A friend told me they have to beat a horse to make it a dressage horse like Romney's.

[riderinthestorm]

12. My husband and I are pros in the dressage and eventing business.

I have nothing more to add to magical thyme's posts about dressage except that every movement you see dressage horses perform under saddle is something they perform naturally in the wild.

Every movement.

Furthermore, you can't "beat" any horse into performing at the level that Ann rMoney's horses are performing. Virtually any horse will quit long before you get those kinds of results if its because of being beat - they'll lie down, rear up, become violent at being tacked up, they won't leave the stall or be caught outside in turnout - they have a hundred ways to thwart a trainer whose abusive.

Dressage is an old "art" like fencing that's practiced by virtually everyone who rides since its the foundation of trust and harmony. At the rMoney level, yes, its big bucks but for most, its their sport and can be done relatively inexpensively. The sport thrives because of the big money owners, riders and trainers keeping this ancient art alive (and as a pro in this biz, I appreciate that) but it really is accessible to just about anyone who wants to become involved with horses.