>>> http://icehorses.blogspot.com/2008/07/icelandic-horse-dressage.html
If you look at the video on YouTube, you'll see that the title is "First Attempts at Collection." Warning, Will Robinson, Warning! I believe that dressage is a process, an evolution. As Susan C. has mentioned recently, there are a lot of stages to the training tree that have to be in place before collection begins. I had never thought that collection is something that has a "first attempt" - but that it's something that comes on gradually as the horse gains fitness, maturity and strength. Speaking of maturity, is that horse really just four? Holy moly. I don't believe that they start the Spanish Riding School Lipazanners until they are four, and I don't believe they ever perform before they are at least 10, maybe 12. Some interesting points from those posts: .>>> "yes, hats off and all, but honestly, whilst all horses can do, and benefit from, dressage etc etc etc for me the videos make it painfully obvious that breeds are bred for a reason. We bred them to do a job, for which they are best suited. An whilst that wee pony is trying his heart out etc, he just doesn't, to me, present an attractive picture." Amen. Icelandic's are lovely trail ponies. Most can dabble a bit in many activities...why on earth would anyone pick that poor sweet pony to try to do that with...? >>> "To not do so much of it that he loses the rhythm. Get in. Get out. >>> Don't go to the point that the horse has is front legs landing long >>> before the hind. Perfect the rhythm in hand. Let the horse get stronger >>> in other work and try gain." I noticed that his fronts were landing well before the rears of the diagonal pairs - making him sorta/kinda/almost foxtrotting the piaffe. I couldn't help but wonder if that's because he's stressed too far, too early...or could it be due to his gaitedness? (Or both...?) Whatever it is, it's not "gaiting" and it's not correct dressage, so what's the point? It seems just to be for the point of showing off... > A 4 year old is too young for the level of work. Just because his brain is > willing and his body is somewhat able does not mean we can see the > pressure on the joints that are being hammered. At 4, he can not possibly > have the proper muscular development to do this level of GP work. The fact > that he is not built or bred for it makes it even worse, because he > doesn't even have a normal dressage frame to hang his muscles on. Although > the quiet work is a testament to the trainer's skills, pushing him this > young says very little about her judgment or her capacity to develop life > long riding horses. The little guy does seem to have a can-do attitude, and you gotta love him for that. I just wonder why not point that lovely attitude into a direction where he can excel and that won't stress him so much. >>> "The half steps are landing front feet first, under saddle, in hand, >>> worst in the piaffe pirouette under saddle. This has nothing to do with >>> the gaited horse's way of going. (Another thread in itself. Gaited >>> horses should also land hind foot first for a good four beat gait. Just >>> as in dressage, front feet landing first denote a horse on the forehand, >>> and an impure gait.) " No true, not unless the only "gait" is tolt, as it seems to be in many tolt-centric circles. In foxtrot, the front of the diagonal pair lands first... I don't know what causes his off-beat trot (stress or natural gait tendency), but I have to wonder, why not pick a three-gaited, built-for-dressage horse if this is what you want to do... Karen Thomas, NC
