Dressage? Tips for Beginners?
Hey, so I have decided I am going to start riding Dressage. I am not getting anywhere in my H/J training, and I really would like to, but I can’t get anywhere wihtout finding a new trainer or buying my own horse! So I’ve decided to move onto something I’ve always loved, always found amazing, Dressage. If you have any tips for me, any advice, that would be AMAZING! I would be starting off with just lessons, and then moving onto like leasing and such.
Dressage is a wonderful sport that will teach you how to interact with your horse, teach flexibility, obedience and strengthen your horse. It will also help make you a strong rider. The thing to watch for is to be certain the trainer knows what they are doing. If they use a lot of tools like draw reins or other things to get the horse into "position" go somewhere else. Proper training of self-carriage takes time and should never be hurried. If they don’t hold with that, they aren’t teaching you the way they should. Trainers that use excessive force should also be avoided. If what they do doesn’t seem right to you-especially where treatment of the horse is concerned-you’re probably right. Go to some clinics, watch some videos (Jane Savoie puts out some great teaching videos) and go to some shows to watch and see how trainers work and what to look for. Enjoy! I have for over 10 years now.
depends on where you live but there are many good teachers out there. Go to a lot of boarding barns and ask for the names of teachers. I too am starting dressage lessons. The first time i tried to learn I did it from a book and while that works a bit it is much better to have someone on the ground to point out what you are doing well and what you are doing wrong. Don’t buy or lease a horse until you are reasonably comfortable with liking dressage. You may find you want to go back to H/J or on to eventing.
dressage is challening and there is alot you hav eot learn before you can become a skilled dressage rider. my best advice to you would be to keep your head up try your best and use a strong will and determination!
Find a trainer who has a schoolmaster you can ride (once you’re a little more experienced) so that you can get the feeling of the movements and self-carriage.