movements essentially. It's just set to music. It's really no different fir the horse, except yes, some do catch on to the music.

Also horse do do this stuff naturally while letting off steam in the field, or excited.

Mine used to- back wards and sideways and his favourite was doing an impression of Bambi round in circles - he wasn’t a dressage horse but a hairy shire cross. He also liked to show off his ‘airs above the ground) All in the field - just because it was fun.

Lottie Fry’s horse Glamourdale was clearly a very happy pony at the end- lapping up the attention and a real swagger in his walk. Was nice to see that he was not ridden behind the vertical (some of the other horses head carriage set my teeth on edge)

Not all dressage can be judged the same.

OP, have you ever ridden a dressage horse? Clearly not.

There are some horses who love that stuff. It takes intense concentration and clear communication between horse and rider, but they love it. Some horses are born performers, it is not unnatural. Their paces all occur naturally. That's the whole point.

Just as most racehorses love racing. I've exercised lots of ex-racehorses near the gallops near Lambourn, and in each case, the horses start to dance with excitement when they see a white rail. Holding them back from galloping can be difficult, until they are in a place where they can run freely in safety..

Anyway, have you considered how you would persuade half a ton of intelligent and immensely strong horse to do something it doesn't want to do.

You are wrong. Come to watch racehorses being exercised and you might start to understand.

I often read these threads and wonder how much the people complaining actually know about dressage, horses and horsemanship in general, or do they see videos like the one of Charlotte Dujardin and assume every horse at competition level has been beaten into submission with a lunge whip?

Oh do bog off dear. Rather than coming out with asinine statements at least have the intelligence to educate yourself about Freestyle riding. It's great fun for riders and horses. They enjoy the music. When my music comes on my horse pricks his ears and gets excited as he loves "dancing"- which is just normal dressage movements but set to music. Anyhow I'm off to enjoy my horses in my green acres all paid for by my hard work.

What? A perfect pirouette to 'The only way is up?'

Flicks of hooves etc I get.

Moving diagonally sideways from one corner of a field to another doesn't happen.

Drive around the countryside blasting out Queen and report back to me how many horses start spontaneously dancing.

It certainly does look bizarre. I'm actually a bit scared of horses. I'm very allergic to them and have been thrown off one more than once.
They're just massive, and so strong. To manipulate them in such a constrictive way seems like it could easily end in tears.
My cousin has a horse, she's a vet. (Yep, her side of family loaded!) I asked what she thought of dressage and she seemed to think it was quite cruel. I'm inclined to agree. But I guess racing seems awful too in my eyes.

You really felt the need to start another post on this?
Why not slake your lack of knowledge of a topic through reading and discourse with those in the know before slamming onto a keyboard?
Your sneering tone towards those you percieve to be rich is just nasty, and shows how little you understand those who compete in equine hobbies/sport. People of all ages and incomes ride/own horses. Those that aren't rich just go without other things to care for their horse.

Less of the misogynistic slurs please.

Less of trying to police peoples language please.

@OrkneyGirl
It’s already clear that you’re actually on about class warfare here. Stop it with the faux outrage and ignorance.

I hope this comment stands, let people see the misogyny rampant amongst the type of people who think whipping horses equates to sporting prowess.

Nope, I'll call out language like this when I like.