Dressage is a transformational method of training the horse and rider.
Dressage trains riders how to train their horses to improve the quality of their natural gaits whether they trot, tolt, flat walk or fox trot. Through suppling exercises, the horse develops symmetry, strength and flexibility. Dressage teaches riders how to transform an anxious and reactive mind into a more relaxed and listening mind, and a tense and braced body into a relaxed and willing body.
Dressage is a language between the rider and horse.
Through consistent use and timing of the rider’s hand, leg, seat, and weight aids, dressage enables effective communication and a partnership of harmony between rider and horse. Classical dressage serves as a humane training approach that fosters full range of motion, quality smooth gaits on cue, and long term soundness in the horse. This language is useful in the arena, on the trail or within any equestrian activity.
Six ways dressage benefits the naturally gaited horse.
1. Relaxation: Dressage promotes mental and physical relaxation in horses, reducing anxiety and tension. This cultivates a harmonious partnership between the rider and horse, fostering trust and attentiveness. A relaxed horse is more receptive to the rider’s cues and is less distracted by external stimuli, ultimately creating a safer riding experience.
2. Balance: Through dressage exercises, naturally gaited horses achieve better balance. This reduces the likelihood of tripping when the horse carries its weight more evenly across all four legs. Improved balance leads to the creation of beautiful, smooth gaits that are a pleasure to ride and watch.
3. Rhythm and Tempo: Dressage instills a steady rhythm, replacing uneven rhythm that disrupts the fluidity of the gaits. The rhythm helps to develop the head nod in many naturally gaited horse breeds, such as the Tennessee Walking Horse and Fox Trotter. Dressage also promotes an even tempo and stride length, reducing short, quick steps.
4. Stretching and Strengthening: Dressage incorporates stretching exercises that target the horse’s top line muscles, spine, and neck. These exercises reduce hollowness. When stretching is combined with encouraging the horse to take deeper steps under the belly, the horse increases its length of stride.
5. Symmetry and Flexibility: Gymnastic exercises such as shoulder in, haunches in, and renver develop balance, symmetry and flexibility. For the naturally gaited horse, this leads to even strides, length of strides, and depth of strides, further enhancing the quality of smooth gaits. The naturally gaited horse becomes more ambidextrous over time.
6. Breaking up Pace: Diagonal moving exercises, such as shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out, and renver, serve to break up lateral footfall sequences, such as pace and step pace. These exercises also soften and supple the horse’s body, correcting a hollow back posture and contributing to smoother gaits.
With consistent dressage, you’ll help your naturally gaited horse transform rough gaits to smooth gaits, and smooth gaits to quality smooth gaits while developing full range of motion, long-term soundness, and a partnership of harmony.
