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Dutch Dressage with the "guts to do it differently"
Dutch Dressage has announced that their decision to depart from the philosophy of classical dressage displays the "guts to do it differently".
I could not read this on eurodressage.com without a potent sense of defiance and disgust. Whilst the Dutch manner of training produces competition results, it bears witness to a detrimental approach to the ethics of horse-keeping and -ridning. It wilfully ignores the biomechanism and physical makeup of the horse, which should inform the way a horse is trained. It shows no understanding of equine mentality and learning patterns. It covertly exploits the horse's nature as a prey animal, leading them to submit to unacceptable pressure and discomfort as long as they 'survive'.
Success at shows are far too often allocated to animals who are 'explosive' and capable of flinging their front legs high into the air. Losgelassenheit seems an almost extinct subject in most riders', trainers', judges' and spectators' idea of dressage. The Dutch are succesful in a competition atmosphere that has forgotten how dressage is supposed to look, that has forgotten what dressage is supposed to be about.
If they herald the future of the sport, then I guess I will have to start campaigning. I want to ride, and I want to ride dressage, but I will not be a member of such a monetary and celebrity-driven culture indifferent to horsemanship and animal welfare.
I could not read this on eurodressage.com without a potent sense of defiance and disgust. Whilst the Dutch manner of training produces competition results, it bears witness to a detrimental approach to the ethics of horse-keeping and -ridning. It wilfully ignores the biomechanism and physical makeup of the horse, which should inform the way a horse is trained. It shows no understanding of equine mentality and learning patterns. It covertly exploits the horse's nature as a prey animal, leading them to submit to unacceptable pressure and discomfort as long as they 'survive'.
Success at shows are far too often allocated to animals who are 'explosive' and capable of flinging their front legs high into the air. Losgelassenheit seems an almost extinct subject in most riders', trainers', judges' and spectators' idea of dressage. The Dutch are succesful in a competition atmosphere that has forgotten how dressage is supposed to look, that has forgotten what dressage is supposed to be about.
If they herald the future of the sport, then I guess I will have to start campaigning. I want to ride, and I want to ride dressage, but I will not be a member of such a monetary and celebrity-driven culture indifferent to horsemanship and animal welfare.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Susan on
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Hi Vikings,
I read the article and didn't get the same feeling as you - possibly because I am not as familiar with Dutch training techniques, other than the rollkur that everyone talks about- although I thought that was being used by riders in other countries as well.
What I got from the article is that the Dutch are looking at the mental and physical fitness of the rider far more than others are. Apart from that, I didn't see any details about how they are differing from other nations or what specifically they are doing to be years ahead of everyone in their training techniques. Did you see any of that elsewhere? It has got me curious about what exactly they are doing that is so revolutionary. Also, I'm not sure what specifically they reject about classical dressage. Have they stated that anywhere?
I guess I have more questions than answers! -
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Permalink Reply by Kt Mehers on
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I would just like to say - You Rock - I've been running a discussion on Barnmice to voice my own disgust at the fact that Fashion now wins top dressage competition and not true skill and hard work. I started this discussion a couple of weeks ago because whilst out on a walk round my locality I saw an extremely amateur rider (a category in which I place myself) hacking out in a Bubble (Dutch) Gag bit AND Draw reins. Whilst this grotesque fashion rules the roost I fear I will see more of this. I am really begining to believe that we ought to campaign that top flight dressage is carried out in nothing more than a cavesson bridle and snaffle bit - that would very quickly sort the "men from the boys" - metaphorically speaking.
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