Why Classical Dressage?

Why Classical ? 🤔

I had this conversation with a client last night and figured I would write something.

So let's talk accountability.

You've been commissioned by a King to train a stable of horses. Cavalry soldiers will need to be able to ride effectively. With sword and shield. Wars will be won or lost based on the work you do to train these horses. Your training literally means life or death. And, the fate of the Kingdom. Training up horses that do not break down, is equally important. Horses are expensive. Training is expensive. Time is expensive. Winning the King's favour, with success in war is huge. Lasting long enough in your role, and earning enough favour from the King, to be given the time to write about your method - is huge.

No horse running on the forehand, with inability to easily pivot or move laterally would be safe for cavalry.

Masters in the past have discovered keys to training horses to be ready, willing - physically and mentally to be partners. There are literally thousands of years of examples. And they wrote about their methods. Xenophon, the greek cavalry trainer, and Simon before him documented their methods, 500BCE - and earlier.

"Don't ride a slave into battle" ~ Xenophon emphasized.

Imagine you are an officer in the a King's cavalry and are handed a miserable horse that is stiff, sullen, uncooperative. It does not move sideways, backward - only forward, and that's with some kicking. He is so heavy in hour hands - you can't stop, or turn easily. How's that going to affect your chances in battle? Imagine having to wield a sword and use a shield with this horse!

Good luck.

Do you think the trainer, who creates miserable horses would have lasted long in the Kings stable? No. Neither would they have documented their methods.

Accountability.

Kings, Queens and Nobles want to look Royal in the saddle. They want to ride with ease. No king would be seen pulling and kicking a horse. They do not want to appear to struggle with their horse. Struggling with a horse would make a King look a powerless. Trainers are not going to last long in the court if they can't produce a King's horse.

Period.

Accountability.

If only these Masters left us the blueprints!

They did.

The French court - under King Louis XIII - a new method of training developed that produced a very supple, willing horse in shorter time using the Volte. This is detailed in 'Manège Royal' - Antoine de Pluvinel, the Kings trainer. Since then, through other Masters (Guérinière etc), the French moved forward the roots of what we call, 'Dressage'. 'Dressage' comes from the word 'dresser' - which in French means - to prepare. Dressage is the preparation of the horse - for a function - cavalry.

These historical examples demonstrate a level of accountability that outmeasures, outperforms modern systems.

Accountability.

Full stop.

It's not. even. close.

'Dressage' today is a word for a 'sport'. It has completely lost its meaning. Today at the highest levels, I see horses that are obviously NOT prepared - even in the very basics of riding.

Stiffness and tension

Lack of communication

Lack of obedience

NOT a partnership

Unable to demonstrate fluidity

Poor gaits and maneuvers

In the BASICS - let alone life-saving maneuvers. I would not ride any of these horses into battle. Not. One. Can you imagine kicking and pulling a horse like we see today in sport, trying to make sure the horse's 'nose is in and down' - on a battle field?

"Hang on don't attack me yet - my horse's nose is not down!"

High ground is important in conflict.

I hear people today, parroting the words ' don't ride the head' and 'ride from the back to front' ~ while even still, they focus on pulling the head down, and barrelling forward, forward, forward on the forehand. Missing the point - that it is the haunches that needs to be fully trained, strengthened and liberated to unlock maneuvers.

Pirouette with agility and lightness is a life-saving maneuver.

The systems that produce horses that are running on the forehand, requiring constant management, heavy-handedness, kicking, and do not have the agility required to quickly and easily move in all directions, while riding with one hand or no hands ~ would not be chosen by a King. It would be a sure failure in battle.

Period.

That's why I study the Classical Masters. They knew what they were doing and why. And they were held to the ultimate account with their training.

Proven systems.

Well documented.

Timeless.

Accountability

Because, a ribbon is not worth the same as a life saved in battle

To be continued ...

#classicaldressage

#classicalriding

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#lusitano