Angelina Berger
Classical Equestrianism
Philosophy.
"It is the ability, by means of good exercises, logically structured and based on the natural laws of balance and harmony, to train the horse so that it subordinates itself to the rider´s will contentedly and with self-confidence, without any detriment whatsoever to its own natural sequence of movement."
- Anja Beran in her book "In Deference"
The classical dressage is about training the horse purely for the joy of riding. Additionally, it should benefit the horse's well-being, bring out the natural grace of each horse and develop its individual skills.
Even written traditions of the famous horseman Xenophon who lived in the 3rd and 4th century before Christ say that the harmonious cooperation of horse and rider can only succeed if both are mentally and physically in balance and connected. The invisible aids without any power and strength make the classical dressage riding unique.
A horse is not meant for success and prestige. It is a living, feeling being and this is of the utmost importance not to forget. It includes a careful balance between mutual respect and trust. Horses are like children they feel if they are treated with love and fairness. They will accept any correction if it is justified without losing their interest in pleasing their human and without losing their unconditional love if it is fairly executed and balanced with more rewards. Should the horse be treated in the opposite way he will withdraw and try to protect himself. He will show this to us in becoming angry and afraid and not cooperating anymore. If this happens then the rider or human must reflect him or herself if the horse was not prepared enough, overstrained or if the aids were simply wrong.
The classical baroque riding showed a systematical approach in horse training for the first time. It was a logically, progressive step-by-step training, individually for each horse to prevent mental and physical overload for the horse. It preserves and prolongs the soundness and health of a horse even like a physical therapy. The movements of classical dressage are to continually improve rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection with results in smoother gaits and greater soundness. It teaches the horse to use less power and to become deft in moving its body and legs. However, the main goal is to shift the combined body mass of horse and rider gradually to the hindquarters which are the stronger part of a horses body. This is achieved by using carefully selected exercises to help the horse to develop more body awareness. It brings out the very best of every horse.
Most important this kind of riding is for every horse and rider. It doesn't have to be a special breed. Any horse benefits and offers a learning experience for the rider.
Dressage Masters & Authors.
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Xenophon (427-355 BC): Greek general, the earliest European master with surviving treatises, wrote On Horsemanship which advocated the use of sympathetic training of the horse. Despite living over 2000 years ago, his ideas are still widely praised.
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Antoine de Pluvinel (1555–1620): the first of the French riding masters, author of L’Instruction du Roy en l’Exercise de Monter a Cheval, tutor to King Louis XIII, and is the first notable writer to advocate for gentle training since Xenophon
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William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle (1592–1676): Master of Horse to Charles II of England
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François Robichon de La Guérinière (1688–1751): taught the classical position still used today, introduced the flying change, and had great impact on the Spanish Riding School
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Marialva (1713-1789)
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D. de Clam (1744-1782)
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Maximilian Weyrother (1783–1833) director of the Spanish Riding School
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L.Seeger (1794-1865)
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François Baucher (1796–1873): introduced the one-tempi flying change, his method, which is still hotly contested, was based on the fact that the horse's jaw is the source of all resistance; there are two 'manners' by which Baucher is known, the first a more dominant form of riding comparable to the modern rollkur, the second more associated with 'lightness' and a lessening of the hands and legs as the horse progresses
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E.F. Seidler (1798-1865)
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Egon von Neindorff (1923–2004): author of The Art of Classical Horsemanship
Quotes.
We ride horses for the pleasure of "creating beauty"
Don't play the master all the time. The difficulty is to feel to what extent one has to intervene.
- FRANCOIS ROBICHON DE LA GUERINIERE
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Your horse should be a reliable friend, not a slave.
I don't want riders who work physically hard. Work by thinking.
- XENOPHON
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
A horse is your mirror. It never flatters you.
It reflects your temperament. It also reflects its fluctuations. Never worry about a horse; You could also worry about your mirror.
If you continuously act with your legs, you don't give the horse a chance to go completely on his own. And you could squander an advantage resulting in a lack of sensitivity and a waste of aids.
- RUDOLPH BINDINGN
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Be patient when schooling your horse.
They have no idea, why their body is feeling strange or why they are being asked to do these things. Give them time to get accustomed to the new movement pattern you are creating.
Give them time to work it out.
Impulsion is a mental and physical state of the horse to obey the rider's demands as fast as possible, to move forward, and to maintain his forward impulsion without support from the aids.
- MASTER DRESSAGE
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Hand without legs, legs without hand.
- FRANCOIS BAUCHER
Use hands and legs sparingly, and maintain balance through the seat
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Proceed so that the horse finds himself willingly into the exercise, and
not by force.
One must not begin riding by learning the rein aids, but by learning how to feel
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Make it a habit to praise when the horse
yields
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
Maintain the seat in the canter. - That's all
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
When a horse gets nervous during a new exercise, one has to calm him down during the exercise. Otherwise he will get nervous every time we ask something more or something new from him
- NUNO OLIVEIRA
One of the secrets of the flying changes is to have the horse's shoulders on the same line as the haunches. Many riders start it with the haunches coming in.
- NUNO OLIVEIRA