Dressage

By: Laurie L. Wolf and Diane J. Sept
The attributes of Rocky Mountain Horse are a natural for those interested in dressage.

“So, what exactly is dressage? And who is it for?” Dressage is a French word that simply means to ‘dress’ or to ‘train.’ Since training is the foundation of any successful ride, dressage is for everyone. Every horse and pony, every rider or driver can benefit by following the basic principles of dressage.

Classical dressage, in its purest sense, addresses the individual needs of horse and rider as they form a union allowing each to enhance the other’s strengths and make up for the other’s weaknesses. Since the earliest know writings on horsemanship, riders have been told to ask rather than demand, to reward rather than punish and to be aware of their own shortcomings and abilities as well as those of their mount. Whether a backyard pleasure mount, therapeutic partner, or Olympic hopeful, all equines of any breed can enjoy the art of dressage and apply it to their daily lives; whatever that may be.

The training foundation of dressage is the ability to recognize the need and understand the use of the aids. Ascertaining why a horse won’t bend, hurries, is dull or inconsistent, rebels, gaits unevenly or carries his or her head wrong is a must. These undesired behaviors could have one or more root causes; pain (caused by equipment, injury, incorrect work, imbalance in feet or teeth), confusion, or fear being some of the possible causes.

Understanding the physical, emotional and mental make up of the horse aids to explain, challenge and hopefully guide one on the path of curing inadequacies. Once physical issues are dealt with and mental and emotional issues understood, aids are applied in consistent and comprehensive fashion until the horse softens, trusts, relaxes, and then excels. The final touch of a good foundation is to add significance to movements and thought process so both can be drawn upon in every day rides whether that be trail riding, schooling or showing.

Where does this leave our Gaited companions? Ask a Rocky Mountain Horse owner which breed by nature can make an amazingly straight line that many non-gaited require months to accomplish. “Calm, straight and forward” is a standard dressage-schooling slogan. Rockies tend to come out of the womb that way.

A few gaited horses and non-gaited horses find it hard to perform a turn on the haunches. Some of their riders actually chuckle at this request. Have you ever seen a performance where the horse dances with a person? For the RMH’s their natural pivots and hind end balance almost mocks the time it takes a trotting horse to learn a pirouette.

How about seeing how your dressage horse over tracks? It’s an international guideline to access engagement of the hindquarters. It’s so very exciting to watch a young protégé overstep by 6 to 8 inches. For the Rocky Mountain Horse this is a natural gait.

For anyone who thinks dressage requires a horse taller than 16 hands they only need to remember a Grand Prix horse named Seldom Seen who consistently brought tears to the eyes of the crowds, even during his retirement exhibition. He was 14.3.

For the Palomino, Buckskin, or other colors, dressage knows no color boundaries.

Dealing specifically with the Rocky Mountain Horse, we know that form and consistency in executing a four beat gait at 3 speeds is paramount.

Our horses should be calm, yet alert, responsive to their handler’s cues and a joy to be around.

By working with the RMH to develop lateral flexion along with decompression through their entire spine from tail to poll, you will increase the overall well-being of the horse. Each individual will be allowed to find his best gaits. The hind end will swing forward from the hip in a smooth action. The shoulder, chest and wither will be carried up and free.

For those going into the show ring correct, progressive dressage training will allow your horse to carry himself around the ring with confidence and poise.

If the horse’s stamina has been developed to a good level he will be able to perform in an accurate manor. His correct gaits will be able to be performed on the straightaway or around the curves of the arena.

When a horse carries himself in balance and self carriage, which will be created through well intentioned, guided dressage training, the picture presented will be one of “Hey, look at me!”

Through gentle, uncomplicated training, we make our mounts and ourselves the best we can be as individuals and as partners-becoming one with the horse.

In the words of the great horseman and statesman, Xenophon: “Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." – 370 BC

REPRODUCED FROM THE RMHA WEBSITE WITH PERMISSION