Sorry for taking so long to post another blog...it's show season for the dressage circuit so it's been a little crazy! But it has given me gobs of material for new blogs. In fact, I have enough to do a 4-part series about the dressage show scene--One for the money; Two for the show; Three to get ready; and Four to go.
Part 1 - One for the Money
This is my first year on the larger dressage show circuit. In previous years, my daughter did local shows at the training and first level tests. Well, this year she moved up to the FEI Junior level and is trying to secure a position for the regional team for the North American Junior and Young Riding Championship (NAJYRC).
There are strict requirements on the number of national and international judges and their certification level for the test to be eligible for submission to qualify for the team so only a few shows are eligible. And show locations are by no means close by...and run over a number of days. (More on this in Part 2)
So it means traveling with rider, horse, coach, stuff, and more stuff, and even more stuff!! (More on that in Part 3)
The funny thing about all this is that an actual dressage test is only about 5 minutes long. And for a single show, my daughter rode 1 test a day across 3 days. That equated to about 15 minutes of "show time" or about $10,000+ per hour. Yes, that's right - roughly $3,000-$3,500 for the show. How can this be you ask. Well, let me tell you. First, there is the show registration that includes registration and show fees,and a stall for the horse and a stall for all the tack. That's right. A second stall just to hold all the stuff, and more stuff. And then there are two hotel rooms and meals for the family and coach. And since you have to be there a day before the tests for the "jog" (This is where the rider hand-trots the horse up and down a hard surface so an FEI official can assess the soundness of the horse. If there is any question, there is a vet present to do an inspection), you need to be there 1 to 2 days prior to the first test.
Example of a "Jog" at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky
After that, there are coaching fees on top travel expenses unless you're lucky enough that your coach cuts you a break (ours did thank goodness).
Finally, there is also a trailer fee to get the horse to the show. And luckily we had our own trailer or it would have been much more depending on the distance to the show (the international show we did would have been around $1800 just to trailer the horse both ways as well as additional $100 vet fees for a health assessment and $15 agricultural import/export fees).
Once you get there, some places are so large that you may even need to rent a golf cart. We needed to do that for the show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. It was easily a 25-30 minute walk from the stable to the riding arena. So add another $400. (But, as you can see, it's one nice venue for the kids to show!! - Yes this is the same venue as in the video above where the 2010 World Equestrian Games were held.)
So lets tally it up:
~$1000 show fee and registration
~$500 horse stall and tack stall
~$500-800 for two hotel rooms (trust me - you don't want to cheap out on these. We tried and paid dearly for it. At one show, we had to stay in a dump that should have been condemned!!)
~$350 food costs
~$300-400 in gas (or $600-$1800 in horse shipping fees)
~$400 golf cart (four person)
~$200 miscellaneous costs (shavings for the stall, road tolls, snacks, etc.)
~$115 vet assessment and agricultural import fees (international show)
So I would estimate a range for the cost of a show to be anywhere from $3,000 to $3500 or more if you also have to pay to have someone trailer your horse.
It's called the "Sport of Kings" for a reason. All of this just reaffirms my status as a Dumb (...and broke) Dressage Dad!
Cheers,
DDD
Dressage for Dads is my way to help myself and other dads learn about dressage, learn about horses, and learn about daughters (or sons). My pseudonym, DDD, stands for Dumb Dressage Dad, because that is exactly how I feel most of the time. And while I'm learning, I'm continually reminded how little I know and how much more there is to learn. So if you are also a DDD and care to take this journey with me, welcome aboard.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
A Visit from the Dentist
Floating Teeth
Everyone who likes going to the dentist please raise your hand…err, your hoof. Well I don’t see any hands or hooves up (not surprisingly).
Then using a rope and pulley system, the head is lifted and held in position so the vet can have a close look at the teeth. Doing a hand and a visual inspection, the vet assesses the teeth, looking for hooks, potential fractures, and any other problems.
Then it's to the drill assembly and the diamond chip grinding wheel. The wheel shown below is for the top teeth. In the next picture, the vet grinds down any sharp edges on the outside of the top molars.
A different flat grinder wheel is for the bottom teeth. An assistant holds the tongue to the side so the vet can grind the lower teeth. After a final inspection to make certain everything is okay, the horse's head is lowered and the speculum is removed. The horse is given an hour or so to recover from the anaesthetic.
Well, there it is. My first dental checkup...for a horse. The vet asked me if I wanted to stick my hand in and feel the molars but I declined. It was more than enough just having to help hold the horse's head and harness under the chin so it didn't slip. Besides, I didn't want to lose anything...
And I certainly lost more than enough having to pay for it...
As always,
DDD
Everyone who likes going to the dentist please raise your hand…err, your hoof. Well I don’t see any hands or hooves up (not surprisingly).
This was my first time seeing how horses get their teeth floated at the
barn. Wow, and I thought going to the dentist was rough on me. It’s a
whole different ballgame for horses. In the past, when I talked about teeth floating
, it was because someone really had to go to the bathroom – so bad,
their teeth were floating. Not anymore…now I have a whole new perspective on what it means to have your teeth floating.
Who knew that horse teeth, unlike people teeth, continue to grow for the life of the horse. So horses have their teeth floated, or should have their teeth floated about once a year.
So what is floating and why is it necessary? In nature, as they grazed the teeth would wear down as fast as they grew. So with grazing all day in nature, the teeth generally stay flat. However, with today’s horses being fed special feeds such as grains and pellets, their rear chewing teeth (molars) tend to get sharp edges when they wear down. And their teeth also don’t wear down as fast as they grow because they are not grazing (chewing) as long during the day and have less jaw movement when they chew feed.
Who knew that horse teeth, unlike people teeth, continue to grow for the life of the horse. So horses have their teeth floated, or should have their teeth floated about once a year.
So what is floating and why is it necessary? In nature, as they grazed the teeth would wear down as fast as they grew. So with grazing all day in nature, the teeth generally stay flat. However, with today’s horses being fed special feeds such as grains and pellets, their rear chewing teeth (molars) tend to get sharp edges when they wear down. And their teeth also don’t wear down as fast as they grow because they are not grazing (chewing) as long during the day and have less jaw movement when they chew feed.
The diagram shows what I mean about how molars wear down to produce sharp edges. The top molars get sharp edges on the outside against the cheeks while the lower teeth get sharp edges on the inside.
Uneven wearing of the teeth can cause all sorts of problems with eating and biting and digestion. And could even result in colic. But it can also cause problems riding because of the bit in the mouth. The horse may pull or tilt the head to the side when being ridden or may have difficulties in bending.
Below are both a before and after picture of the top molars of an actual horse that had its teeth floated. Note how the outside edges are sharp edges. Also see the hook on the front molar that can affect the bit in the mouth which could make the horse more difficult to ride.
Now that we know the what and why, how does the vet float a horse’s teeth? It’s an interesting process
and one that took me back a little when I watched it this week. With a cordless power drill (quite literally) and a diamond chip grinder (or
a manual float file - which is a simply a rasp on a long handle), the vet literally grinds (files) the teeth down.
But first the
anaesthetic…and then the vet attaches the speculum (brace) to keep the mouth open. The speculum goes over the front teeth and is attached to the horse's head with a harness. The vet turns two screws which opens the horse's mouth wide enough to inspect and work. It looks comfortable, doesn't it.
After attaching the speculum, the vet gives the horse's mouth a quick
rinse when the horse's head is down to get rid of food particles before the inspection. Notice the big syringe in the background being filled with water to squirt into the mouth.
Then using a rope and pulley system, the head is lifted and held in position so the vet can have a close look at the teeth. Doing a hand and a visual inspection, the vet assesses the teeth, looking for hooks, potential fractures, and any other problems.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Risky Business
Horses are very large animals that can do immense damage to both person
and property. And damage and injury can be completely unintentional on the part
of the horse or it may be purposeful. Everyone is aware of the potential for
injury in the event of a fall. As such, helmets are generally mandatory for
participation in most organizations and facilities and most also have riders
sign waivers. Just look at Christopher Reeves (Superman) who is a quadriplegic after
falling off a horse. And he was wearing a helmet!
Finally, I was helping to load a rather cantankerous horse onto a trailer by tapping it on the rear end. Once on the trailer, I quickly closed the butt bar and started closing the door. I was momentarily standing behind the horse at close range – big mistake! The horse kicked out and, if I hadn’t had the door already part way closed, it would have shattered my knee. Luckily, it just kicked the door. I learned a very valuable lesson that day – if at all possible, never, never, never stand directly behind a horse! One kick is all it would take.
Granted there is inherent risk in anything we do from driving in a car
to standing in a bathtub. But some activities are just inherently more risky
than others. Horse riding and being around horses is such an activity. Beyond
the obvious dangers such as falling off, there are several ways to minimize the
risk of injury.
Horses kick; horses bite; horses buck. Horses are just
unpredictable so you need to be cautious.
For example, open-toed sandals are not idea foot attire around the
barn. One accidental misstep by the horse and… Besides, horse manure and hay is
not all that comfortable between the toes. Also, when leading a horse with a
lead line, never wrap it around your hand because if the horse spooks and runs,
it could take you with it or give you a serious case of rope burn. You’re no
match for a 1200lb-1500lb+ animal.
But sometimes things happen even to those who are most careful. My
dressage daughter has had her fair share of events and I have had my fair share
of close calls that could have been much more serious. Below are a few examples
for thought. First, my daughter was bending over in front of her horse stall putting
his evening food down for later feeding. And the horse, trying to get her
attention, just nipped at her. Unfortunately, and completely by accident, the
horse caught her ear. Well the ear was cut and bleeding.
The doctor glued and taped it. Fortunately, she was wearing a head band because it was a pretty cold day or a doctor might have had to stitch it back on. But she's pretty proud of this "battle wound"!
The doctor glued and taped it. Fortunately, she was wearing a head band because it was a pretty cold day or a doctor might have had to stitch it back on. But she's pretty proud of this "battle wound"!
Another time when she was seven, she was carrying a saddle and walking
beside a horse that was in the cross-ties. The horse cow-kicked her (kicked out
to the side), catching her leg at calf-level and giving her quite the bruise.
Luckily, it missed the knee.
Finally, I was helping to load a rather cantankerous horse onto a trailer by tapping it on the rear end. Once on the trailer, I quickly closed the butt bar and started closing the door. I was momentarily standing behind the horse at close range – big mistake! The horse kicked out and, if I hadn’t had the door already part way closed, it would have shattered my knee. Luckily, it just kicked the door. I learned a very valuable lesson that day – if at all possible, never, never, never stand directly behind a horse! One kick is all it would take.
So this is just a cautionary tale that people need to be careful around
these animals. A good dose of common sense will go a long way. But even with
that, sometimes, s**t happens. I guess that’s why we have insurance (horse,
injury and liability, health, etc.).
DDD
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
That Damn Russian Judge - Scoring in Dressage
Unlike tests that we have taken in the past, a dressage test entails a
very specific sequenced pattern of movements, gaits and paces to demonstrate
the horse-rider team. Just like school though, tests are level-specific and
require movements appropriate for that level. The higher the level, the more
complex the movements required and the higher the expectation from the
judge(s).
FEI Junior Individual Test
On each specific movement listed, the judge (or multiple judges as you move up the training levels) evaluates it on a 10-point scale from poor to excellent. Multiple judges are used at higher levels of competition to help to further remove the potential (perception) for subjective bias in evaluation and scoring. Because some movements are more difficult than others, they would be given more weight in the scoring, for example, counted twice. This is listed in the coefficient column of the sample test above.
They may not take into account any advice or observations from persons
who are not members of the ground jury or anything that they know
beforehand about the competitors or their horses.
1. The mark for each movement should establish whether the movement
is performed sufficiently (5 or above) or insufficiently (4 or below).
2. In a movement which must be carried out at a certain point in the
arena, it should be done at the moment when the competitor's body is
above this point, except in transitions where the horse approaches the
letter from a diagonal or perpendicular to the point where the letters are
positioned. In this case, the transitions must be done when the horse’s
nose reaches the track at the letter so that the horse is straight in the
transition.
nodding, stumbling, shying, etc.
by tension (stiff back, swishing tail, etc.), one must go down 1 point on
the quality of the movements and in the mark for submission.
judge – and ends after the final salute. The judging of EC freestyles
begins at the move-off after the halt.
8. If an athlete at FEI Junior level or higher rides an FEI test in a snaffle
bridle, the judge must make a note to that effect on the test sheet.
the competition, competitors should be aware that they may be asked,
with due notice, to advance their showing times.
Sources:
Equine Canada/Dressage Canada - see useful links
FEI - see useful links
But how are these tests marked? Dressage is not like horse jumping
where it is clear for all to see that you have a clean round under time or you
have one or more faults by knocking down a rail and/or being over time. In dressage,
just like in figure skating and gymnastics, scoring is based on a judge’s
perception and interpretation. As such, there is always a subjective component.
And as a DDD, I just hate the subjective nature of things because it is ripe
for favoritism and abuse. I’m not saying it occurs, but one never knows.
Moreover, there is always someone who disagrees with the judging…most often the
people who don’t win!
Scoring and judging is based on a fairly rigorous criteria
involving scoring of specific movements during a “test” evaluating the horse,
rider, and horse-rider interaction. The test is a set sequence of movements at
various gaits and paces moving the horse-rider team to various points in the
dressage arena. Tests vary across countries but there is an international test
standard for all those competing to be on a regional or national team to
compete internationally. These are set by FEI (see useful links). The test
difficulty in terms of movements and horse-rider interaction (see training
pyramid in previous post) varies across the level of the rider from beginning
(training level at local shows) all the way up to grand prix (FEI international
Olympic-level competition).
Since the FEI tests are standardized across the world of Dressage, it
is probably the best one to provide an example. The link below takes you to a pdf file of the Junior
Rider Individual FEI test. Or take a look at the picture below for one much more in tune with reality.
On each specific movement listed, the judge (or multiple judges as you move up the training levels) evaluates it on a 10-point scale from poor to excellent. Multiple judges are used at higher levels of competition to help to further remove the potential (perception) for subjective bias in evaluation and scoring. Because some movements are more difficult than others, they would be given more weight in the scoring, for example, counted twice. This is listed in the coefficient column of the sample test above.
In addition to scores for each movement, there are scores for the
evaluation of the overall ride, a series of collective marks.
The overall test score is the sum of scores for each movement and
collective marks once any weighting has been applied minus any deduction in
marks for specific errors made by rider and/or horse. This total is divided by
the total possible score to calculate a percentage score – the final score
(calculated to 3 decimal places). If there are multiple judges, then the final percentage
score is the average across all judges.
What is the judge looking for when assigning the score for each
movement? The following provides an example. It is an excerpt from the Dressage
Canada rule book on JUDGING A TEST as to what judges look for in the movements
at each testing level.
ARTICLE E 9.7 JUDGING A TEST
Judges are personally responsible for their decisions and
classifications.They may not take into account any advice or observations from persons
who are not members of the ground jury or anything that they know
beforehand about the competitors or their horses.
1. The mark for each movement should establish whether the movement
is performed sufficiently (5 or above) or insufficiently (4 or below).
2. In a movement which must be carried out at a certain point in the
arena, it should be done at the moment when the competitor's body is
above this point, except in transitions where the horse approaches the
letter from a diagonal or perpendicular to the point where the letters are
positioned. In this case, the transitions must be done when the horse’s
nose reaches the track at the letter so that the horse is straight in the
transition.
3. If a problem appears once, it may be treated lightly by the judge;
if it
appears successively, it will be scored more harshly each time, i.e.nodding, stumbling, shying, etc.
4. Grinding teeth: If a horse is content and happy to work, then it is
not a
resistance and does not need to be penalized. If the grinding is causedby tension (stiff back, swishing tail, etc.), one must go down 1 point on
the quality of the movements and in the mark for submission.
5. Horses that get their tongues over the bit or perform with an open
mouth shall be marked down.
6. In the freestyle, the timing of the test begins in the first stride
after the
salute – which must be made inside the dressage arena and facing thejudge – and ends after the final salute. The judging of EC freestyles
begins at the move-off after the halt.
7. The judging of EC and FEI freestyles begins with the halt.
8. If an athlete at FEI Junior level or higher rides an FEI test in a snaffle
bridle, the judge must make a note to that effect on the test sheet.
9. No competitor can be required to ride prior to his/her scheduled
time,
however, as a matter of courtesy and to aid in the efficient running ofthe competition, competitors should be aware that they may be asked,
with due notice, to advance their showing times.
10. All movements and certain transitions which have to be marked by
the
judge(s) are numbered on the judge’s sheets.
So this was my attempt, however feeble, to provide some idea of the
scoring and how scores are given. And since I’m still confused on all the
nuances that go into scoring, I remain:
Humbly yours,
DDDSources:
Equine Canada/Dressage Canada - see useful links
FEI - see useful links
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Pyramid Power
While likely not the same as when the Toronto Maple Leafs
coach, Red Kelly, put pyramids under the players bench during the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1976 to
harness pyramid power and lead his Maple Leafs to victory, the dressage pyramid
is also a model for success and victory. (Author’s note: the Toronto Maple
Leafs have not won a Stanley Cup since 1967 – the longest drought of any team
in the NHL. So obviously it didn't work in hockey)
Relaxation
Collection
At the top of the pyramid is the collection of the horse. It is, essentially, the culmination of all the levels below. The horse is more equally weighted, shifting more weight to the hind legs; the horse tracks straight; the steps are shorter with more flashiness, height, and energy in the hind legs; the weight shifts to the back making the horse more round, there is more energy propulsion from the hind pushing the horse forward onto the bit; the horse is balanced and relaxed as is the rider; and the rhythm of the gait remains consistent in pace changes within gaits.
Summary
It’s an awful lot to keep in mind all at once. And as a DDD, I can't really see all the nuance in the collection and the work that has gone into it other than the ride looks very elegant, controlled, energetic and relaxed. It’s kind of like how the US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart defined pornography in 1964:
United States Dressage Federation (see Useful Links)
Paul Gewirtz, "On 'I Know It When I See It'", Yale Law Journal, Vol. 105, pp. 1023–1047 (1996)
The training pyramid for dressage illustrates the building of
dressage skills for the horse and rider team. It is a useful model to show how
new skills build upon previous skills. As the team advances and works on more difficult maneuvers, they
build on the foundational skills at lower levels of the pyramid. Just like in a
pyramid, the advanced skills require a solid foundation on which to sit upon
and this can only occur with the mastery of the lower skills.
But as a DDD, it’s difficult to see the nuances of each of these
building blocks. So a “simplified” description of each working from the bottom
up is helpful. The next illustration of the pyramid helps to show the
positioning of the horse to help illustrate each level.
Rhythm
Rhythm, not to be confused with speed or tempo, is how the feet fall in
any gait. They need to fall in a specific pattern that was described in the
previous post “Going through the Paces”. The walk needs to be a 4-beat rhythm,
the trot a 2-beat rhythm with a suspension between each beat, and the canter a
3-beat rhythm with a suspension after the 3rd beat that counts as
the 4th (silent) beat. See the video of the song “We Will Rock You”
by Queen in the previous post. The USDF defines rhythm as:
“the characteristic sequence of footfalls and phases of a given gait. For purposes of dressage, the only correct rhythms are those of the pure walk, pure trot and pure canter (not those of amble, pace, rack, etc.) Not to be confused with “tempo,” “cadence” or miles per hour."
The key to good rhythm is balance of the horse and the horse-rider
team.
When the horse is relaxed, the horse can work better because there is
little tension. The horse is able to move better and willingly “listen” to the
rider. The two components in relaxation, elasticity and suppleness, helps the
horse with its rhythm and its ability to move up the pyramid. Being relaxed allows
the horse to better meet the different paces in each gait, both lengthening and
shortening its strides as it moves through collected to extended paces while
maintaining its rhythm (elasticity). Bending (laterally – lateral suppleness)
and extending (stretching – longitudinal suppleness) allows the horse to adjust
gaits and paces and perform circles of different diameters while keeping its
rhythm.
Connection
Connection is the contact between the rider’s hands and the horse’s
mouth, through the reins and bit. It is not the rider pulling on the reins but
pushing the horse from behind onto the bit. It is not done through the hands
but through the leg and seat. The rider must be sitting correctly with arms
moving in time with the horse’s head. Since connecting is a push from behind,
not a pull on the reins, the horse will look compact or “rounded”, having a
higher frame from pushing from the rear.
Signs to look for to show good relaxed contact include the horse
chewing on the bit and the horse’s mouth being moist with saliva (dripping
saliva – kind of gross to me but…).
Impulsion
Impulsion is the pushing power, from the hind quarters. Normally a
horse distributes their weight about 60% front and 40% back. Good impulsion
tries to adjust the weight distribution closer to a 50/50, with more weight
than normal on the hind legs. This both develops muscles in the back end and
gives the horse the strength to push forward. One of the ways to work on
developing good impulsion is through “half halts”. A half halt is the rider
signaling the horse to slow or stop but then releasing before the horse does
so. This brings in the hind quarter down distributing more weight to it, making
the horse look compacted and “round” and coiling the horse like a spring with
the energy to explode forward.
Straightness
This means the horse’s ability to carry itself equally on both the
right and left side. Like people, horses are naturally stronger on one side or
the other. Essentially, it’s like “dog legging”, or where the back end of a dog
is slightly to the right or left of the front. If you have ever seen a dog
running towards you, it usually runs with the back legs a little off from the
front legs. You can see it in some cars and trucks that really need a wheel
alignment or have a bent frame. If the horse moves straight, then the hind
hooves track straight with the front hooves. At the top of the pyramid is the collection of the horse. It is, essentially, the culmination of all the levels below. The horse is more equally weighted, shifting more weight to the hind legs; the horse tracks straight; the steps are shorter with more flashiness, height, and energy in the hind legs; the weight shifts to the back making the horse more round, there is more energy propulsion from the hind pushing the horse forward onto the bit; the horse is balanced and relaxed as is the rider; and the rhythm of the gait remains consistent in pace changes within gaits.
Summary
It’s an awful lot to keep in mind all at once. And as a DDD, I can't really see all the nuance in the collection and the work that has gone into it other than the ride looks very elegant, controlled, energetic and relaxed. It’s kind of like how the US Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart defined pornography in 1964:
I shall not today
attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced
within that shorthand description ["hard-core pornography"]; and perhaps
I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it,
and the motion picture involved in this case is not that. (Justice Potter
Stewart, concurring opinion in Jacobellis v. Ohio 378 U.S. 184 (1964),
regarding possible obscenity in The Lovers. ) [Emphasis added.]
So you may not be able to point to the specifics of a good ride or a
bad ride, but you know it when you see it.
DDD
Sources:
Dressage Academy (see Useful Links)United States Dressage Federation (see Useful Links)
Paul Gewirtz, "On 'I Know It When I See It'", Yale Law Journal, Vol. 105, pp. 1023–1047 (1996)
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Going through the Paces
Paces and Gaits
The paces in the canter mirror the paces in the trot moving from collected to working to medium and extended in both the flashiness of the joint movement and distance covered. Like both the walk and trot, the horse and rider should show good balance and a consistent rhythm within and across paces.
The canter can be changed from a right canter to a left canter and back
again. These would be a canter, a counter-canter, and lead changes. So how do
you know if the horse is cantering or counter-cantering? The last, extended
step (frame 5 in the picture) would be the inside leg. If the horse is
traveling clockwise, it would be the right leg. If the horse is traveling
counter-clockwise, it would be the left leg. And a lead change would be to
switch from right to left canter or left to right canter done usually when the
direction changes.
Dressage movements are done in three different gaits, the walk, the
trot, and the canter. While even a dumb dressage dad can tell the difference
between these three gaits, there are simple cadence counts that can assist.
Moreover, there are also a number of paces within each gait that will make the horse/rider
appear to be moving slower or faster by covering more or less distance. I say
“appear” because regardless of the pace within each gait, the rhythm should
remain consistent (like a metronome). And rhythm is the foundation for all
dressage work as outlined in the dressage training pyramid (to be discussed in
a later post). Finally, throughout all gaits and paces, the rider and horse
must constantly show good balance.
The Walk
The walk is a 4 beat cadence, counting – 1, 2, 3, 4 – to follow the
steps. Starting with beat 1, the horse’s back foot is stepping into or ahead of
the hoof print left by the front foot on the same side. Beat 2 is that front
foot stepping ahead. Beats 3 and 4 are the same but on the other side.
There are four different paces within the walk: collected walk, medium
(or regular) walk, extended walk, and free walk. Remember that the rhythm
(tempo) stays the same; it’s just the distance covered, head and neck position,
and leg movement that changes.
The collected walk covers the least distance but shows much more action
in the joints (or flashiness). The back hoof should step into or just ahead of
the front hoof. And since less ground is covered, the movement of the joints is
much more pronounced, with more action in the hocks and higher stepping. The
neck is high with the head held vertical (an inverted V).
The medium walk covers more distance and shows less action in the
joints. The back hoof steps ahead of the front hoof mark. The joint action is
not as pronounced because the rider has to keep the same rhythm while covering
more distance. The neck is lower and the head is held in a more natural
position.
The extended walk covers the most distance and shows the least action
in the legs. The back hoof steps well ahead of the front hoof mark because of
the greater distance being travelled. And, accordingly, the flashiness is muted
because of the stretching required to cover more distance. The neck is held
lower, almost horizontal, almost horizontal as they cover greater distance.
Finally, the free walk is a relaxation walk for the horse that allows
the horse to stretch out the head and neck. The hind feet again well ahead of
the front hoof mark as the horse stretches. It is a good sign if the neck and
head are long and low as the horse stretches.
The Trot
The trot is counted on a 2 beat cadence, with opposite front and hind
legs. In between each beat is a slight suspension where all four feet are above
the ground. Like the walk, the horse and rider should show good balance and a
consistent rhythm within and across gaits.
(Source: USEF. (2014). Chapter on dressage division, Subchapter DR-I
dressage governing regulations, pg. 8)
There are 4 paces in the trot including a collected trot, a working
trot, a medium trot and an extended trot. Like the walk, the rhythm is constant
across all with differences between paces being in the amount of joint
movement, head and neck position, and distance covered.
While having similar paces to the walk, the only one that is different
is the working trot. This specific pace is more of a training pace for those
horses and riders who are not yet accomplished enough to do a collected trot.
It is the start of showing more flashiness in the hocks and joints. It also is
the beginning of showing more spring where the horse is pushing from its hind
quarters (impulsion – to be discussed in a later blog post).
The picture below provides a good illustration as to the distances and
joint movements of various paces in the trot. Notice how as the paces move from
collected to extended, the height of the step decreases as the length
increases. So with longer paces, the flashiness of the step with springy exaggerated
joint and hock movement gets less and less because they are covering more
distance. (Note that the diagram also shows the piaffe and passage – two movements
that are much more advanced and done by expert riders. These won’t be discussed
here other than the fact that these paces show the most flashiness and joint
action and cover the least ground. In fact, the piaffe should be done in a
stationary position with no to very little forward movement)
The Canter
The Canter is counted on a 3 beat cadence. But unlike a traditional
waltz that is actually 3 beats (3/4 time - think of a song like “Moon River”),
the canter has an extra 4th beat when the horse is in full
suspension (all feet off the ground) – a silent beat. So in fact it’s a
deceiving 4 beats (4/4 time –if you hum the opening of the song “We Will Rock
You” by Queen where there are 3 strong beats and a pause or silent beat making
it a 4 beat cadence).
The paces in the canter mirror the paces in the trot moving from collected to working to medium and extended in both the flashiness of the joint movement and distance covered. Like both the walk and trot, the horse and rider should show good balance and a consistent rhythm within and across paces.
The principle difference of the canter from both the walk and trot is
that both walk and trot are unidirectional. The canter can be either a right
canter or left canter depending on the direction. The picture below shows a
right canter. Notice that in frame 2, the front right leg and left back leg
meet the ground at the same time. Moving from frame 3 to 4, the right front is
extended as the last step in the canter. The final frame is the suspension
where all four legs are in the air – this would be beat four in the cadence. So
to count the cadence of the canter, beat one would fall in frame 1 of the
picture, beat two would be frame 2, beat 3 would be frame 4, and beat four
would be frame six (the silent beat).
(Source: USEF. (2014). Chapter on dressage division, Subchapter DR-I
dressage governing regulations, pg. 10)
Sometimes a counter-canter is required in a test. This can be done by
not switching leads when the direction changes. It can also be done when doing “flying
tempies”. That is, when the horse switches leads during the canter in either 4
strides, 3 strides, 2 strides or 1 stride. The fewer strides between the
change, the more difficult and advanced the movement. Flying tempies are usually
done along the diagonal path from corner to corner of the arena going through X
(see previous post on Where the Hell is X???).
So we’ve covered a lot of ground in this post, no pun intended. Seeing
a walk, trot and canter may make it easier to understand the movements and count the
beats There are many videos available that can illustrate them. Here is a link
for one that I found that shows a trot and then walk and canter. It's helpful because it actually uses a metronome to show the constant rhythm in each gait.
I could have gone into significantly more detail on all gaits and paces with respect to head and neck position, the bit and rider, etc. But it's long enough already. For those interested, go to the USEF or EC websites (links in Useful Links section) and read the dressage rules. It is certainly reading for insomniacs. Also, the Dressage Academy has videos of all gaits for those interested.
Cheers,
DDDThursday, February 6, 2014
Dressage or Cocaine?
There are many sayings regarding daughters and horses. And they all
have a certain ring of truth to them.
My daughters have uttered these to me in the past:
“Better the stalls than the malls.”
I would argue better than golf courses too.
“It keeps your daughters busy, tired and smelling like horse shit.”
Ode de cheval – a fragrance that will keep most boys away.
And the longer you’ve been in it, the more you will come up with
yourself. For example, a few that I have come up with all on my own:
“Horses teach girls how to handle large, dumb animals.”
A life skill that is certain to help them in the future (i.e. think
marriage).
“Instead of a 500-horsepower, 2-seater, red convertible, I spent all my
money on a 1-horsepower, 1-seater, red convertible”
So much for satisfying one’s midlife crisis!Please share any you have in the comments below.
Cheers,
DDD
Monday, February 3, 2014
Matching Horse and Rider through Blood Types and Temperament
Due to my last post of the oblivious draft and the anxious child, I
thought I would take a little time to discuss horse temperament and blood type.
No I don’t mean blood type as in A, B, AB or O. I mean blood type as a
subjective way to identify the temperament of the horse breed. Others also use
a scale from 1 (calm) to 10 (fiery) to categorize the temperament of a specific
horse or breed.
So when we were in the market for a trained dressage horse (school-master)
for our daughter, we narrowed it down to two horses, both from breeds noted for
being cold-blooded. The first was a Clyde cross gelding; the second was a
beautiful Friesian mare. But we quickly found out that the temperament of
individual horses can vary drastically from the average of the breed. On the Clyde
cross, when the rider made a mistake, the horse just remained calm, patient and
forgiving showing a very pleasing temperament. On the Friesian, when the rider
made a mistake, you could see the horse becoming visually agitated and
unforgiving. The tenseness of the ride continued to escalate frustrating both
horse and rider.
I think these temperament scales can also provide a useful way to
identify the temperament of the rider (the teenage daughter) and to help match the
rider and horse.
Horse blood types and temperament
Blood type is usually described as being cold, warm or hot. There are
also horse breeds that horsey people generally place into these categories.
Interestingly, these categories are also geographic. That is, cold blood breeds
are descendants from colder northern European and Great Briton climates. From
my previous post, you know that draft horses such as Clydesdales (the Budweiser
horses) and other working horses are considered cold bloods. Cold blooded
horses have a calm, unexcitable, and docile temperament.
Hot bloods descended from Middle Eastern desert climates. They tend to
be thin-skinned and fast such as Arabians. It’s no coincidence that today’s
thoroughbred race horses are descended from Arabians. Hot blooded horses have,
what some call, a fiery temperament.
Warm blooded horses are descendants of the mixing of cold and hot
blooded horse breeds. They were bred to try to capture the qualities of both
cold and hot blooded breeds. Many of these breeds have made excellent dressage
horses such as Trakehners, Dutch Warmbloods, and Hanoverians.
Please keep in mind though that these are average ratings for breeds.
The individual temperament of specific horses can vary greatly from the breed
norm.
Daughter Blood Types and Matching Rider to Horse
Anyone who has lived in a house with teenage daughters knows that they
are, more often than not, of the warm to hot blooded variety. As such, it was
to our best interest to try to find a horse with a calm temperament for
balance.
Don’t get me wrong. For the right person with the right temperament
(and training) that Friesian mare would have been a fabulous dressage horse. She
looked stunning in the ring. But it was more important for us to match the
temperament of the rider with the temperament of the horse to set them up to
succeed as a team.
So obviously we went with the Clyde cross. I’ll keep you posted as to
how it all turns out…fingers crossed!
DDD
Sources:
Draper, J. (2002). The book of horses and horse care: An encyclopedia
of horses, and a comprehensive guide to horse and pony care. New York, Barnes
& Noble, Inc.
Pickeral, T. (1999). The encyclopedia of horses & ponies. Bath, UK,
Parragon Publishing.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
The Oblivious Draft Horse - Cartoon
One of my horsey daughters sent this to me and I enjoyed it so much I had to share. If you've been around those large draft horses (e.g., Clydesdales), you'll understand how big they really are and how oblivious they can be to small things.
For those of you unfamiliar with Fergus the Horse, I have attached a link to the website in my DDD links.
DDD
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Where the Hell is X???
We all know that X marks the spot. But what spot??? In a dressage arena
X marks a very specific spot but one where no treasure is likely to be found
unless you consider horse crap treasure (The amount I spend to have horse crap
produced, perhaps it is treasure :s).
But before we find X, we need to learn a little more about the dressage
arena.
The dressage arena is where the rider-horse team play or perform their
test. I didn’t know this but there are two sizes for a dressage arena – the short
arena measuring 20m by 40m and the standard arena measuring 20m by 60m. Notice
it is in metric (metres) as opposed to imperial (feet). I assume that must be
traditional due to the French influence (Note – it was a Frenchman who created
the metric system).
The standard dressage arena is separated into quadrants indicated by
letters. Separating the 20m width in half are letters A (at the back of the
arena) and C (at the front of the arena – where the judge sits). When the rider
enters the arena for a test, they enter at A. The line between C and A is often
referred to as “center line”.
The length of the arena is split up into various sections. B and E mark
each side of the center of the arena. The length is then split up into twelve
metre section moving from the center in either direction and marked by additional
letters. After the final letters, there are six metres remaining to the end of each
side of the arena (see the picture below).
(Source: Dressage Academy. Retrieved Jan 30, 2014 from http://www.dressage-academy.com/dressage-arenas.php) |
Okay, so after all that, where the hell is X???? There is no X in the
picture.
X marks the center of the arena – half way between C and A and between
B and E. Other letters have also been assigned marking the center distance
between the twelve metre segments along the length of the arena. Between R and
S is indicated by I. Between M and H is indicated by G. Between V and P is
indicated by L. And between K and F is indicated by D.
So now we know where X is. But what I still do not know is why these
specific letters? Perhaps someone else can help me understand. After all, I’m
just a dumb dressage dad.
DDD
Welcome to my blog - Dressage for Dads
Welcome to my inaugural blog. I've never done this before so your patience is appreciated.
I figure a good place to start with this is to tell you a little about how I got to where I am today - a DDD (stands for Dumb Dressage Dad). And dumb in so many ways from horses to horsemanship to horse addicts. My daughters (now 18 and 15) have been riding horses for about 10 years. I blame my wife for this by wanting to live her childhood dream vicariously through our daughters. But that's all water under the bridge since I have now "bought in".
My daughters started taking lessons in Hunter/Jumper and Western riding. Getting a little more serious, they started competing in local shows and then leasing horses and finally owning horses. And unlike dogs and cats, accessorizing horses is an extremely expensive endeavour! It's called the "Sport of Kings" for a good reason.
My youngest daughter, about three years ago, decided she wanted to focus more on dressage to improve her equitation skills and has since gotten hooked. She has competed locally and nationally and wants to start competing internationally. As a dad, I guess it's better for my daughters to "be in the stalls instead of the malls" so I completely support it...and support it I do.
But dressage is an extremely complex discipline bereft with nuance and precision. So the more I learn, the dumber I feel. But I will try to pass on what I learn about dressage here for any other dads interested in learning more about it. Stay tuned...
I figure a good place to start with this is to tell you a little about how I got to where I am today - a DDD (stands for Dumb Dressage Dad). And dumb in so many ways from horses to horsemanship to horse addicts. My daughters (now 18 and 15) have been riding horses for about 10 years. I blame my wife for this by wanting to live her childhood dream vicariously through our daughters. But that's all water under the bridge since I have now "bought in".
My daughters started taking lessons in Hunter/Jumper and Western riding. Getting a little more serious, they started competing in local shows and then leasing horses and finally owning horses. And unlike dogs and cats, accessorizing horses is an extremely expensive endeavour! It's called the "Sport of Kings" for a good reason.
My youngest daughter, about three years ago, decided she wanted to focus more on dressage to improve her equitation skills and has since gotten hooked. She has competed locally and nationally and wants to start competing internationally. As a dad, I guess it's better for my daughters to "be in the stalls instead of the malls" so I completely support it...and support it I do.
But dressage is an extremely complex discipline bereft with nuance and precision. So the more I learn, the dumber I feel. But I will try to pass on what I learn about dressage here for any other dads interested in learning more about it. Stay tuned...
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