The outcry on several internet dressage forums reached a fever pitch upon receiving news that not only were we teaching dressage to reiners but also to Pat and Linda Parelli. But Why? Didn’t dressage develop as a beneficial, pragmatic system to improve upon and develop any horse, for any purpose?

One mare in particular, Miss Sparkle Jac, who was a pretty nice three-year-old futurity mare , won the intermediate open futurity and tied for seventh in the open futurity at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, a few weeks after the clinic.  That was a big win for us, and I feel pretty sure that we wouldn’t have done as well.  Thanks Walter!

It is, therefore, all the more surprising to see Mr. Henriquet, upon acknowledging that through the teaching of Oliveira he is beholden to both La Gueriniere and Baucher, engage in a bitter condemnation of Baucherism as such. If this is not equivocation, what is?

It is here at the end of the lead rope that we can begin to train both rider and horse. Where we can train both rider and horse to the use of the lead rope AND the rein. Where we can train the rider on the appropriate "conscious" reactions to the feelings he will recieve in hand whether on the end of the lead rope or the end of the rein, and how to not give in to the "natural" subconcious reactions that are "one of the great basic difficulties of riding."

It is at this moment when we span the horse simultaneously from the chest in front to the buttocks in back that we create a very deep impression upon the horse--one that impresses deeply upon his psyche...

So who is Walter Zettl? We can look at the statistics. When he was born. When he started riding? What were his accomplishments?

But like everyone Herr Zettl is more then just a bunch of statistics. Herr Zettl in Herr Zettl's own words. The passion and the ethos of a dressage master.

The story of one of those incredible horses. One who went from the racetrack to working in a disabled riding program. Who gave of herself heart and soul to her riders.

Join us in "What is the Plie?" as we enjoy our on-going exploration of the historical basis of our riding.  Exploring and presenting some of these alternative movements.  Movements that were often well known to the riders of the past.