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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

14. hmmm...I've been riding and training DRESSAGE horses for decades

Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:26 AM

Jul 2012

nearly 5 decades, including horses ranging from unridden to former and prospective Olympic horses, and everything in between.

I've trained individual horses from unridden through FEI levels of dressage. I have never had the need to hold a horse's head to its chest for 2 seconds.

Nor did the top Olympic coach and trainer I got my foundation from, Lockie Richards.

Nor did the top international dressage trainer I was privileged to ride in a clinic with 3 decades ago, Fritz Stecken.

Nor any of the other dressage trainers I worked with over the years.

Now will you find such a technique mentioned in *any* of the classical treatises on dressage, from Pluvinel and de la Guiruinere on.

Rolkur is an aberration: a modern technique developed by a single proponent. It is NOT representative of dressage.

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Highlight:

Ann Romney = Animal Abuser [View all] Fawke Em Jul 2012 OP

Both Mitt and Ann have no empathy whatsoever... targetpractice Jul 2012 #1

My condolences laundry_queen Jul 2012 #115

Like any animal training, dressage can be done badly. Like dog agility, dolphin shows etc riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #2

Aw, come on kctim Jul 2012 #3

A simple search would show the OP that this video has come up at least 4 - 5 other times on DU riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #4

Fellow dressage rider here - right on! cilla4progress Jul 2012 #5

I'm willing to be bet that Olympic caliber horses Fawke Em Jul 2012 #7

You're right, they're not treated harmoniously riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #21

Then why did Romney have to drug the shit out of her horse adigal Jul 2012 #73

Honestly, it was probably her trainer who doped her horse to sell it. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #93

I don't belong to PETA Fawke Em Jul 2012 #8

you are clearly totally ignorant of dressage magical thyme Jul 2012 #10

I'm an animal rescuer, too. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #13

I am well aware of the differences between classical and competition dressage magical thyme Jul 2012 #26

ROLLKUR Aerows Jul 2012 #64

the thing is, there is no evidence that the Romneys or Ebeling use rollkur magical thyme Jul 2012 #67

True Aerows Jul 2012 #69

"over-mounted trainers" Aerows Jul 2012 #47

You serious? You think Romney types are going to be patient adigal Jul 2012 #74

the Romney's are not in charge of the training magical thyme Jul 2012 #77

if the OP had even bothered to read the link, she might have noticed magical thyme Jul 2012 #60

Knowing virtually nothing about horse dressage (maybe having horse before dressage is redundant?) sad sally Jul 2012 #66

the flashy horses do take pride. they are natural show-offs. nt magical thyme Jul 2012 #68

Hmmm... I've been riding horses for YEARS and have Fawke Em Jul 2012 #6

Neither have I, nor has virtually every other dressage rider on the face of the planet riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #12

It is in competition. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #16

I'm the owner and operator of a professional, competitive dressage and combined training barn riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #22

Exactly Aerows Jul 2012 #39

hmmm...I've been riding and training DRESSAGE horses for decades magical thyme Jul 2012 #14

If you've done all these things, why can't Fawke Em Jul 2012 #17

because I don't practice it or study it magical thyme Jul 2012 #28

Thank you Aerows Jul 2012 #40

Dressage is NOT abuse -- PLEASE STOP REPEATING THIS LIE magical thyme Jul 2012 #9

What lies? Fawke Em Jul 2012 #11

Modern dressage is not simply competition. That bit you've put up is used by virtually every western riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #20

I'm a Mrs. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #25

What controversy are you talking about with the bits or bridles at "EVERY" summer Olympics?? riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #31

good god yourself magical thyme Jul 2012 #24

Ooohhh...someone's been reading. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #27

I honestly do NOT CARE whether you believe me or not magical thyme Jul 2012 #33

Have you EVER ridden a horse before? Aerows Jul 2012 #43

I hear crickets magical thyme Jul 2012 #110

When I was little I made a little chair-ball-thing that anchored to the a cat harness snooper2 Jul 2012 #61

That kind of bit certainly exerts a great deal of pressure. LWolf Jul 2012 #111

Dressage is NOT abusive Redford Jul 2012 #15

Ah... but I do know about horse training. Fawke Em Jul 2012 #18

Credentials Please. NCTraveler Jul 2012 #37

I'd like to hear some credentials, too Aerows Jul 2012 #51

"Smelling shit once isn't nearly like shoveling a barn daily." NCTraveler Jul 2012 #55

It is a broad brush Aerows Jul 2012 #56

If you do "know about horse training," then you should know better matt819 Jul 2012 #83

Question for you...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #19

Every dressage movement is something a horse does in the wild, on their own riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #23

Thank you. soccer1 Jul 2012 #29

Sure they do. Watch any horse kept in a barn overnight get turned out in the am riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #34

Okay.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #41

this country was built on the backs of horses magical thyme Jul 2012 #46

Owning horses is one thing...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #48

dressage is the foundation of every other discipline magical thyme Jul 2012 #57

I understand your point of view...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #84

dressage training is based on the horses natural behavior magical thyme Jul 2012 #90

Nobody spends "hours" drilling their horse for competitions or at competitions! riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #95

You are educating me on the ways of dressage training and I.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #100

Oh I could wax rhapsodic about the perfect horse... However, for an upper level dressage horse? riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #103

I real appreciate your detailed responses....... soccer1 Jul 2012 #105

Thanks for your patience and willingness to listen. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #106

These are old skills that would be lost if someone didn't want to do it "for human pleasure" riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #101

I appreciate your informative response but soccer1 Jul 2012 #107

I should not generalize but most Amish view their horses like tires riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #108

Have you ever been around a pissed off mule? Aerows Jul 2012 #44

It's called collection Cherchez la Femme Jul 2012 #63

the levade is natural magical thyme Jul 2012 #78

3rd photo down on the right shows a pirouette at liberty magical thyme Jul 2012 #30

I would run a new ad. The horses were listed avebury Jul 2012 #32

Exactly!! This is what the focus should be - on the RMoney's fraud with Super Hit. riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #35

That story made me sick Aerows Jul 2012 #38

She also shot up her training horse Aerows Jul 2012 #36

and this is the legitimate criticism that has been leveled at them magical thyme Jul 2012 #58

How the hell does riding a horse help M.S? amuse bouche Jul 2012 #42

Apparently, riding a horse can help MS patients with their balance soccer1 Jul 2012 #49

Now the posts are just degenerating to a level of idiocy not often seen on DU matt819 Jul 2012 #86

It helps a hell of a fucking lot, kurtzapril4 Jul 2012 #114

You mean, wild horses don't dance like this in nature? Atman Jul 2012 #45

Haven't seen any of the many horses in my area... soccer1 Jul 2012 #50

Okay, do I even have to ask... Atman Jul 2012 #53

Yes, I know you were being sarcastic.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #54

I lost my appetite for horseback riding lessons, because it occurred to me that the horses TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #52

I can understand how that could turn you off to riding magical thyme Jul 2012 #59

Silly? matt819 Jul 2012 #87

Yeah, I think it's silly. Right up there with synchronized swimming and that rhythmic gymnastic TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #104

I think so too. Cleita Jul 2012 #62

the practice of rollkur was banned a year after the linked video was taken magical thyme Jul 2012 #65

I can tell you love your horses:). Cleita Jul 2012 #71

my experience is that they do love what they are doing magical thyme Jul 2012 #76

I don't consider obedience training of dogs in the same category. Cleita Jul 2012 #79

Its probably more akin to dog obedience training than anything else. Its to make the horse a partner riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #97

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #70

I don't know anything about this sport Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #72

I think sled dog racing is different, but maybe.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #75

sled dogs occasionally die in the Iditerod magical thyme Jul 2012 #80

Yes, occasionally dogs die on the Iditarod, Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #85

Have there been no deaths in the past three years because of.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #89

I think the rules have always been pretty clear, Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #92

Thank you for your response.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #96

No, the sled dogs aren't pushed. Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #82

You can't force a horse to do it either - they'll simply lie down. They go because they want to riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #98

Oh, please matt819 Jul 2012 #81

Just to be clear.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #88

What is it with the antagonism to horses matt819 Jul 2012 #91

Of course most people who interact with horses are not abusers...... soccer1 Jul 2012 #94

Any kind of riding or pulling does not come naturally to a horse. LWolf Jul 2012 #112

Disgusting and horrific. nt Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #99

and not dressage. It was found out, elevated to authorities and banned as a practice. magical thyme Jul 2012 #109

It's not a living thing, it's property... Amerigo Vespucci Jul 2012 #102

Dressage training is not abuse. Dressage movements are natural. magical thyme Jul 2012 #113