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December 2007 • VOLUME 28 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine
What is classical anyway?
The current controversy over the training methods and the changes in the Dressage rules is discouraging more and more riders from pursuing a career in dressage riding.
Nobody in their right mind deliberately wants to hurt the animal that he claims to love so much. So why does the abuse happen anyway?
After a number of courageous trainers, veterinarians and riders have pointed out the problems in the “modern dressage world”, it is becoming clear that we are seeing but the tip of the iceberg. More and more concerned riders are expressing their frustration over the facts that emerge all over the world about the impact on the health of dressage horses due to incorrect training.
That leads me back to the question: WHAT IS CLASSICAL ANYWAY?
I will try to find a definition, although I realize there is not a “one sentence” answer to this question.
Classical riding is not the presentation of horse and rider in period costumes, nor is it an exclusive club for people that want to be different for the sake of being different. Classical training however does not separate those riders from the ones who want to compete.
The common understanding is that classical training goes back as far as the first known training instructions by the Greek philosopher Xenophon, and has been further developed and passed on over the centuries by Masters like De La Gueriniere, Pluvinel, Baucher, Steinbrecht, and Podhajsky, up to our modern days, where Classical teachers like Nuno Olivera, J.C. Racinet, Walter Zettl, Philippe Karl, Helmut Beck-Broichsitte, to name but a few outstanding personalities, are still upholding the principles of classical riding.
What are those principles and what do we want to achieve with our training?
The purpose of classical training is to develop a horse that moves correctly, rhythmically, with regularity of stride, straight, calm and forward, always in balance with a light contact, plenty of impulsion, demonstrating suppleness and an appropriate degree of collection according to its age, training level and conformation. Does this all sound like a tall order?
How do we get there? I would like to simply quote my first classical teacher, H. Beck-Broichsitter:
1) A meaningful combination of exercises to help the horse on its way to gradually develop more carrying power and to develop the forward propulsive power of the hindquarters.
2) TIME !!!
The required time to achieve this greatly depends on the mental and physical development of the horse. Tendons, ligaments and joints require time to get conditioned for the increased demands. And over time the horse will be able to perform more advanced movements. Needless to say, there is no shortcut or magic fast-tracking for the training of a horse!
3) The obtaining of an impeccable seat of the rider in dressage, jumping or cross country riding is a lifelong obligation for the rider! Only a perfectly balanced seat enables the horse to perform at its best.
We cannot separate the riding and training of horses into “classical” and other methods! There are only two ways - the correct or the incorrect way.
Correct training is done in the COMPLETE ABSENCE OF VIOLENCE OR FORCE!
Riders of all disciplines have three fundamental goals when training:
TRUST - OBEDIENCE – BALANCE
The most important part of balance is the lightness in the mouth (see Racinet) and the freedom of the shoulder to enable the hindquarters to take up more weight. There is no exception to this rule.
Waldemar Seunig wrote in his book, "Art of Riding”:
“The light and sensitive classical art that was typical for the ancient Geek riding philosophy is totally missing with the Romans. They only tried to copy the appearance and style of the riding; however in the absence of any creative and meaningful training, their riding deteriorated into nothing but entertainment for the “Circus Maximus.”
Today it looks like we are living among the Romans. I’d rather be a Greek!
In the next couple of issues, I will make some alternative suggestions to incorporate into the training concept - with the horse’s nature in mind. Not in contrast to classical training, rather to demonstrate that classical training can be fun for both horse and rider.
The goal is always : Trust - Obedience - Balance.
In this time of turmoil and insecurity about what correct training is, the presentation of Walter Zettl’s new book “The Circle of Trust” is like a beacon of light, a comprehensive publication reaching far beyond the usual riding books, a fresh look at all parties concerned in developing the young athlete and keeping him healthy and happy in our sport. A “must read” for anyone connected with the horse industry.
Xenora Horse Empowerment
Acton /On
Xenora @sympatico.ca
Hans Hollenbach
Tell us what you think!
Would you like to see more joy and fun in your riding?
Do you agree that rollkur passes all international boundaries and that we need to speak up?
Tell us about your success!
What is dressage to you!
Please note that you must be registered to leave a comment. Registration is FREE!!
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Rollkur / Classical training
Written by Samantha Acres on 2008-01-01 09:23:03
Surely the FEI needs to stop the use of this in warming up areas of competitions?
The FEI states that Rollkur should only be used by professional riders.
If a training method is not suitable for amateurs to use, then this is quite obviously not a good method!
If you follow the Classical and Correct method of traning then this CAN and SHOULD be used by everyone, Amateur, Novice and Professional !!
End of Argument! | Written by annie mason on 2008-01-01 17:03:24
i am registered. i pay a subsciptiion | Written by annie mason on 2008-01-01 17:08:10
just spent ages writing a detailed letter, not accepted because it said i wasnt registerd but i am i pay a subsciption!! | Classicism and Discipline
Written by misha1000 on 2008-01-03 23:10:57
Classical: 'Style with emphasis on symmetry, proportion and harmony of line and form', 'usually (but not always) older forms of art that tend to have been recorded, studied and made part of cultural heritage' and interestingly, 'Art or “serious” music as opposed to “popular” music'; 'Music using the basic characteristics of a style emphasizing balance, simplicity, and proportion.'
Let me for a moment elaborate on the first musical definition, and suggest that perhaps herein lies our difficulty and division. Art is a "serious" pursuit, not frivolous fun to pass the time, with a focus on the journey rather than the goal. Rollkur is a result of expediency; the ends justify any means.
Can the "serious" be made more "popular"? In a world of sound bytes, consumerism and people wanting everything yesterday, can we encourage reading, study and practise of "the good and beautiful" instead, as is the case with other academic disciplines?
Classical Horsemanship is hard, rewarding work, understanding increases in increments and if approached this way, welfare is automatically included because one is building a very firm relationship through patience and dedication to another sentient being. Viewing it as purely a sport, where ultimate success is a trophy, automatically warps priorities.
Perhaps as a small beginning, we can look to music, a fellow art form, where people also compete but never mutilate their instruments in order to be "successful"; that would defy the purpose. I don't see anything inherently wrong with competing; the problem seems to be how, why and when. There was a time before Rollkur.
Finally, the root of the expediency problem is a cultural one, so we need to address the lack of culture (i.e. education) first. | classicism and discipline
Written by annie mason on 2008-01-06 20:55:58
rollkur is the current state of a trend that started years ago when riders began to give ribbons more significance than their horses
A few years ago i was asked to ride a 'gp' horse for an international dressage rider who had gone to germany for winter training.
on the first day the head groom asked, 'did i want the noseband 'tight' or 'show tight!'
horrified i asked,' what is the difference?'
he replied,'for 'show tight' we swing off them!'
for the next couple of months i rode this horse in a loose cavesson and without the obligatory draw reins. he was for sale as he seemed to 'have gone off the boil'.
when the rider came home she won a grand prix with him and sold him for s handsome sum.
to this day i dont know if i did this horse any favours!!
the rider wasn't interested, she had her ribbon and had passed the horse on, how it all happened was immaterial.
for a long time i have felt that if grand prix could be won on a motorbike then horses would become redundant!
training has to be partnership, it has to be a two way conversation, if the horse cant have his say what is the point!!
apologies for previous comments1
| Our Poor Horses
Written by suzibn on 2008-01-07 11:32:22
Who wonderful it is to find a place where like-minded people can express their opinions openly and without fear!
I was trained classically in the tradition of Podhajski and The Spanish Riding School and have preached for over 30 years that there is a right way and a wrong way to ride, to condition, and to compete. After taking several years away from horses and training --and moving to England--I thought that once I was away from the "hurry up and win" mindset of America, things would be so easy.
They are not.
I am ashamed of what has happend to dressage and find my ways of coaching and teaching met with a label of "old fashioned". A horse requesting contact is unheard of, as is a round horse with a swinging, supple back. I am so overwhelmed now to find a group of people who are willing to accept the "old ways" as the "correct ways".
So...I would have to say in answer to your question, What is Classical?" that it is simply the correct way to ride a horse. Ribbons and egos do not enter into the correct way. They should be a bonus for correct training, not a reward for the "win at any cost" society all of us helped to create. How did we help create it is more to the point. When did standing up for the right of the horse become confused with Peta and animal rights? When did the ideas that Podhajski and others of his mind-set teach become obsolete and how did we let it happen?
The comparison to music is so ideal. I ride to music, in fact, cannot bear to ride without it in the school! It puts me in the correct frame of mind, and makes it easy to hear if the cadence is correct, if a horse is rushing...Perhaps when music became nothing but a clash of sounds with men shouting violent messages we lost the ability to combine our training with the art we so wanted to do.
I will go on training the old fashioned way and at my advanced age will never give up the fight for the correct way.
I am hoping that all here feel the same way.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Blair-Newlands |
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