Larry Poulin says, “Less conditioning work is needed now
that our marathons are shorter. Back in the day, we went
22 kilometers in a five-section marathon. Of course, conditioning
still needs to take place, but two days a week can
be riding days, focused on contact, with the horse being
over the back, regular, and rhythmic. A horse can’t use itself
properly if hollow in the back and not round. The training
scale is the blueprint for dressage, both ridden and driven.”
When building an equine athlete, one of our goals should
be to make them as ambidextrous as possible, including
being as strong and supple on one side as the other. This can
be easier to feel riding than driving. Tiny braces and small
changes in connection are more obvious to the rider. Small
losses of balance are more easily felt. Frequent changes of
direction and smaller figures are more simple when riding.
An important benefit gained in ridden dressage is using.
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Dressage is Dressage
