Posts Tagged ‘xenophon’

Merriam Webster online defines dressage as “the execution by a trained horse of precision movements in response to barely perceptible signals from its rider.”

In the days of Xenophon 2,500 years ago, dressage was more than a sport and a hobby. At that time the skill of horses in battle and hunting were a determining influence in the outcome of a conflict and the survival of a society.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, horses were a major factor in many crucial battles that shaped the course of history. Just a couple of examples are the battle of Poitiers where Charles Martel finally broke the force of the Moslem invasion of Europe in 732 and the lifting of the Siege of Vienna by the cavalry of Jan Sobieski in 1683 when the Turks had nearly taken the city.

Xenophon, known as a lover of horses and credited with founding the discipline, expressed the guiding principle of dressage in these words: “What the horse does under compulsion…is done without understanding…and there is no beauty in it.”

Maneuvers like the levade and piaffe, when properly performed, enabled riders to create havoc among enemy troops. This teamwork between horse and rider could only be achieved by long and rigorous training. For the best results, the horses had to be trained in such a way that they were not machines dominated by their riders, but proud, courageous animals anxious to perform for love of their riders. A well trained horse could prove more strategic than a dozen foot soldiers in a battle. The sheer psychological impact of these powerful animals was helpful in turning the course of battle. They certainly were a huge help to Cortez in conquering the Aztecs who were so awed by these creatures.

Today, dressage is a refined sport pursued by hundreds of thousands. Its ideal practice is one in which both horse and rider benefit mentally and physically. Consideration of the whole horse greatly enhances dressage training. No amount of long drills and hard training can produce what the combination of technical skill and understanding yield. Fortunate is the horse whose rider pursues technical mastery as well as deep consideration of the horse as a whole.

Bayard Fox has been riding for 70 years on six continents and has ridden enough miles to circle the globe several times. He is owner and founder of Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Vacations. He and his wife also own the Bitterroot Dude Ranch where they raise and train Arabian horses.

Author: Bayard R Fox
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Dressage is an equestrian sport and art that involves a series of movements to create a balanced and ride-able horse. The first writings of dressage date back to Xenophon around 400 BC. Dressage today has evolved into a highly competitive sport with expensive, well bred horses competing for titles worldwide. When most people consider a suitable dressage mount, a warmblood or warmblood cross is the first choice. However, off track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) make willing, suitable dressage partners. We will look at some of the considerations necessary in retraining an OTTB for dressage sport.

Every year, the racing industry has tens of thousands of off track Thoroughbreds looking for new homes when their racing careers were not lucrative. With the broad availability of off track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), their inexpensive purchase price, and their proven athleticism, these off track Thoroughbreds can be retrained for second careers in many sports, including dressage. Retraining these Thoroughbreds takes time, patience, and understanding.

Career Thoroughbreds have lived a relatively narrow existence on the racetrack. Their days are very repetitive and they do not have opportunity to spend much time just “being a horse”. When you first start working with an OTTB, it is important to give them several months of let-down time so they can reacquire some of their natural activities, such as grazing with pasture mates. Many Thoroughbreds have various drugs or hormones in their system, and it is important for their body to flush these out before serious training can begin.

As with any green horse, building a solid foundation from the basics is critical. We do most of the initial work from the longe. This allows the trainer to develop herd dominance over the horse and allows the horse to begin learning his new balance without the weight of a rider. Thoroughbreds are bred to run, and generally this is their first inclination when faced with conflict or stress. For this reason, it is best to begin your longe work in an enclosed area such as a round pen. An enclosure will help prevent injury for the trainer or the horse.

Thoroughbreds on the track only have to possess a few physical skills: break from the gate fast, run fast and straight, come to a slow stop eventually. In contrast, the sport of dressage requires much more in the way of longitudinal and lateral flexibility, concentration, and obedience. Most Thoroughbreds on the track spend little time trotting, and this gait will need development in your dressage partner. The Thoroughbred’s naturally balanced canter is an asset, and the trot is the easiest gait to improve.

Initial work under saddle should consist of the same activities any green horse would need. Because Thoroughbreds tend to be very sensitive, and at times, high strung, it is important to keep work sessions low key and without tension. Thoroughbreds learn rapidly and retain lessons well, but they stop thinking clearly when stressed. They begin looking for a flight path. It is important to switch off exercises when this tension builds. Be sure your aids are not conflicting, as their sensitivity will pick up on a rider’s inconsistencies. Each horse learns differently, and it is important to discover how your individual horse learns best. One OTTB we retrained could not figure out how to trot. We began trotting him out with another horse, and he readily picked it up. Thoroughbreds on the track often work with another horse, and this method proved useful for this horse. We have worked with others that did not like the distraction of another horse close to them. It is important to help the horse transition the work on the longe to work under saddle. Kicking a horse in the ribs is not the universal horse code for “go”. It is a learned response. Because OTTBs are not ever ridden with leg aids, they must learn how to react to the leg and seat. They do, however, have a sensitivity to weight aids, as that is the main aid a jockey uses to communicate with them.

We have found that you may spend as much as a year or two in getting your horse to comfortably adapt to his new life. The first year, groundwork, general handling, and basic under saddle work are the focus of training. In the second year, outings to schooling horseshows are an excellent way to judge how your horse will handle a show scenario. Some horses develop much faster than this guideline. That is a bonus! As the trainer, it is important to train at the horse’s rate of learning to avoid stress that might trigger his flight tendency. Thoroughbreds are resilient horses, and have useful competitive careers well into their teens. Many are not in their prime until their early teens. It is not generally a problem if you have one that is slow to bloom due to their long, useful life.

Off Track Thoroughbreds make suitable dressage mounts for adult amatures and even some youth. However, it is very important to have a trainer that you work with regularly that understands Thoroughbreds. Their intelligence and sensitivity create a partner that is willing, but intolerant of rough handling. You must be firm but fair.

Lateral work comes easily for most OTTBs with which we have worked. Longitudinal (“roundness”) and lateral (“bending”) suppleness does not. The schooling figures of dressage are very beneficial to the athletic development and suppleness of these OTTBs. With the development of longitudinal flexibility in the horse, it is important to start flexibility within the gaits early on. A dressage horse must have three or four balances within each gait: working, collected, medium, extended. Asking for these transitions within gaits early on helps develop flexibility. You do not have to master every requirement at Training Level before you begin schooling First Level. Instead, you should employ the dressage exercises that will improve the horse.

Training an off track Thoroughbred for dressage is not much different than training other breeds for dressage. The first year or two is the biggest difference because it is necessary to recondition the horse to a life off the track. With care and concern for the horse, and a sympathetic trainer that understands Thoroughbreds, you can achieve many goals with an OTTB in dressage competition.

Author: Shannon McGlon
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