Re: dressage & endurance

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

> How many (if any) of you dressage advocates compete at dressage in
addition
> to doing endurance rides?  I'm really enjoying the dressage lessons & am
> considering some schooling shows next year.  My trainer said that the
> dressage training will complement his distance training at least up to
> level 2 -- if I want to go that far.
>
> TIA
> Vicki Wheeler & Spellbinder
>
Hi Vicki,
I was involved in dressage long before I found endurance -- competed in a few
shows (solo and in a quadrille) and ran a large local club's Schooling and B
shows for a couple of years.  I spent many years taking lessons, reading books
and watching videos, and attending clinics, lectures, etc. by some of the best
known dressage and horsemanship trainers this world has to offer --  and 4 of
those years spent working closely with 2 of the best (IMO) classical basics
(to
advanced level) trainers/instructors, my mentors James Conlon and Jessica
Jahiel PhD. http://www.prairienet.org/jjahiel/   I consider those years the
most
important years in my horsemanship and riding schooling.   

The step-by-step training in the sense of classical dressage is one of the
best
things you can do for yourself and your horse.  Keep in mind, tho, the lower
levels (Introductory and Training Levels) of competitive dressage tests are
very basic.  As you get into 1st Level and above, you will start to run into
more riders/trainers who use gimmicks to achieve faster results and get
them to
the higher levels in a shorter time.  (Keep in mind I said "some", not
*all* --
there are a lot of awesome trainers who get to the top honestly and with a lot
of sweat equity.)  Also, the atmosphere at this time is much more serious and
quite stressful...at least it was for me.  

I found out (after a couple of years of schooling, some B, and a few A shows)
that I don't like competing in the shows -- it was way too much anxiety for me
for a couple of 5 minute session in front of the judge (and you have to wear
white breeches. <g>)  Some people like that kind of atmosphere...I didn't make
that list! ;-)  This does not, in any way, diminish my appreciation for proper
dressage schooling for riders and their horses as one area of extreme
importance in any discipline...and especially in the area of endurance
where we
want the horses to carry us comfortably, correct, and in balance...and for
them
to last thru many years of endurance competition!  Correct development of the
horse's muscles and frame in dressage step-by-step fashion is paramount to
their longevity.

Off to get ready for our last ride of the season...and my 5th 50!  Have a
great
week.

Sue 

*************
Sue Brown 
Tyee Farm
ARICP Certified Riding Instructor
Recreational Riding and Dressage
Marysville, Wa. 
sbrown@wamedes.com