I love watching dressage! I think that it is so beautiful and graceful. Horse and rider make it look effortless, but I am sure that it is not! What is the most challenging thing about dressage?


Huntress

That is a great question. I also love to watch some Dressage. The tests look so hard, yet beautiful. I have never done Dressage so I wouldn't beable to answer the question, hopefully someone on here can. I bet the whole darn thing is hard!

I took dressage lessons for a little while just for something new, and it was verrrry difficult. Not to mention, my horse absolutely hated it.

i think we'll stick to our jumping=)

hunterjumper_xo, I bet that it was! It looks so very graceful but I bet anything that it looks alot easier than it really is!

Huntress

I actually took some lessons in dressage when I was in high school. I didn't like it much. It just wasn't my style and it was NOT easy. It takes so much discipline for the rider and horse. I enjoyed some of the jumping, though I got chicken when my jumps moved up too high.

I rode dressage for several years and enjoyed it a great deal. My horse actually seemed to like it, as well, though I think the most challanging thing was the nerves that overcame you, right before you went in the ring, where you asked yourself... "Man, WHAT is that pattern again???" lol. Once you get going, however, it all seems to just melt away and before you know it, it's all done.

I will be entering two horses in my first dressage show this Sunday. I am a little nervous, but I think I will do fine. I will be able answer that question soon.

I LOVE dressage and if taught to you correctly is really very easy. Anybody that Jumps won't admit to being a dressage rider BUT getting the correct distance[Half Halt=Dressage]Having the correct # of strides[regularity=Dressage] Change of direction turns[Balance=Dressage] just getting off the ground[impulsion=Dressage]And how about all those auto lead changes=Dressage. It just like any other riding sport to look effortless does take hours of practice and patience, but with average horse lifespan of 30yrs what else do we have to do but enjoy them and try to get it right.

I think it sounds like you had it easy. I always did fine in training and everything. But when I did my first show, I was actually really calm about it. Unfortunately, my horse was NOT calm. She missed being with her barn mates, so for the very first time, she damn near ignored all of my commands during the show while calling to the other horses there. The only thing that kept me from last place, was that there was an... excited, stallion there that got last.

I don't think there is any 1 thing that is more challenging than the other. I find all aspects of dressage challenging, thats why I love it so much, never a dull moment.

With a young or green horse, it takes a lot of time and training to instill the basics - straightness, forwardness, contact, accuracy, calmness etc.

Moving up the levels there is always something that a horse will struggle with. My horse for example finds collection difficult, but he finds medium and extended work very easy.

For my current horse, his brain has been the most challenging thing. He is naturally talented and purpose bred for dressage, but he is so hot. Riding him is definitely a fine art...1 wrong move on the riders part and he is very unhappy. He needs to be ridden very delicately and with much care and sympathy towards his temperament.

If I had to choose the 1 most challenging thing, I would say submission and relaxation, because really, when you have those 2 things (which generally go hand in hand) you have it all. You just have to train hard for the rest to come.