Alex and I recently finished teaching 4-days of Pony Club summer camp, which always helps to keep me in touch with what today’s younger riders think. It’s easy to suppose that playing mounted games and jumping grids will be a whole lot more exciting than schooling on the flat and working without stirrups, but this year there were a few campers who actively campaigned to spend more time learning about dressage. The classical art of dressage requires great discipline and patience – two qualities I seldom associate with young teens, but these riders were excited about learning longitudinal suppling and how to sit in a correctly balanced seat. We teased with them that mastering dressage was a long journey and that the reason there are more hunter/jumper hunt seat riders in the United States is that dressage is just plain harder. They grinned when we told them, “If dressage was easy, than everyone would do it!”
I was reminded about a quote from Christoph Hess, (FEI “I” judge and former director of training for the German Olympic Committee) who said that the journey to ride at Grand Prix was like hiking across the Rocky Mountains, barefoot and in winter! And yet riders set out every day with fresh enthusiasm to train their horses and themselves in this exacting sport. I’d like to believe that we continue the journey because we are inspired by every small proof of improvement and that every day we build a better relationship with our horses through dressage is a good day.
So tomorrow when you finish your warm-up and consider which exercise should come next, cross your stirrups over your horse’s withers and ride without them while you school your lateral work and transitions. Imagine you’re traveling over frozen mountain trails in mid-January when your thighs begin to burn and your lower back begins to ache. Then be grateful for those nice warm boots you’re wearing and remember that dressage is not easy – so sit up straight, toes forward, lift your chin and ride! Susan Moody, IEO President
I was reminded about a quote from Christoph Hess, (FEI “I” judge and former director of training for the German Olympic Committee) who said that the journey to ride at Grand Prix was like hiking across the Rocky Mountains, barefoot and in winter! And yet riders set out every day with fresh enthusiasm to train their horses and themselves in this exacting sport. I’d like to believe that we continue the journey because we are inspired by every small proof of improvement and that every day we build a better relationship with our horses through dressage is a good day.
So tomorrow when you finish your warm-up and consider which exercise should come next, cross your stirrups over your horse’s withers and ride without them while you school your lateral work and transitions. Imagine you’re traveling over frozen mountain trails in mid-January when your thighs begin to burn and your lower back begins to ache. Then be grateful for those nice warm boots you’re wearing and remember that dressage is not easy – so sit up straight, toes forward, lift your chin and ride! Susan Moody, IEO President
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