Cari Swanson

What is Classical Dressage?

In sixth-century B.C. Greece, Xenophon wrote the first riding manual, the classic Art of Horsemanship, in which he emphasized training the horse through kindness and reward. He recognized that training a horse required building a relationship with another being, whose integrity both physical and mental should be maintained throughout the process. This is demanding for both partners and must be achieved without losing the spirit of either.

The distinction between classical dressage and competition dressage has been the subject of a great of debate in recent years. A brief look into the 2,000-year history of equitation may help the reader put this question into perspective. Starting in the Middle Ages, horsemanship began to evolve from a purely practical and military pursuit into an art form for the entertainment and participation of the ruling classes in Europe. The first major publication on the subject of educated riding was Frederico Grisone’s Gli Ordini di Cavalcare, which appeared in 1550. Although the methods espoused by Grisone were brutal, his was the first expression of horsemanship over and above the traditional utilitarian role of transportation and war. The Italian Renaissance was characterized by vigorous intellectual, literary, and artistic growth, and the sixteenth century’s cultivated approach to horsemanship was an integral part of this movement. The Baroque period of the seventeenth century gave rise to the luxurious arts in which riding took its place alongside literature, painting, sculpture, and architecture.

The horses of the Baroque period were schooled for parades, exhibitions, and carousels held at the pleasure of the king and his court, and for the most part they were of predominantly Iberian breeding (Lusitano and Andalusian). This type of haute école (high-school) horsemanship reached its climax with the publication of Gueriniere’s book, Ecole de Cavalerie, in 1733, a book still used by the Cadre Noir of Saumur. With the French Revolution in 1789 came the decline of courtly riding, as the school at Versailles shifted its focus to military preparedness and to the education of cavalry troops, who were trained to fight rather than parade. The ideal officer’s charger had to be able to participate in the equestrian sports of the time, which were now hunting and steeplechasing, the basis for the combined-training tests of today. After court (or manège) riding lost the support of the royal courts, the venue for haute école riding moved to the European circus, a combination concert hall and riding hall that preserved the dignity of horsemanship.

Cavalry officers who were aware of the splendid equestrian traditions of the past opened the doors for François Baucher, a gifted circus rider and trainer, who managed to interest the French Army in his training methods. But by this time, the equestrian world had fundamentally changed. The 1800s brought a new pragmatic approach to riding with the concept of an “all-round horse.” It was at this time that Frederico Caprilli (1868-1907) advanced his training methods in which the rider’s forward seat was emphasized to allow the horse natural freedom in galloping and jumping. Nowadays, competitive dressage (or haute école riding) is done primarily for competition, dating from the 1912 Olympics, which focused, however, on testing the horse as an effective and obedient charger, not as an expression of art.

All thinking riders should be aware of this history and the evolution of horsemanship. On the one hand, the focus is on functionality, technical precision, and the rules of competition, but on the other, the rider’s goal is also to create beauty and art for the pleasure of the audience. Each approach has its place, but the pressures of modern competitive dressage tend to place an emphasis on technique, but all great riders know that must develop communication with their equine partners. They must strive for balance between the mastery of technical execution and the development of artistic expression. True harmony with the horse can be achieved when the rider balances the execution of a movement with the feeling of oneness with the animal. It is at that juncture that the horse and rider have transformed technique into art.

In searching for ordered movement, one risks producing some form of mechanization instead of maintaining the purity of the horse’s natural paces. Some horses, of course, have a naturally powerful and elastic way of going, whereas others will look more ordinary, but both types can be trained to improve their athleticism, thereby narrowing the gap in their performance. The aim of training must always be to make the horse look more beautiful.

Kids Clinic at Windrock Farm all Summer

Ten lucky kids can sign up for the Kids Clinic at Windrock Farm this summer,

bring your pony or horse or lease one of ours to learn how your horse thinks, how to ride in balance with confidence,

ride on trails, compete in monthly competitions at the farm for ribbons and prizes.

contact cari@cariswanson.com to sign up

Museum of Natural History Exhibits the Horse May 17-Jan 5, 2009

The Horse will examine the powerful and continuing relationship between the horse and humans. The exhibition will explore the origins of the horse family, extending back over more than 50 million years; examine early interactions between horses and humans that led to horse domestication; and see how horses have, over time, changed warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets of human life. The Horse showcases spectacular fossils and cultural objects from around the world—including many from the Museum’s extraordinary collections. This exhibition will include videos, computer interactives, hands-on activities, and touchable casts.

Horse saddle
Sakha Republic of Russia (part of Siberia)

© AMNH / Denis Finnin

“The American Museum of Natural History has long focused its research and outreach efforts on the interactions between humans and the natural world, between science and society,” said Museum President Ellen V. Futter. “In keeping with that tradition, The Horse will celebrate this magnificent animal while presenting one of the most fascinating stories in the history of life on Earth—the close and complex relationship between horses and humans. The exhibition will show how the two species have influenced each other through the ages and explore the integral role the horse has played in the history of humanity and civilization.”

Celestial horse; bronze figurine
China, Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.)

© AMNH / Denis Finnin

The Horse will showcase spectacular fossils and cultural objects from around the world-including many from the Museum’s extraordinary collections. Highlights include a diorama of horse evolution, the horse in art from the Paleolithic to the present, horse gear and armor from 15th-century Germany, and a horse-drawn fire engine from the 19th century. The exhibition also examines exciting new archaeological discoveries concerning the domestication of the horse and the role of horses in sport from early forms of fox hunting to modern polo, the Triple Crown, and the Olympics.

The Byerley Turk; hand-colored lithograph

Numerous interactive stations throughout the exhibition will invite visitors to measure their strength in horsepower; examine different gaits of a horse by looking through a zoetrope—a device that turns still images into moving ones—based on photos by famous 19th century photographer Eadweard Muybridge; and to learn about the latest developments in the study of horse biology and the role of the horse in modern society. Throughout the exhibition, visitors are introduced to unusual objects and asked to identify them, including such items as a Roman horse shoe, a stirrup, a bit ornament, and a whip used in buzkashi—a sport on horseback played in Central Asia.

Tony Mason Clinic at Windrock Farm

Tonys’ Tips – From Tony Mason.

There is no Dressage without Geometry.  Start with the Straight line.  The first part of Balance is in the steady going forward without undue effort.   Over riding is the first problem and ninety percent of the difficulties are created by  “over work means lost balance”.  The scales of the riders Seat must be firm in their sitting and judgement as in the Scales of Justice.  Two evenly tuned, rounded antennae  Suddeness will often kill the Balance of the Straight Line as much as will, a misguided and  over confidant Hand.  The Balance and the Straight  Line are as brother and sister , as close friends or the happiest of Lovers.

contact cari@cariswanson.com for dates and times

Cosmo –Irish Sport Horse

Stunning imported Irish Sport Horse, grandson of King of Diamonds, elastic supple movement, excels in dressage and jumping, super eventing prospect, talent to go advanced, a wonderful personality, easy to work with, you want him in your family

Cosmo was the star of the clinic last weekend demonstrating his super temperament and  athletic ability.  His eye catching movement was noticed by all.  Contact cari@cariswanson to schedule an appointment to try him.

Successful Clinic at Oakendale Farm

Over a dozen horses and riders turned out for an informative clinic at Oakendale on a beautiful February day.  The focus was on how to effectively communicate with your horse.  This photo is an example of how the riders learned to bend the neck of their horses while mounted.  Essentially a carrot stretch from the saddle, this is a wonderful way to demonstrate to the rider that the horse can bend and flex his neck.

Some of the problems we solved included control the haunches, keeping a respectable distance from the horse, placing the head down, maintaining the attention of the horse, and learning to read the horse’s body language.   Every horse improved after learning the new excercises.  In fact the horses were much calmer and attentive to their owner after the work.

Ruben Morales in Brasil

Ruben has a unique way with all equines, horses, donkeys, mules and even zebras.  He has a talent to feel the animal and “read” his mind.  This is an innate ability which makes everything Ruben does around horses look easy but care should be taken to consider safety the number one priority at all times.  And remember, each horse is an individual so if one system is not working try another.

Training your horse

When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient.
When you are short sighted, let me teach you to see.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful.
When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.
When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.
When you are self absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you humility.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion.
When you are tired, let me carry the load.
When you need to learn, let me teach you.
After all, I am your horse.

****And now, the REAL story……..****

(by Mary Green)
When you are tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave NOW.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you can catch me.
When you are shortsighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I am hiding.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you that herbivore’s kick MUCH faster than omnivores.
When you are angry, let me teach you how well I can stand on my hind feet, because I don’t FEEL like cantering on my right lead today, that’s why.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that, mostly, you are the maid service.
When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to PAY ATTENTION. I TOLD you about those lions in the woods.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you what 1200 lbs of YAHOO-let’s-go suitably inspired event horse can do.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion. Let’s do lunch. Also, breakfast and dinner.
When you are tired, let me remind you of the 600 lbs of grain that needs to be unloaded.
When you are feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of “Veterinary Services, additional”.

“True Horsemanship Through Feel”

This is an excellent book by Bill Dorrance and Leslie Desmond. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning how horses think and how to communicate with them in a productive way. A horse’s self preservation instinct in natural and my grandfather always said it was almost impossible to teach someone feel. Each horse is an individual and reacts to peoples energy, he said “beware of anyone who makes a generous kind horse angry”. Horses read people just as people read horses.Bill says “There is always a rightful place for a horse to exercise his concern for self-preservation. It is important to remember that this is the horse’s right. When it’s up to the horse, he won’t do what isn’t natural to him anyway, and of course, self-preserving actions are right at the top of the list of things that are natural to him.”Self preservation is his main job. And it’s your job to learn how to handle those situations when they come up, and to get back that better feel you had going with the horse before his instincts caused him to stop feeling of you. That way you can finish the other job you had to do, whatever it was, and when you put the horse up you’d both be feeling good again. And there’d be no need to mentiona anything that wasn’t the best about that horse.”

Horses in Brasil

Dunits Kickin Ace is a very special horse, he is a world champion reining horse from Medalho do Ouro Farm in Sao Roque Brasil. My good friend Ruben Morales works with this farm in South America. No matter what disipline you ride, the key to successful riding is the communication between rider and horse. Here is a perfect example of clear communication, notice the rider has no bridle! He is riding with his body which is what we should all aspire to.