The Depressing Decline of Dressage

There are no shortcuts in the training of a dressage horse. Yet we are forced to watch the modern contrivances that are dressage in name only. In the late 19th century, Anna Sewell wrote the story of “Black Beauty” to challenge the inhumane conventions of her day and perceived as “beautiful”. Will we ever hear the story of the 21st century dressage horse and his suffering for the same faddish notions of beauty and elegance? From overchecks to rollkeur, man has run the gamut of abuse to horses to satisfy a variety of ego driven perceptions of beauty. I believe dressage training is the emulation of the horse’s natural state, except on cue and for more prolonged periods of time, requiring gradual development of sensitivity, co-ordination and muscle control. For both horse and rider!

As I’ve watched modern dressage competitions spiral into a degeneration of horsemanship skills and inharmonious pairing of equine and human endeavour, I feel sadness and shame. Desire of riders to leap-frog into upper levels of competition has produced a succession of ill-prepared horses and horse(wo)men. Yes, dressage is beautiful, elegant and stylish, but the foundation is hard work, commitment and ever increasing finesse and subtlety. Donning a tail coat and procuring a horse with some of the “buttons” in place didn’t guarantee a score 40 years ago and shouldn’t today.

What has happened to the classical principles of “lightness”, “ease” and “freedom”? Judging of the FEI levels of competition has relegated these concepts unimportant and created an environment for grass roots riders to use any method at all to obtain an illusion of dressage. The deterioration of riding skill and lack of awareness of the ultimate goals of dressage become more prevalent with each passing year and has created the environment of mediocrity so clearly evident in the performances today.

It was an examination of the book “Klimke on Dressage”, containing photographs of young horses in early schooling and the elite members of the dressage community 30-40 years ago that shocked me into the realization of our current, tormented version of dressage. Evidence of giving hands, minimal use of the curb, subtlety of aids and alert willingness of horses, well and truly schooled as athletes, is now sorely missing. Instead we have replaced it with bracing, stiffness, constant cranking and yanking, coupled with overly hard use of legs and seat to obtain stilted, ungraceful performance filled with explosive tension. In all of this, the horse is still the victim. Breeders are financially influenced to select matings producing the “uphill” horse who can present his brilliant extensions for the inadequate rider, despite having little or no hind quarter engagement. In order to produce the “frame” of the well-schooled and conditioned dressage horse, forcing of the horses head to his knees in a totally overbent position (rollkeur), seems to have satisfied the requirements.

In conclusion, a photograph of Dr. Reiner Klimke riding an extended canter, totally giving his inside reins to his horse as a reward and encouragement to lengthen his stride, compelled me to put my frustration to paper. That photo produced such a feeling of joy and ecstacy in me, contrasted by the anxiety and frustration I feel when watching many of the “elite” riders of today. Love of the horse and desire for the growth of empathetic and analytical horsemanship is my impetus. As conscientious horse people, we need to add our voices to the classicists among us, to promote and reward harmonious interaction between horse and rider. The brutality and ignorance of training techniques in evidence in competition horses must be addressed from the judge’s podium. Until there is a reflection in scores for correct and comprehensive training at the highest levels of competition, the standards of horsemanship and dedication to sound training principles will be eroded to the point of ridiculous. In order to preserve equestrian sport in elite athletic venues (i.e. Olympic Games), we must legitimize our sport and provide evidence we have respect for the principles which produce quality.

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Comment by B. G. Hearns on May 14, 2012 at 12:09pm

Despite riding years ago, I'd never actually gone to a dressage competition. When I finally saw a four-star competition, I was appalled.

I saw spur-marks on the flanks of horses constantly being prodded at every step.. every step. (I was taught that light pressure from my calves should be enough... use the spurs only as a very last resort.)

I saw the winners of five-star competitions riding with their toes pointed so far downward they looked as if they were wearing 5" heels. (Yet every single riding manual, book, or video stresses heels down!)

I could see their knuckles tensed through their gloves, reins taut as violin-strings. (I was taught to have reins with a slight slackness, in them, fingers soft and light so that the mere twitch of a finger was enough to get the horse to respond.)
I saw horses with their heads pulled into position, tails continually swishing in annoyance. (The horses I learned to ride on never leaned on their bits and rarely swished their tails, if ever.)

I learned to ride in lightness, with delicate aids on well-mannered, carefully-trained horses.

That's what I was taught back then; that's how I am teaching my horse to go now; that's how we shall continue on.

Comment by Barbara F. on November 28, 2011 at 11:18am: Hi Lois,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with all of us!

When it comes to horses, I go by the motto “Think Global, Act Local”. I think that was originally a motto of green living, but it works for me!

To me, the most important thing that is overlooked is how we ourselves ride, and how we react when we witness abuse. Looking at our own riding techniques and our own shortcomings, and admitting that we might not be right about everything we think we know, can go a long way in improving the lot of dressage - and other - horses.

Speaking up and intervening when we witness abuse on our home turf, at a local show, etc. can also go a long way toward supporting the well-being of our horses.

The vast majority of riders are amateurs out there trying to do our best, but most of the criticism is directed at the top pros. I think we should be as critical of ourselves as we are of them, yet most of what I read “out there” is written by anonymous people taking aim at everyone but themselves.

p.s. I rant a lot about the NY carriage industry, which I hate, and I love reading blog posts by Jackie, Allan, yourself and others who have the courage to put themselves out there, reflect and share their thoughts about some very challenging topics. :)

Comment by E. Allan Buck on November 25, 2011 at 11:12pm: The problem is that the afront being presented in dressage is actually abuse of the horse. As such, the issue of the bad judging and bad riding should be deseminated in the manner that such performances do consitute horse abuse under the competition rules and under the rule of law. That being said it is impossible to get people to file complaints about bad judging and riding, simply because such complaints are ignored.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on November 25, 2011 at 2:00pm: If it is any comfort there are several members here that agree with you. It isn't just dressage, I see the same thing in hunt seat (draw reins for hunters, rollkur for show jumpers) and Western classes, especially Western Pleasure and reining.

I find it odd that I, a Forward Seat rider, understand the objections of old-fashioned dressage riders better than many who are currently studying dressage. I understand their objections mainly because the early Forward Seat people (Caprilli, Santini, Littauer) all started with dressage and I learned from them how collected riding can be messed up to the detriment of the horse, especially when tried by an unskilled rider. When I started riding I would sometimes ask my teachers if I was good enough yet to try dressage and they always said NO. They were right, and I listened to them. Now it seems that some people start riding by learning dressage, and these people have no idea how a free moving horse feels to the rider.

Sometimes I think that all these riders in the above mentioned disciplines and dressage are feel scared when a horse moves properly. Of course in today's competition a properly moving horse seems guaranteed to loose to goose-stepping trotters whose riders keep on by pulling on the reins HARD. So sad a demise of a graceful art form.

And you are right, the JUDGES have the power to change all this, I know they have to give ribbons but they can give ribbons AND a low score that accurately reflects the rides they see. Unfortunately most modern judges have been taught that bad horsemanship is the best horsemanship possible so the horses suffer.

Unfortunately good horsemanship and riding do not seem to attract paying audiences.