Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Dressage (little long)

To me a good rule of thumb when you are taking dressage lesson, is if the
instructor wants you to "force" anything on you (your body) or your horse
(his body) find a new instructor. Bettina Drummond has taught dressage to
some very lucky endurance riders and Steve Rojack takes dressage very
seriously. Have you seen him ride. Its beautiful!

That said, dressage and dressage moves should be built so that the horse
finds that moving his body on the hindquarters and with lightness is the
only way to go because he is comfortable with it. The moves require strength
and condition and cannot be done without tension if it is forced. And,
unless it is done without tension it is of no use to the endurance rider or
horse IMHO. My instructor talks about making a request without backward
traction. So, side reins which "force" a position rather than allowing the
horse to find the move will create tension. Its no wonder your horse did not
want to take any more lessons and you were quite right to see that once she
had the strength, she could comply with your request happily So what if it
wasn't Grand Prix quality ;)

Dolores


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=