| Twenty years ago, when a western reining trainer | | | | canter. "The riders barely understand how to circle |
| admitted that he took dressage lessons to improve his | | | | correctly. In many cases, you see trainers just focusing |
| horse's reining, his fellow cowboys thought he had lost | | | | on jumping. Flatwork just becomes a term meaning |
| his mind. Some 20 years later finds several hunt seat | | | | getting the horse warmed up enough to jump," she |
| instructors actively using aspects of dressage in their | | | | said. "When I go to some of the large local hunt shows, |
| training. Christy, a hunt seat equitation instructor, | | | | I'm amazed that riders aren't balancing their horses, or |
| commented that if you look at the old hunt seat | | | | even riding them correctly through a turn." She |
| equitation videos and photos of students instructed by | | | | described watching strung out ponies in a hunter class. |
| George Morris and others, the horses are in a training | | | | "They got over their courses by the grace of God." "I |
| level dressage frame. Celine, a hunt seat/balanced | | | | was aghast by the strung out, unbalanced approaches |
| seat instructor, noted that dressage is the basis of all | | | | to jumps and the rushing and diving over each fence," |
| riding. "Classical dressage has its roots in cavalry riding | | | | she said. She finds that dressage helps her riders gain |
| in war; whereas hunt seat has its origins in long cross | | | | a balanced and rhythmic approach to fences. She |
| country rides across fields on a hunt. Hunt seat was | | | | described one hunt seat student she had recently met |
| adapted for the show ring," she said. She noted that | | | | who had no concept of getting the horse to work |
| combining the elements of hunt seat and dressage | | | | back to front or flexion though she had her own horse |
| brings balanced seat. Christy uses the rider-based | | | | and was taking lessons with her instructor for five |
| training that she received from her dressage instructor | | | | years. "When she sat in on other lessons her friends |
| for her hunt seat students. "At their first lesson, I put | | | | were having with other instructors, she felt she was |
| them right on the longe line and take away stirrups and | | | | missing out on a world of education with her horse. |
| reins immediately," she described. "I spend a lot of time | | | | She said her lessons just revolved around her |
| helping them build independent hand, seat and leg in | | | | instructor who called out 'heals down,' 'shoulders back,' |
| exercises on the longe line before I have them ride on | | | | 'posting trot,' etc." Celine uses dressage to focus on |
| the rail." Christy has found that by doing so, the riders | | | | the points of the ring by keeping the horse correctly |
| have feel and balance more quickly. "Beginner issues | | | | between and in front of the rider's leg. "How do you |
| like steering just seem to fall right into place even | | | | get your horse from point A to point B, not A to D?" |
| though they've spent their first several lessons on the | | | | she explained. "When you focus on riding every stride, |
| longe line." Celine also likes to apply dressage concepts | | | | as in dressage, your hunter or equitation horse will |
| early on in hunt seat education. "I start right away with | | | | always know what you want," she explained. "You |
| rhythm and balance, teaching the student how to sit | | | | can circle, go straight, change gait, jump and make it |
| with balance. Then I address how the horse moves | | | | look so easy, balanced and fluid. Riding hunt seat this |
| and how to find the horse's natural rhythm. When you | | | | way gives the horse the correct muscle development, |
| apply the concepts of dressage early on, students | | | | impulsion and work ethic." |
| have greater 'feel' for their horses." She noted that in | | | | .99 cent equine classifieds with instant 12 site |
| everyday hunt seat, she sees horses just going | | | | distribution. |
| around the ring in the gaits, walk, then trot, and then | | | | |