The missing piece in your dressage riding
When working with riders in dressage I commonly find there is a disconnect between where the rider is and where they want to be. For most riders, it’s not that they lack goals or a work ethic, it’s that they don’t have a clear system that can get them from point A to point B. The system is the in-between space that gets a horse and rider to their desired destination.
How is it that top trainers in the industry consistently (and fairly quickly) get horses to Grand Prix? How can a trainer get that backyard cross to compete in the FEI levels successfully? It’s in their system. Through the course of a trainer’s career, they work with many horses developing and crafting a system that works for them based on the systems of their trainers and mentors.
More times than not, riders become frustrated and confused by this sport and will usually end up not enjoying the sport, or unfortunately, quitting it altogether. Incurring reasons such as “dressage is not for me”, “my horse just doesn’t like dressage”, or worse yet, “I don’t have the talent for it.” What you lack is not talent, it is a clear system to follow.
Algebraic Equations in Dressage
Perhaps it will be easier to understand with an example. Let’s say I hand you an algebraic equation to solve (for this example, you don’t have any prior experience in solving algebraic equations). You may be able to pull some of your previous knowledge of basic math, but overall you won’t be able to solve it. You will become frustrated with yourself, perhaps you will say things like “Math isn’t for me” or “I’m just not smart enough.” Maybe you will try to look up videos on how to solve the equations, but it still seems very confusing and you can only copy what is shown on the video. You don’t understand it, so you can’t replicate it. Now let’s say I sit down with you and that algebraic equation and I show you the system of solving it. Learning the system still takes work and time, but overall your confidence is higher and your previous negative beliefs have been replaced with confidence and excitement. With the system, you aren’t just able to solve one equation, but any equation presented to you from here on out.
The analogy explained above is similar to training horses in dressage. If you don’t have a system to follow, how can you effectively train your horse? You will end up becoming frustrated and upset, and ultimately tell yourself this sport isn’t for you and you should just give up. However, if instead, you have a clear system to follow that shows you how to train a horse to the upper levels of dressage, you will feel more confident and excited for the future, much like in the algebra example above.
Challenges of Learning
So, you are probably thinking, that all makes sense *theoretically*, but how do I find the system to get me there? The answer is, in short, up to you. Every rider (if training their own horse(s)) will eventually develop a system that gets them from point A to point B. The journey to getting to that system is different for each individual. For some, they develop their system from clinics, videos, and general trial and error. For others, they focus on the training system from their trainer and adapt the methods to fit their own horses. Your system will continuously develop as your knowledge and education improves. This sport is a marathon if there ever was one.
The challenge with creating/learning a training system is every trainer will communicate their system in different ways (which can lead to possible confusion). A good way to avoid this confusion is to have a clear idea of the dressage basics and go from there. The success of a dressage horse comes from good basics. Good trainers will focus mainly on the basics of dressage. When building a house you have to start with a good foundation otherwise everything on top crumbles at some point. This is the same in regards to a system when training a dressage horse. The foundation of a horse’s training is everything. Without it, once you start adding upper-level movements, everything comes crumbling down. The key to creating a system is to focus on the basics.
Although it may seem boring, as a dressage rider/trainer you must fall in love with the basics. Top riders rarely work on the movements within their tests rather they focus on the challenges in the basics. They know a half pass is effortless if the horse is supple and reactive to the leg. The tempi changes are easy if the horse is straight and working through the back.
Training Tip: If you find a system (from a coach/trainer, for example) that’s foundations are built on teaching good basics, be consistent with the system. Though it’s tempting to try various different systems, it’s important to provide consistency for you and your horse. That’s not to say you don’t learn from other systems, but try to take little pieces from different systems and add it to your “main system.” This helps to prevent an over abundance of information which could lead to burnout, frustration and exhaustion for both you and your horse.
In Summary:
- The *secret* to successfully moving up the levels in dressage is all in the training system.
- Overtime, you will develop your own system that you will adapt to each horse you train.
- A good system is mainly focused on teaching excellent basics. If you are following a system that doesn’t have that focus, change your system.
Want to keep learning? Follow along as I break my own system down starting with the basics!
Have a question or dressage topic you are confused about? Feel free to reach out 👉 insightfuldressage@gmail.com OR @_ab_dressage
