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© Rein Photography
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very horse I train learns how to jog. It is one of the most foundational movements I can develop in a horse. It just has to be taught with some insight. I’ll probably include it in my manual I have thought about writing for a couple years now called “Dressage for Dummies” (Hey, I’m a simple guy too). I’ll bet that would make everybody happy to have the simple basics handed to them without a list of overcomplicated rules, right? It’ll make ya grin like a mule eatin’ briars, too, I’ll bet.
to have the simple basics handed to them without a list of overcomplicated rules, right? It’ll make ya grin like a mule eatin’ briars, too, I’ll bet.
For many riders who are just beginning to dip their toe into the world of dressage, as a clinician, I want to encourage everybody to discover a bigger world of horsemanship, yet remain true to the one they are currently involved in. Horsemanship for me, and you, I believe should be progressive horsemanship, not a completely random new concept. I am always learning something new, and building on what I already know. I test everything out, and sometimes, “the dog don’t hunt.”
But sometimes the dog does hunt, but to learn we have to make ourselves vulnerable. That means finding room to change what we currently believe.
I call it, “You can put your boots in the oven, but that doesn’t make them biscuits.”
In other words, what you think is true, doesn’t necessarily make it so. Here’s my point. Everybody can jog their horse, right? Yet, I am frequently asked, from those who ride dressage tests with their western horses, about the jog. There has been a lot of discussion on this point from many who ask: “What is the correct speed? The judges’ remarks are frequently, ‘too fast’ or ‘too slow.’ Which is right?” Well, something is missing in everybody’s equation. Sounds like a great learning moment.
Content Warning: This article may contain strong language like “collection,” “correctness” and other inconvenient words.
Frequently, “headset” is the only element of the total picture everyone tries to pursue. If the head is poised on the vertical and remains still, everybody is ready for the test. Unfortunately, that thinking is missing a big chunk of the pie. Collection from behind must be developed too. (Ugh, he’s going to talk about dressage again.) Otherwise, the horse has merely learned to move in a stoic frame. You’re wrinkling your nose. I can see that. Let me give an example: When asked to move more forward, or lengthen, many horses are unable to remain balanced. They speed up, moving off the forehand, rather than increasing the stride length from behind—big difference in movement.