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