HORSE SENSE: Good dressage equals medals and money for everyone 27 November 2015 Premium

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27 November 2015

Irish Field Contributor on 27 Nov 2015

HORSE SENSE: Good dressage equals medals and money for everyone

The most important and most powerful skills in the horse industry are good basic dressage training skills according to William Micklem. Click here to find out why

Irish Field Contributor

27 November 2015

Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester have shown that having a horse who is a happy athlete is not only achievable but without doubt produces gold medal performances (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

Judges are beginning to put lightness and softness in front of flashy paces a recent example of this at was the self- carriage and softness of Charlotte Dujardin’s Valegro beating the huge power and extravagant paces of Adelinde Cornelissen’s Parcival in the London Olympic Games.

FEI has ruled against hyperflexion, citing that it’s “mental abuse” to the horse and “a result of aggressive riding.”

Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester have shown that having a horse who is a happy athlete is not only achievable but without doubt produces gold medal performances (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

FEI has ruled against hyperflexion, citing that it’s “mental abuse” to the horse and “a result of aggressive riding.”

Individual showjumping bronze medalist Cian O'Connor endorses the importance of dressage as part of his training.

Top level eventing dressage has progressed to such an extent that Carl Hester says that it is as good as pure dressage at the equivalent levels.

Willie Mullins’ Djakadam is the choice of every event rider looking for an international event horse with a readymade competitive dressage. Photo HEALY RACING.

Top level eventing dressage has progressed to such an extent that Carl Hester says that it is as good as pure dressage at the equivalent levels.

Willie Mullins’ Djakadam is the choice of every event rider looking for an international event horse with a readymade competitive dressage. Photo HEALY RACING.

Good basic dressage training skills are the most important and most powerful skills for the whole horse industry.

They are the key to opening doors to fulfilling potential in all equine activities for both horse and rider, and the key to more success and higher prices. This is true even for horse racing. One of the great secrets of modern National Hunt trainers is their use of horse trials and show jumping riders to school their horses.