I feel we dressage riders sign up to develop our horses to their fullest potential — but how can we be sure we’re developing our horses in the right direction?
We can’t use only competition results or progression through the levels as markers of correct development, because some horses may excel at lower levels yet never reach Grand Prix, while others may not stand out initially but become exceptional at higher levels.
Dressage is about the long-term development of individual horses, and every horse can achieve remarkable progress if we change our definition of success.
BEYOND THE RIBBONS
When I think of success in developing the best version of a horse, I envision a happy and healthy animal. This is evident in their mannerisms, eyes, ears, coat, muscle development, and overall demeanour. Does the horse enjoy being with me? Are they willing and eager to work?
I also consider my influence on the horse — am I training them in a way that fosters willingness, and rewarding them appropriately? Training should be understandable and enjoyable for the horse (even though they might naturally prefer standing under a tree).
Our goal should be to train them in a way that makes them feel good physically, balancing and gymnastically developing their bodies. Training sometimes may take longer than we anticipate. We should listen and adjust our expectations if the horse needs more time. Remember, we’re doing this for the horse’s benefit, not for our friends, ego, or kudos. Our focus should be on developing the horse to be the best it can be in the sport.
THE LONG GAME
The demands on dressage horses aren’t high-powered or fast-paced. It’s a slower developing sport compared to, say, racehorses, which need to develop blistering speed quickly and whose careers are often over by the age of five. Or cutting horses, where the intense stopping and turning take such a toll that their careers are often short-lived.
In contrast, dressage horses are just getting started by age nine. It takes that long for them to learn the full spectrum of what they need to know to be a Grand Prix horse. Then, it takes another two years to become more established and comfortable with the Grand Prix movements. By the time they are around 11 or 12, they have several more years of competition ahead, potentially until they are 18 or so.
Therefore, we need to train them with a long-term perspective, ensuring they remain happy and healthy throughout their careers. Dressage work helps keep them at their best, releasing endorphins, enhancing suppleness, and building strength. I believe that dressage, done well, is great for horses.
GREEN FLAGS
Let’s think about the indicators that we’re doing a good job for our horse’s development.
I think the way the body is developing is a good indicator of positive development, particularly coat and muscle development. After all, dressage is not only about riding but the whole management of the horse. Everything you do, from good feeding to farrier care, saddle fit and grooming is reflected in your horse’s appearance and behaviour.
Consider the outcomes of your training and how that impacts the horse’s development. When riding, you should feel that you need to do less as your training progresses. The goal is to have your horse understand your aids better, requiring smaller cues over time.
If you find yourself needing to use more aids than before, this indicates a problem. It means your horse isn’t responding well enough and is becoming less sensitive to your cues, convincing you to do more while it does less.
As you progress through the levels and the exercises become more challenging, ask yourself if you are working harder or if you are effectively addressing problems through fundamental training. Ideally, you should feel that you and your horse are developing and improving, with a sense that continued work will lead to success in the coming months.
USING COMPETITION RESULTS AS GREEN FLAGS
A strong competition result, or several over time, can definitely be a green flag, but I wouldn’t use them as the sole indicator that we’re on the right track.
Understanding why you receive certain marks from judges and why some judges might not favour your style or horse is crucial. If you take the time to understand and agree with their feedback, you can address those areas, work on them, and potentially see an improvement in your scores. This can indicate that you’re on the right path.
Additionally, if you find a certain level easier than before and feel very competent, it might be time to move to the next level. Even if your scores haven’t increased significantly, feeling more confident and competent can be a sign that you’re ready to advance and are on the right track.
RED FLAGS
Behavioural issues are probably the first thing to address, and that starts with looking at the role the rider plays in the behaviour. Horses respond to pressure and release. If we ride with constant pressure and the horse experiences relief only when they resist, they will explore that further. Horses prefer to be left alone, even when ridden. While it’s impossible to leave them alone entirely during dressage, our aim should be to use the minimum necessary aids.
By using minimal aids and giving the horse relief when they respond correctly, we stay out of their way more, guiding them with subtle cues. The best riders create energy and responses with small aids and leave the horses alone in between. If you find yourself constantly holding the reins and kicking to keep the horse going, neither you nor the horse is enjoying the experience. That’s just constant pressure.
Developing this skill set for a rider is challenging but essential. It’s easier to hold on tightly with legs and hands than to go through all the components needed to make the horse feel great. The skill of riding involves developing your understanding and being open to improvement, giving your horse a more natural way of going that they will want to repeat.
I’ve seen riders get “results” with a more forceful style, but there can be a dead end. Horses are amazing and will give everything, even if they’re not enjoying it. However, by lightening the aids and improving your skills, you can uncover a horse that is more willing and fully developed.
This process often feels worse before it feels better, and riders may feel inadequate at first. It’s easier to hold on and push, but true progress requires taking a step back to move forward. This leads to a horse that is the best version of itself, willing and capable of advancing further in the sport.
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
Horses are not our servants; they’re living creatures with their own thoughts and the ability to choose whether they want to do something or not. Most of the time, because they are wonderfully compliant animals, they will find a way to do what we ask, even if it’s uncomfortable for them. However, if we truly want to bring out the best in our horses and have them eager to work for many years, we need to consider how we can be better athletes ourselves.
We must be smart in identifying strengths and weaknesses in both the horses and ourselves. This self-assessment is crucial because a horse’s weaknesses often reflect our own. To improve, we need to work on these areas, becoming stronger and more capable.
The sport itself helps create the best version of the horse, but only if we apply our knowledge and skills as riders and horse people. By focusing on mutual development, both the horse and rider can achieve their full potential, making the journey rewarding and successful.
UNLOCKING POTENTIAL
My goal is to develop each horse so that they have a certain look that reflects all the positive attributes I’ve mentioned here.
I aim to enhance each horse’s natural beauty, including their eyes, ears, neck development, body structure, and movement. There are so many nuances in how proper development impacts how a horse moves, from their fluidity and quickness off the ground to the time they spend in the air.
The beauty of this approach is that each horse unlocks their potential as they go. There’s no need to compare yourself to others with “nicer” horses. That energy is better spent shaping your own training and management system in pursuit of a customised program that supports your horse in being a happy and healthy athlete for many years to come. That is success!
Brett Parbery is one of five expert presenters appearing at Mastery of the Horse (14 -16 June 2024). You can find out more about the event here.
You can find out more about Brett’s program, ‘Performance Riders’, here. EQ
