Dressage Stereotypes

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Permalink Reply by Kess Paquette on April 23, 2009 at 11:42am

I love dressage and ive been ridin 1year and a half done 3 schooling shows.I honestly think u should try dressage cause really my cousin does hunter and after she did a bit of dressage she went from the bottom to the top.Most judges are nice like where i go my coach chooses a nice lady named Melanie that has lessons at the same place i do and she judges the schooling shows.Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Linda Dennis on April 23, 2009 at 11:51am

oh that is so sad... when I first learned about Dressage I was up till then a Saddle Seat rider! it was an obscure European Equestrian ART then...only a few former cavalry types and British horse society women were teaching it here then. It was mostly associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and if you could find one of those riders to work with it was a big deal. H-J was the snobbiest, at least the A show kind. Now Dressage had changed from a pursuit of the esoteric really devoted idealistic "intellectual riders sport" to mainstream big time show horse stuff with wealthy amateurs on imported horses being the core of the thing with many many very well trained professionals available all over to work with them.
It makes it easier to find a trainer! lol, but I do miss the idealistic idea of it some..when any horse was considered appropriate for dressage, and it was like a coterie of devoted lovers of the bond between horse and rider more than a snazzy bling infused wealthy woman's pursuit.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Berenbaum on July 26, 2009 at 9:52am

I would have to say that I have found that overall this stereotype is not true. I spent many years as a hunter/jumper rider before switching over to dressage and so far my experiences have been much more positive with dressage. I have found in general most of the dressage people are a lot friendlier and more apt to strike up a conversation with you even though you have never met them before. I have also found that they are a lot more willing to step in and help if you are in a bind. Maybe part of my positive experience is that I am showing a 14 hand quarter pony with a rather unique blaze so she is a good conversation starter...

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on July 26, 2009 at 6:44pm

Hi!

I think your last statement covers the issue: "...I really ahte the snobbery that sometimes comes from horse people.". As a coach, trainer and rider who's worked and competed in every discipline (except CTR and endurance, and I do coach CTR and endurance riders) at some point or another I'd have to say that there are snobs in every discipline.

I think the dressage crowd tends to be perhaps more obsessive compulsive than others, especially when it comes to our "fashion police", but there are lots of us who work within the discipline who are not blinded by name brand accessories and horses. Certainly there's more room for more breeds and cross-breeds than there usually is in the hunter ring, and more breeds and types of horses can do successful lower level dressage than can do jumpers, for example, so I think we actually tend to be more tolerant of strange breed combinations than other disciplines. Heaven knows the average WB is really a Heinz 57 in disguise, so it's hard to keep your nose in the air when faced with Arabian and TB pedigrees!

There are wonderful dressage barns and coaches who don't promote snobbery and gossip, you just need to find them. Perhaps you could post you location on this site and those of us who read it regularly could give you some suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by Gail Morse on July 31, 2009 at 9:59am

They are not more snobby. I find the dressage crowd at the lower levels which is the only experience I have, to be very helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Synnot on July 31, 2009 at 4:52pm

I think the key is to stay away from the super ritzy barns to keep snobbery out of your life... if there's chandeliers in the aisleways..RUN!

LOL.

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Permalink Reply by Ari on August 2, 2009 at 1:03pm

I've competed in quite a few disciplines, dressage and hunter included, and while it is sometimes true that the odd person is a snob, looking down their nose at you and your backyard horse from the back of their 10,000 dollar horse, there are few and far between. These are the people who think they know what they are doing, and are trying to appear professional. They might get under your skin a bit, but any real professional rider will be happy to give you a helping hand should you need it. This includes all disciplines, not just dressage... and sometimes more in hunter. Surround yourself with kind, helpful people and you will be sure to have a blast!

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Permalink Reply by Petstorejunkie on August 26, 2009 at 6:22pm

I'll tell you the only show i have ever been to where all the competitors were positive, helpful, mature, and congratulatory was at a dressage show.
yes there can be snobbery but to me dressage snobbery is about how "by the book and classical" you ride as opposed to what brand of helmet you are wearing... as found in the hunter ring ;0)

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Permalink Reply by Frances Brown on November 8, 2009 at 8:31am

Perhaps it used to be that way, at least in the US when Dressage first started becoming popular in the 1990's. I was riding a loud colored 15 hand paint at the A rated shows at the time and getting asked "Love your mascot, but where's your real dressage horse?"

But I think that's changed drastically. Even those who have the money to buy the best horses and instruction are finding out that dressage requires more than deep pockets and a snooty attitude. It's hard work, requires diligence and dogged determination, and the rewards come in tiny little glimmers.

But they're well worth it! I think the best part about dressage for me is that competition, in the traditional sense, is optional. I derive as much satisfaction, if not more, from the day to day work with my horse. We compete against ourselves. And as we learn the dance steps, the thrill is bigger than any trophy or ribbon ever could be.

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