Hi everyone,

My horse is an apply and although I'm a 'dressage-person' I started him western a couple of years ago. Because of a problem in his right front food that lasted a year my vet said it would be better not to ride him western style anymore and that dressage would be better for him.

That was no problem for me because I like dressage and so I started him dressage. But now, after 1,5 year, I didn't like where we were going. Things were not going as they should and we ended up fighting a lot while we were riding.

So I looked for another instructor and ended up with a classical rider. He's an American, living in Germany and we've had a couple of lessons of him now and I feel a big change in my horse. A positive change I happily add.
I feel my horse having more fun and relaxing a lot better.

And now I wonder. Does anyone here do classical dressage and did/do you feel your horse change for the better?

I ride classical dressage. I believe it's best for my horse because it focuses on developing a relationship between us. There is no pressure of competition. To me, it's all about that wonderful harmony that can exist between horse and rider. I also believe it's good for her physical well-being, too.
I ride classical dressage and my horse loves it. It's the best way to truly build a partnership.
I rode with someone who would have said she taught classical dressage, but the more lessons I took from her stiffer I became. So I stopped and went trail riding for a year. Now I'm looking for a new barn/trainer and have at least one person I think I can work with and develop that harmony we all look for.
I must say, I never thought there would be so much difference in dressage and classical dressage.
More than 10 years ago I stopped dressage because I couldn't stand it how I and other people were treating horses. I than learned a lot about Natural Horsemanship and loved it. Just didn't know how to apply it in dressage so tried western riding for a while and although that's nice to do swell, my heart is with dressage.
Can you imagine my surprise when I learned there is a way of riding that combines NH and dressage

like you all say, it's building on the relationship with your horse? You just work together instead of only trying to tell your horse what he has to do.

I'm so glad someone else made the connection between Natural Horsemanship and Classical Dressage. I began riding a sort of American competition dressage and then found a classical dressage trainer. I've been taking classical dressage lessons since 1999. My horse not only moves better but she even looks better. She has the topline of a stallion with a beautiful crested neck and strong back. You can see her belly muscles when she moves because she raises her back so easily now. I think the amazing thing is when we work the sitting working trot now, she's actually smooth, yet moving out more and with more impulsion; whereas she used to be really hard and bumpy.

My horse just thrives in this training. All resistance is gone and she works so hard to get it right. I'm always amazed when she extends or collects her trot just by how I use my seat and nothing else. It's been a real joy. And because she knows my seat as the primary aid now, she really responds to the slightest drop of a seatbone or the push of the seat. That also makes me feel really secure as a rider with a horse that is potentially explosive. Having my seat as the primary aid has really made me feel and be more safe while also being both stronger and quieter in my riding. It's pretty fun when I can get her to trot off without using my leg or canter just by shifting my hips...but we're still working on that. Of course we always seem to get it when the instructor isn't around.

I always have my eye out for classical dressage clinicians; although, just like with Natural Horsemanship, just because someone says they ride classical dressage or yadda yadda, doesn't mean they really do. You have to observe the clinician/instructor to determine. And you'll notice right away if he's not classical. I'm sure you both have seen what I mean.

The only bad part is that I can't put her western saddle on her anymore because of the sheer distance and amount of leather blocking the communication from the seat aid. She kind of stands there with this, 'where did you go?' body language.

OK I know this sounds really dumb, but what the heck is the difference between "Classical Dressage" and um other dressage??? I'm a jumper and thats really all I do. so can ya'll tell me? dont laugh !!!

It really is only a speed thing.
What "classical" trainers/riders try to do is have a working relationship with their horse. And train that horse using his strengths/weaknesses as a guide. So that means longer slower progress but much less strain both physically and mentally on the horse.
A "classic" teacher will use the term "circus" Dressage for any horse/rider that uses showing as their only accomplishment. Any horse through gimmicks/gadgets/short cuts can "look" like a Dressage horse. But it is through looks only and he is forced into that frame. But by not putting the time and effort into it, you can fool some of the people some of the time. It doesn't only happen in the beginning stages, GrandPrix riders do it all the time, and get rewarded for it. How? If the entire show is made up of these horse/rider combinations, the judges instead of doing the right thing[don't place anyone above 5th] do the politically correct thing and place them starting @ 1.
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the elite, the best of the best. And have been for decades. To go by their training system a horse isn't considered finished until the age of 17. So strictly using those standards it is impossible to have a "Classical/Correctly" trained horse perform in the Olympics at 9.