Why Dressage?"The horse must first learn to understand, then to accept his job with a relaxed mind and body so that he can enjoy what he is doing." Karl Mikolka
Dressage, a French word meaning "training" is a program of suppling, balancing and obedience work that prepares a horse for future pleasure-riding or competition, Western or English. This type of work is beneficial to all types of riding. Basic dressage principles can be seen in the balance and collection of the hunter and the western horse. Principles of obedience and timing are seen over fences and in the reining pattern. Even the recreational horse can be made more comfortable and reliable with dressage training. The idea is to gradually enable the horse to carry more of his own and his rider's weight over his hindquarters than over his forehand. This mobilizing and strengthening of the hindquarters (which provide the motive power as if the horse had rear wheel drive) results in a lightening of the forehand and a horse that is much easier to steer and to stop. It is a matter of physics; the horse's immense strength becomes more available to him as he uses himself more efficiently. Because of the obedience required in the exercises, this strength is also instantly available to the rider.
"As classical horsemen, we study the mind and the language of the horse, in order to learn to understand and to communicate with each individual of the species. It is important to us to build a rapport, a personal relationship with every horse we work." Thomas Ritter
According to the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Dressage; "To the untrained eye it looks easy, but like many equestrian sports, it serves the needs of a diverse range of horse lovers. It's an Olympic equestrian sport; yet a basic training discipline for the backyard horse. Dressage teaches a horse to be obedient, willing, supple and responsive. The horse freely submits to the rider's lightest "aids" or body signals, while remaining balanced and energetic. The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the horse in both mind and body, and every horse, regardless of its type or use, can benefit from this training. Dressage principles are a logical, step-by-step progression from simple to increasingly complex movements. More and more is asked of the horse as it becomes mentally and physically ready to respond to these demands. The graceful movements performed in competition may look effortless, but are the result of years of training. The aids should be virtually imperceptible. A squeeze of the calf, a closing of the fingers, a shifting of the rider's weight in the saddle should be all that is necessary to tell the horse what is required. Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. The result is truly the best blend of sport and art.
So when he is induced by a man to assume all the
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