My grandson's wife works for and takes lessons from a local woman who is a well-respected dressage rider locally. Today we went up to watch Ellie and her instructor take lessons from a former Olympian (sorry, I have already forgotten his name - I don't follow Olympis dressage).
He said some things that were hard to swallow, suggesting to one rider that she throw her bag of "tools" at her horse until she found something that worked. I certainly do not profess to ride at their level, but I can't imagine it not being confusing to a horse to have a whole "toolbox" (his description) of aids thrown at him. He was amazing, howver, in his urging a very giving sort of contact. He kept correcting the local instructor for the amount and type of contact she took and the fact that her mare immediately went into a "headset" (again, his description) when she was asked to trot. I was impressed because I had seen that every time I saw this woman ride, and she truly is a lovely lovely rider, but ... Nancy
