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.