Riding in General and Dressage in Particular: The writer having just watched the ‘Hickstead Derby’ as it is known on British Television one cannot help but be aware what tremendous athletes horses are to enter any form of competition. Athletes of the equestrian variety require a lot of work to achieve the sort of fitness and suppleness that was demonstrated at this year’s event, or for that matter at this event in any year – it would also be fair to say the same applies at Christmas time for the Horse of the Year show whether held in London at Earls Court or the NEC in Birmingham, athleticism is the watchword, and in most cases Dressage exercises in one form or another will provide this. The Hickstead Derby for those who have not seen it is basically a show-jumping course/ground located near Brighton on the south coast of England just off the A23 trunk road from London to Brighton. It is an outdoor grass arena of several acres with some 15 – 20 jumps in the show-jumping form, which on Derby day includes the Derby bank, a fearsome ‘Hillock’ about twice the height of a typical horse and rider which occurs about half way round the course, the riders have already navigated a series of jumps doubles, singles, fences, hedges, gates and anything else the course-builder might find ‘fun’ – the horse and rider are then faced with the Derby Bank which is a graded approach on two levels with about a one meter simple fence on top before descending the far side which looks about 60degrees to the vertical!!! At all times the horse must be under control (the rider will be in dire trouble if not) and for example on descending the bank there are two strides to a reasonable about 4’6" or 5ft fence – last week while watching, it was noticeable how many horses did not make it first time round and their respective riders had to make a quick turn to come back to the fence on the level – some horses were obviously more flexible than others – dare one say it – from dressage or dressage type exercise. What perhaps is less well known is that Hickstead is also the venue for a Dressage Derby – no jumping this time please!! It generally occurs about a month to six weeks after the showjumping Derby, giving the ground in this case after quite a lot of rain, time to recover. It is an equally interesting showpiece event to those in the ‘know’, it has the usual series of basic, intermediate and advanced level tests with one or two ‘novelties’ thrown in for good measure, one of which is described as Judge and be Judged! – This is where each of the Judges performs an advanced test and is then judged by his or her peers – interesting. Another event is the Pro/Am test where an amateur rider is followed on the same horse by a professional dressage rider again giving rise to some interesting comments and observations. Dressage has something of a highbrow connotation in the equestrian world, a bit like opera in the musical world, but it can be shown to have both a lighter and useful side when used correctly. There is a further exercise which can be aided very much by the application of Dressage exercise priciples, again a rather elitist end of the sport - Polo - This will be the consideration of separate comment in due course. "If the art were not so difficult we would have plenty of good riders and excellently ridden horses, but as it is the art requires, in addition to everything else, character traits that are not combined in everyone: inexhaustible patience, firm perseverance under stress, courage combined with quiet alertness. If the seed is present only a true, deep love for the horse can develop these character traits to the height that alone will lead to the goal." Gustav Steinbrecht |