Classical music meets classical dressage - nicer to look at than competitive dressage and much better for the horse!!!
Notice how calm and collected the horses are, with no additional reins or other aggressive methods. The riders communicate with balance, posture and very subtle aids from the hands and legs, rarely visible to the spectator, but clear to the horse!
Starting at Min 6:00, there is proof that the walk has to be ridden with focus and concentration just like trot and gallop, only then it will be collected. Walk is often underestimated, but a lot of training has to be put into this basic gait, before working on collection in trot and gallop.
Equine art is different from many other forms of "riding". There is no pulling, pushing or unnecessary movements of the legs, hands, body. Therefore, it is similar to ballet - the most important instrument for the rider is the core (stomach and back muscles), impeccable posture, relaxed shoulders and stretched legs. Though it shouldn´t feel unnatural, a lot of stretching and tension will define an athletic muscular rider´s body. Try riding yourself for the first time and you will feel muscles you never knew you had 
Отредактировано Elizaveta (04-05-2015 10:47:08)
