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The Dirty Dancing known as Dressage~

Dressage was always a beautiful thing to witness, for those involved in the world of horses and even for those uninvolved in the world of horses. It was a discipline that captured grace and beauty and shared it in the most precious of ways. The harmonized movements between horse and rider gave a calming affect and left the spectators in awe. Rings and crowds would be silenced as the music took over the atmosphere and the horse began to dance. His movements were free and clear. He would float across the ground in a beautiful extended trot and blow minds as he Piaffed to perfection. It was lovely, the way the rider's hands seemed to never move or do any work. How he just sat there, looking and appearing calm and at one with his mount. The reins weren't tight and the horse's mouth wasn't overrun with gear. His movements were free and his head wasn't tucked and his mouth wasn't always chomping at the bit. Dressage was a beautiful dance then.......

Totilos was a lovely Trakehner who performed beautifully in the ring. His career came to an unfortunate end however, when he was ridden while lame, in a competition. His injury worsened and the vet who looked him over deemed him retired from the ring. His trot was lame. His canter Piorette was stiff and looked put upon. Boos and whistles and calls rang out from the crowd as his rider pressed on.

It seems to me that Dressage horses today always have way too much gear in their mouths. Double bridles just aren't necessary at all. I'm not a fan of spurs, however I abide by the motto, "It's not the tools but the hands behind the tools that hurt", but I feel as though spurs are not required in the Dressage ring. On top of all the unnecessary gear, the riders have harsh hands, pulling the reins tight against the horse's mouth. The horse has excessive foam spraying all over his coat, his mouth is always open and his tongue out. Due to the fact that the reins are so tight, the horse does not have free movement.  When he Piaffes and Piourettes his movement is stiff and his legs cannot reach and stretch as they should.  Tails swish, mouths gnash and foam flies.

Dressage isn't about that. Dressage was about grace and beauty. It was used by the Spanish army. Dressage always captured the grace and beauty; strength and power; harmony and poetry of the horse. Dressage today doesn't capture any of those as often as what it used to. The horses and even riders just don't look as enjoyable to watch.

Dressage isn't the only discipline that is flawed. Western, Jumping it's all filled with flaws and imperfections.

That's all for now, have a happy ride~

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