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Would you like to see one dressage where we hold everyone to the same standards?

Do you think that it is ridiculous that we can't expect a Grand Prix horse to halt?

Do you agree that rollkur passes all international boundaries and that we need to speak up?

Have you tried the Diagonalization exercises? Tell us about your success!

What is dressage to you!

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Written by Enlighteneduk on 2006-10-07 16:40:57

This argument about there being 'two dressages', ie, Classical and Competition, has long been raging here in Europe, and is nothing new. There are those who vehemently deny that there is any such thing, but it is becoming clearer than ever that the divide is growing ever wider, the chasm ever deeper.

The very fact that Klaus Balkenhol and Dr Gerd Heuschmann have found it necessary to inaugurate the Xenophon Society, to return to Classical methods of humane training. Yet, as the article here about training the croupade illustrates, 'Classical' doesnt necessarily mean 'humane'!!

I dont know what the answer is in truth, but I do know that when truly quiet, unobtrusive riding, with the horse and rider in complete harmony, the aids nothing more than a whisper, the whole appearing effortless for either, then that is when dressage becomes art.

One of the few exponents of riding of this calibre is German classical rider, Anja Beran, whose wonderful new book, 'In Deference' blew me away the moment I opened the pages, and saw photographs of such excellence that I felt a thrill rising in me.

I have subsequently become acquainted with Anja and her publisher, Dr Isabella Sonntag, who is also membership secretary of Xenophon, Anja also being one of the founding members.

Anja has a DVD coming out shortly, first in German later this month, and then in English in January. I have been fortunate to be allowed a pre-production copy ( minus even the German soundtrack at this stage!!) to play on our stand at the Horse of the Year Show here in the UK.

My stand staff have reported that people have been literally rivetted to the TV, such is the difference in Anja's riding to that seen in the dressage arena. Riding on the weight of the reins alone in passage and piaffe, 'the descent de mains' so rarely seen these days, the beauty of the work, and her quiet, elegant, but effective riding is a joy to behold.

I urge anyone that wishes to see the absolute opposite of rollkur to buy this book- it is a classic in the making, and the DVD doesnt disappoint when seeing her ride in motion, rather than static pictures.

I feel sure that this is the sort of riding that most HFL readers will aspire to, and it is wonderful to have such a fine reference work to turn to.

Heather Moffett

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