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Pegase's Mood

Summary of category " "Humeur Pégase" 

Posted Sat, 23/02/2008 - 11:17

 english / anglais

-----    March 2009    -----

                 Pegasus Is Worried                                        

One day recently, Pegasus met a French federal expert on dressage. He had come partly to lead an instructors’ course and partly to bring the latest truth (a federal gift) to instructors of all levels.
 
The instructors were encouraged to leave behind the Franco-French vision in order to open their minds to Europe, which our expert limited to Holland (at best he included Germany).
The influence of this Dutch Europe was evident in his presentation, whether in the recommended choice of horses for dressage (“the greyhound model is past; nobody wants to see that anymore”) or in the manner of training (“low and round must become part of French training”.)
It became clear why the theme for this day of educating the eyes of instructors had been announced as “The ladder of progressive training” (inspired by the German Training Scale).
We were told that “there is no miracle recipe but as long as one respects the gaits there is nothing one cannot do”. However, all the horses presented were judged as being “too high, not through enough”. The riders were urged to make them “low and round”, which seemed to be the first and incontrovertible answer to every problem.
Work was done almost exclusively at the trot. The walk was relegated to periods of rest. The difference between preparation and presentation was stressed, the goal being 7 minutes when the horse performs with the poll as the highest point and the haunches lowered. This was said to be the final achievement, “not to be kept for 3/4 of an hour of work.” It was emphasized to the instructors that “one must ban the idea that if one rides a horse forward behind the vertical one will harm the horse; if the horse needs to lower and curl the poll, one must allow it.”
 
In addition, we were told, quite seriously in fact, that “there are not five effects of the reins; that the hands must always act together, at the same height, as if riding a bicycle. Above all, never speak to your students of opening reins and indirect reins (the second causing a transfer of weight to the opposite shoulder leading to lack of symmetry, hence a lack of forward movement”.) In answer to the comment “this is not what the Rule Book says”, we were told “that will change.”
 
After the loss of traditional vocabulary and the new instructors having been turned into kind camp counsellors, we in France continue to trample an equestrian tradition that is the envy of the whole world. Instead, we are concocting a multi-disciplinary equestrian club that, in the case of dressage, purports to make us “catch up” with Holland (sorry Europe) and to impose a different type of horse and different methods.
 
Sad time for the French equestrian tradition…. in France
  

                                                                                            Pégase 

-----    April 2008    -----

                               Risks of the Job                                             

For some time now, that which is irritating in the Press and on the Internet Forums, is the constant opposition raging between partisans of the 'return to nature' camp and the nasty looking ' so called Sport horses'.
The one sends shoes to the devil and elects non-shoeing. It is true, what did they do the Mustangs and the Indians, without a saddle, without a bridle, outside all year long ?
The others use a very complicated collection of, over-reach boots, brushing boots, bandages, orthopeadic bits, drawer-reins of every type, rugs, stalls and stables...
It's true Michel Henriquet uses the double bridle,   Jean D'Orgeix rode in a snaffle. I believe I saw Rodrigo Pessoa with a Hackamore. Nuno Oliviera presented Corsario with a simple ribbon in his mouth.   While Lorenzo, he uses nothing at all !
What conclusion can we come to ?   Simply that all are artists, professionals, each with their own speciality.
So why is it so contentious between us, simply riders ?
Whether he is used for hacking, dressage, demonstrations, instruction, endurance or jumping, the horse works for us, for our pleasure. It is natural, therefore, to want to take the greatest care of him.
Of course physical effort (with evolution and adequate care) depending of their life-style, is the same for us.
Each has his own small and bigger hardships : Cyclists head for climbing the Pyrenees, the Dancer tackles a discipline of steel, the Tiler positioned on his knees all day or Nurses with painful ankles through looking after their patients ...these are the Risks of the Job.
This is why the notion of the 'Happy Horse Athlete' is important and merits attention and respect.   There, the justification of the existence of such Associations such as Allege-Ideal: who says that all work is possible but with muscular harmony and optimum comfort for the horse.
I believe sincerely : that everyone loves, respects his horse and does all that he believes correct for him, his functions and his choice.
So, put aside all these little, futile quarrels.    Exchange, Construct ....
I slash, I prickle, I touch and I tug your heart strings .....I hope !
Cyrano 

                                                                                        Pégase

 

-----    March 2008    -----

  Pegasus Surprised                      Eureka                                    

One of our contributors to the Forum has made an astonishing discovery. Reading the last work of the late Jean d’Orgeix, Dressage Training is Easy, she has found what she sees as evidence of considerable progress, namely, that the horse must understand his rider who must do the schooling in short sessions followed by ample rewards the moment the horse has understood and obeyed. 


Faverot de Kerbrecht
It would be surprising if serious riders had trained their horses differently ever since the “Masters” explained their methods. Faverot de Kerbrecht expressed it well already a hundred years ago when he said “To be satisfied with little, ask often, reward generously.”
Far from belittling this enthusiastic rider’s input, we are thankful that she has wanted to share her find with us. Her contribution emphasizes our cultural heritage and the usefulness, nay necessity, of following the teachings of the ‘Masters”, past and present, when training our horses.
It is one of the missions, certainly not the least, of our Association to promote the evolution of riding both in the context of culture and practice, and also, hopefully, in the context of culture and competition. This is perhaps a foolish dream, but then all dreams are somewhat foolish, and surely a valuable safe-guard against the modern fallacy of turning up one’s nose at the lessons of the past and being tempted by the illusion of instant success, whatever the price.
                                                                                            Pegasus
Summary of category " "Humeur Pégase"