Why the resistance to correct riding?

This opinion does not apply to alot of great horse people out there, rather it is aimed at the competitive aspect of the horse world.

Wow,

seems so many horse people are offended by my position that no matter the competitive venue you ride, the rider should be meeting the requirements set forth in the rules. On another forum a poster asked the difference between modern and classical dressage. I posted my opinions and was visiously attacked by those who choose to not conform with the rules.

Example would be the dressage problem of 'on the bit', which is stipulated head/neck frame that must be present in all the movements. It is not there!

Whether dressage or reining or western pleasure, there has arisen 'modern' training and riding methodologies which are drastically changing competitve showing in a negative manner.

The issue I have with the modern stuff is that speed for greed has become the standard. The tried and true methods that require taking time with the schooling of the horse are no longer able to exist in the competitive world. If one has modern "new" knowledge that can positively change an old method, that is great. However, instead modern actually seems to consist of putting a new spin on an old way which negatively affects the schooling of the horse.

classical:
Standard and authoritative rather than new or experimental

modern:
advocates or practices a departure from traditional styles or value

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Comment by E. Allan Buck on August 27, 2011 at 12:24am: Ms Ward

It the closed minded self rightuous pompous arrogance of individuals such as yourself that are what is wrong with dressage. Grow up, look in the mirror and ask yourself --- where did I lose my integrity?

Comment by E. Allan Buck on June 12, 2011 at 4:33pm: On the Horseforum.com I posted in the dressage section entitled "Bitless GP Dressage"

What amazes me is the lack of willingness to be open minded and open eyed.

Instead certain individuals in the horse industry insist upon be locked into the chest of tradition and/or the modern schooling methodologies.

It is any wonder that the purity of classical schooling methods even survive today.

And the willingness of individuals to assume things regarding a horse or horses without any basis in fact is mind bending.

Comment by E. Allan Buck on June 9, 2011 at 8:06pm: related to this subject is the blog I started on the GP dressage without a bit from Germany

Riding bitless dressage but doing it incorrectly.

Comment by E. Allan Buck on June 8, 2011 at 7:31pm: Go to www.hartetoharte.org and click the button reading "On the Bit, the Frame'.

The head/neck frame is critical to the freedom of the forehand. If the neck muscles are constrained then the withers and shoulders will be constrained and the horse will be heavy on the forehand and shorten the stride of the forelegs.

Comment by leanne hall on June 8, 2011 at 7:24pm: Hmm, well time will tell. When you are referring to "correct" riding can you give me some examples? I'm always open to learning.

Comment by E. Allan Buck on June 8, 2011 at 7:17pm: Yes I contacted them because I wanted them to include bitless.

I explained that the knowledge I had acquired riding bitless had a great impact upon the bitted presentations.

i.e. referencing the head/neck frame, the gaits, etc. But I believe that it is like any other group, they want you to belong and egads, I cannot afford to join group after group.

I have watched numerous videos of the WD and so far [imho] they have not been correct, incorrect from the requirments of the horse. This is the failure also of dressage. Incorrect has become correct in dressage and I see that WD is starting off that way.

It is because of the lack of correctness in dressage presentations that the people teaching it and WD are now traveling away from correctness.

I so want WD to be correct for the horse and thus demonstrate to the BIG D folks what dressage should look like......but alas I am not hopeful

Comment by leanne hall on June 8, 2011 at 7:05pm: Allan, actually the WDAA is soliciting comments and inputs from its members as to the direction the Association is going. When you say you tried to get your input received and were rejected were you referring to the WDAA?

Comment by E. Allan Buck on June 8, 2011 at 6:40pm: It is sad that associations like the Western Dressage Association depend upon the elitists when creating something new.

I tried to get my input received as my knowledge is predicated upon the requirements of the horse, however, I found I was rejected..............so much for the health and welfare of the horses.

Comment by leanne hall on June 8, 2011 at 5:35pm: I heartily agree with the comments made by both of you.This very topic is being discussed in the forum for the new Western Dressage Association. The membership is giving input as to the direction the organization should go and the majority of members as of now are concerned with preserving classical riding principles. Because it is a new association now is the time to get this approach solidified. Although, unfortunately, as Jackie mentions, down the road the judges are the ones who have the power to set the style of riding and either reward riders who stick to classical principles or not.

Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 7, 2011 at 5:16pm: It seems to me that the reason we no longer see correct riding in the show ring is that the old type correct riding no longer wins.

If the judges refused to reward incorrect riding most people would change to whatever type of riding would get them that blue ribbon, championship, gold medal, etc..

My pet peeve of the moment is hunter judges that insist that the horse keep its face vertical, even over the jumps. If the horse's face is not vertical or behind the vertical these judges say the horse is above the bit! IMHO it is dangerous to try to ride a horse over jumps with its face vertical or behind the vertical. It may not matter over low jumps, but as the jumps get higher this gets more dangerous for both horse and rider.

People seem so used to seeing horses behind the bit that they think it is proper riding! Hey, it wins the classes, it MUST be correct. Judges could fix this problem, too bad they no longer insist on proper riding. Of course if all the judges have seen is bad riding then they could not recognize good riding, it does not look "normal" to them any more.

Same with good riding conformation.