Biomechanics. It sounds fancy and scientific. Trainers say they emphasize biomechanics in their training, but what do they mean? More than that, why should anyone care? Merriam-Webster defines biomechanics as "the mechanics of biological and especially muscular activity," also "the scientific study of this." But what does that mean in practice? For dressage riders and [...]
'Tis the season for the November challenges, the most popular among riders being "No-Stirrup November." However, many professionals are now speaking out against this trend, citing the added pressure on the horses' backs. So is riding without stirrups so bad, or is it a good chance to develop a better seat? Developing the Seat Many [...]
In previous sections, we discussed some of the more popular expressions of classical horsemanship, including riding, work in-hand, the airs above the ground, and mounted martial arts. However, there are a few expressions that do not fit into any of these categories. Obstacles Riding with obstacles is an old piece of training the well-rounded dressage [...]
The first few parts in this series covered more of the common expressions of classical dressage, including riding, work in-hand, and airs above the ground. This last piece focuses on something we don't see often anymore, which is the truly martial art side of dressage. In the past, a major goal in dressage was to [...]
Expressions of Classical Horsemanship Part 3: Airs Above the Ground In part 1 and part 2, we discussed the expressions of regular riding and the work in hand. The third part, the airs above the ground, is probably the most recognizable expression to the public. Most people identify Lipizzans with the [...]
Expressions of Classical Horsemanship, Part 2: Work-In-Hand Last week, we started with a discussion of the riding expression of classical horsemanship. This week, we're discussing the expression of the work in-hand. There are a few styles of work in-hand: the Iberian, the Viennese, Long-Reining, and the Pillars. Each one takes a [...]
Expressions of Classical Horsemanship, Part 1: Riding Many art forms have different expressions. In classical music, there are different styles and special names for the group sizes and makeup. The same goes for ballet and other arts, including classical horsemanship. Like classical music and ballet, these expressions work with each other, [...]
As the name implies, classical dressage is a very old art form. However, many debate about how it developed since its origins in Ancient Greece, and as we look at more texts with a fresh perspective, our understanding changes. As with much history, it's not quite as clear-cut as we'd think. Origins The earliest surviving [...]
Dressage and Gaited Horses In the horse world, there are many divides that separate the disciplines. English and Western riding, dressage and hunter-jumper, driving and riding, etc. But one of the biggest divides is between gaited horses and "regular" horses. Most people who ride "normal" horses look at gaited horses as [...]
"Rise and fall with the leg on the wall." Many riders who went through Pony Club learned this ditty for remembering their posting diagonals. But why does it matter which posting diagonal we use? There are plenty of riders who have no idea which diagonal they are on, and their horses seem happy. So what [...]
