One of my favourite quotes from Nuno Oliveira is about the two ways to do the exercises. Firstly, the one that consists of forcing the horse to perform and, secondly, the one that consists of putting the horse first in the correct position and then giving him the maximum freedom to perform.
We have all seen number one in practice: tight neck, pulling hands, driving seat, one in which the horse does what is asked of him with little or no natural expression or confidence. The second, obviously far more difficult to achieve, is about finding a very delicate line between balance and freedom.
A good rider does not completely relax the muscles, but holds them in a way that embraces the horse without restricting him. A horse that is in balance and is moving with ease, has the right amount of tension in his body to move about with power and activity, while remaining confident that the rider will grant him the freedom to perform.
“Freedom to perform” is a concept that I find particularly interesting. Many people set the movement up and then drop the horse, i.e. they relax the contact too much, relax their leg and body too much, and the horse is left to go it alone. I call this abandoning the horse, and while it will not in anyway restrict the horse, it also does not help or guide him in the exercise.
A rider may have the horse in a state of abandonment constantly, meaning they have little or no contact, and they simply move the horse around the arena without working as one. It become a case of a rider relaxed yet ineffective on top, and a horse alone on the arena.
When Nuno Oliveira rode he was an artist and he could somehow keep the reins in loops with maintaining a connection to the horses mouth. Unfortunately not many of the mere mortals among us have this talent, and so we must find an elastic connection that is unique and specific to each and every horse we ride.
A partnership, unlike the two extremes above (either forcing, or abandoning), is based on this concept of “freedom to perform” and it is something that is established over time and with consistency. It’s about learning and feeling to which degree you can allow, without losing the balance and flow of the movement.
Let’s say you are coming around the corner to set up for an extended trot, and you half halt the horse to balance him underneath you. You must then slowly release and allow him the freedom to extend. How much do you allow? This is the art of dressage, finding that line, that amazing wonderful line of giving the horse freedom while keeping him with you.
Alternatively you could hold him in front and push (not correct). Or you could drop him completely and let him run across the arena like a hyena (also not correct). Those of you who think this just comes about on the first go are either incredibly talented, or naive. It can change from day to day, depending on how much power the horse is willing to give you, how relaxed he is, how relaxed you are, and you must learn and relearn this over and over, and establish it again and again everyday.
Stretching is the most fundamental and crucial element of training. Freedom to perform the stretch is something every rider should think about! Stretching is based on a rider's ability to know the line where they can allow the horse to reach and extend his neck without dropping him, without letting him fall on the forehand, without letting him lose the engagement behind.
I have seen riders trot out and lean forward, and let the horse stretch and say, oh wow what a great stretch, while all I see is a rider who has let the horse go “plop” and a horse that is simply running about in circles with his nose on the floor.
When you do get it. When you lean slightly forward, and you guide the rein out. When your horse reaches with his neck out and rounds his back, and you feel him increase the length and suspension and you get that amazing feeling of a stable and loose yet powerful animal, who is both with you, and engaged underneath you, well, there is nothing better.
To say that I can get that everyday, well, to be honest I can’t. Somedays I have to settle for a stretch that I know is not completely loose, and it’s on these days that I do not lift him up and push for the more difficult exercises, but spend the entire lesson working simply on establishing that connection.
“Freedom to perform:” what an amazing way to put such a wonderful and yet extremely difficult element of our wonderful sport dressage!
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Astrid Appels