Dressage
is based on logic. Logic and psychology shape the partnership between
human and horse. Logic is behind a scientific approach to training and
conditioning an athlete. Everything we do or teach when working,
training, or playing with a horse has a specific purpose. It is crucial
that students of Dressage understand each purpose, and understand WHY
each element of training and technique of correct riding is important,
because each rider ultimately is the teacher and teammate for each
horse.
Unfortunately
many trainers don't want to explain, or don't have the knowledge to
explain the why of each element of training - often trainers never
learned themselves the reasons behind the techniques, so are only
teaching technique, position, aids, etc. This leads to misunderstandings
between horse and rider which quickly escalate into fighting! This is
what we want to change.
Merging the
philosophy of Natural Horsemanship with the classically correct teaching
of European Dressage,
Rayou A'Nalu Dressage™ seeks to share this next
level of partnership, horsemanship, and sport.
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Dressage Tips & Training Questions Answered HERE!
Using
our program of Logic, Lightness, Preparation and Timing takes the fight
out of training sessions, makes riding fun again for both horse and
rider, and puts horse-rider teams on a fast track to making progress and
building a stronger, safer partnership. You can have fun AND you can
get great results! Eat your cake. Trust your intuition. Ask questions!
Check back here regularly for our latest tips and answers...
Tip 21: Keep your hands straight.
Keep your hands upright, with your thumbs on top, instead of knuckles-up, as while riding a  bike or playing the piano. Proper hand positioning is not only for the "beauty" of the riders profile, it also has a bio-mechanical effect on the use of the hands and arms.
When the hands are held flat with a closed fist,
the muscles on the inside of the forearm automatically tighten. When the hands are held upright with a loosely closed fist, the muscles in the forearm will remain relaxed.
 The horse is so sensitive (especially in the mouth!) that he can feel any tiny change of the riders muscle tension or body position. So, with an incorrect hand position causing increased tension in the riders arms, the rider will become stronger in the horses mouth, without even realizing it! With the correct, upright hand position, the muscles of the forearm stay relaxed and allow the rider to create a
nice straight, smooth line between the horses mouth and the riders elbow. This soft connection allows the rider to send only intentional signals/feel through the reins to the mouth, enhancing and clarifying communication. To have a "following hand" it is also
essential to keep the wrists straight and steady, and to keep the mouth-elbow line as straight as possible. Why? Because the wrist can only make a left/right movement, interrupting the smooth line. The horses head/mouth makes a front/rear movement. In human anatomy, the
elbow joint also makes a front / rear movement, so this is the joint that must move to follow the horse! More tips...
Reader Question 3: My horse hates dressage, what do I do?
This is a question that we hear a lot, as well as the comment ‘I jump because my horse hates
dressage!’ We wonder, is it the horse that hates it? Or is it the
rider? Maybe it's both! One of the biggest problem we see in dressage is that a lot of riders and
trainers make dressage boring! And if it’s boring it's difficult to be enthusiastic. If the rider isn't enthusiastic about the work, how can the horse be expected to be enthusiastic or willing?
The answer is almost too simple: Have fun! Make dressage fun your horse and for you! Don’t just ride the same boring circles for an hour or more,
challenge yourself and your horse! Ride a lot of figures and transitions,
go and do dressage training in spaces other than the arena, use
colorful plastic markers/toys/things, use music, make every ride a challenge for
both you and your horse! Be creative. Use obstacles and fun things!
Think outside the ‘dressage’ box. More answers...
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Eden's Blog
The life and experiences of a very lucky Spanish mare named Eden, told from her unique perspective... Here you will read about her training as a young horse, being started under saddle, what she thinks of the people in her life, the excitement of her first dressage competition, and more....
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DRESSAGE TRAINING SCALE
Rhythm - Connection
Relaxation - Confidence
Contact - Communication
Schwung - Impulsion
Straightness - Balance
Suppleness - Willingness
Collection - Harmony
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d
r e s s e u r ♦ d
o m a c l a s s i c a ♦ d
r e s s a g e
A
horse and rider, dancing together in perfect HARMONY.
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