MARCH 2006 • VOLUME 7 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Where did we go wrong!

An Editorial

I just recently was reading about the sport of Working Equitation has just been introduced into the which is aimed at more versatility. For those who don’t know what it is, it's a cross between dressage & handy pony (g). There are 2 levels and in each competition there are 2 sections to it. The first section is a dressage test (I believe its a free style but with compulsory movements which must be done in order) and the 2nd section is basically an obedience/control test. This contains all sorts of things, including a bridge to walk over, gate to open, bending poles (with flying changes on the change of bend in the more advanced course but simple changes for the Novice one), a ring which you have to hook off the head of a bull (only pretend!), rein back between poles (straight for the novice, at right angles for the more advanced), various patterns through barrels. Oh & the aim is to ride with one hand only through the obstacle course.

When I was reading through the information on this information the sad part was the writers final statement:

“Can't see it catching on much with many competition dressage riders though.....especially those whose horses can't even cope with flowers round an arena (g). Should be a laugh though.”

What I don’t understand is that why we have gotten to the point that we have with our riding. Dressage until recently has been the domain of circuses and the military. Can you imagine a horse being in a circus and spooking at the clowns. Or going on parade and spooking at a barking dog. The definition of a dressage horse starts out the horse is to be calm, supple and obedient. What happened to the calm??

I am sure we all know of the grand prix dressage horse that is so vicious in his stall, no one wants to enter, in case they will get their head bit off, literally.

Where did we go wrong?

The concept of a horse being only be used for a single purpose is a recent phenomenon. Horses that were used in dressage like activities were often jumped and used cross-country long before they were schooled in upper level dressage movements. This was common practice of almost all of the famous military schools.

How good is our training on our dressage horses, if we do not feel safe going for a hack in the countryside. If we can only take private lessons because we are worried about our horses reactions to other horses. Just because a horse is a stallion is no excuse for this type of behaviour. Look at the Spanish Riding School . They are ALL stallions ridden and stabled together side by side everyday.

My reaction is not to laugh, but sadness. Sadness that something is obviously missing and nobody seems to care or perhaps to notice. Maybe it is time to step back and take a look at how we are training and riding our horses and get the “CALM” back into dressage.

As always your comments are welcome!