March 2008 • VOLUME 31 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Could this be our future? Join us as we look at this tongue in cheek look at the possible future of Dressage.

Please note that copyright to all ideas and concepts presented throughout are held by the author Michelle Guillot.

The year 2058. You've heard the rumors! You've seen the headlines! You've watched the video clips! Now you can read the thrilling story of the most popular spectator sport on the planet!

Super Prix (formerly known as Dressage), has found a popularity unmatched by any other spectator sport. The combination of huge, powerful (and often unpredictable) horses ridden by petite, beautiful women in curve-hugging bodysuits has been embraced by a public jaded by the ubiquity of male-dominated contact sports.

Whether you are a seasoned fan or planning your first visit to your local hippodrome, this guide will give you the inside information you need to pick a Super Prix winner. In addition to outlining the rules of the game, readers will learn about the various categories of competition like Aesthetic Equitation and the exciting divisions of Prix Prix including Pirouette to Infinity, Perpetual Piaffe, and the spectacular Most Extended Trot.

From the Horses to the Accoutrements to the Saddles to the Equipment things have changed.

Accoutrements

Turnout and grooming have always been key factors in the presentation of the Super Prix horse, but the perfectly plucked and banged tail and fastidiously braided mane count as little without the enhancements that tie together the visual themes expressed in both tack and riding apparel. In fact, competitions have been lost for want of the appropriate finishing details to mane and tail. In the last century it was enough to wrap braids in white tape, but today’s competitors have come a long way from such pedestrian accents.

In addition to Swarovski crystal clip rings, braid-i-bunches (covers that snap on over the braid) are readily available at most tack shops. Designs include plastic reproductions of fruit and vegetables like pineapples, pomegranates, cucumbers and lemons, as well as more unusual items like miniature Eiffel Towers and Statues of Liberty, and tiny sparkling chandeliers. Many braid-i-bunch sets come with built in LED lights that can be controlled from the saddle.



Saddles




One of the most exciting developments in saddle design in has been the Guter Sitz by LockTack Technologies. This unibody design combines saddle, pad, stirrups, girth and pulley turrets in one molded unit for a sleek, modern look and the anatomically snug fit demanded by today’s top athletes.



These polymer resin saddles are virtually maintenance-free and can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. And, unlike traditional saddles that must be periodically widened to accommodate the horse, the Gutter Sitz’s rigid panels assure that the horse’s back will form itself perfectly to the underside of the saddle!



Like all saddles in the LockTack line, the Guter Sitz is available by custom order only. To insure both horse and rider of a perfect fit, fiberglass casts are made of the animal’s back and the rider’s seat and thighs. The casts are then incorporated into an injection mold that results in a one-of-a-kind work of art.



Prices start at $9500. Standard options include edging lights (on/off or chasing), corporate sponsor logos and graphics, onboard displays for monitoring vital signs of both horse and rider and hands-free cell phone access. Custom options include, but are not limited to LCD monitors, wireless and e-mail capability, voice mail and Web surfing.



LockTack offers a wide range of colors including white, fuchsia, aquamarine, tiger lily, melon, magenta, cobalt, sunshine and fierce pear. Other colors by special order. Matching bruzzles (one-piece bridle/muzzle units) are sold separately.

Bruzzles



The development of Super Prix has brought about revolutionary changes in equipment for riders and horses alike. The bruzzle is a huge improvement on old fashioned bridles with their tangle of flimsy leather straps, combining the features of a bridle and muzzle. One’s groom no longer has to deal with tiny primitive buckles and minute adjustments. The bruzzle is a customized one-piece unit of rubberized neoprene that subtly incorporates steel cables over the nose and poll for added sensitivity. The snug fit around the horse’s muzzle and jaws insures that the mouth is held firmly closed in all situations. In addition to preventing biting by highly strung equine athletes, the bruzzle gives the rider maximum power and control over her mount with a minimum of effort.