Like Horses? Ever seen Dressage? 6 minutes that will amaze you. (YouTube vid)

The Horse and the Horsemanship are amazing.
This animal clearly loves to do what she is doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw

I don't particularly like or know anything about horses. I know less about dressage.

That horse was amazing. :wow:

:applause:

I've never seen a horse THAT enthusiastic before. She really "got" connecting the steps to the music.

Really beautiful work from both horse and rider.

Wow!

Just amazing!

I've seen some dressage before...

But never like this!

I'm so thrilled they won!

They clearly earned it!

Thank you so much, my dear A HERETIC I AM, for posting this...

:woohoo: :woohoo:

I've seen this before. But this proves there really is no limit to what an "animal" is capable of if the bond between the two-footed and four-footed animal is strong enough.

And yes, I've seen that video many times before, and she's a lovely mare. That very bouncy trot is called a "passage" (rhymes with massage), and that same trot, but on the spot, is a "piaffe". There are also a few pirouettes and half passes and one and two-tempis changes (ie flying changes at every first or second new canter stride).

The class is a Kur (should be two dots over the u), which is a freestyle to music. There were bits of that music I liked, much of it I didn't - I wish they'd get some music composed for just their kur; others have done it. But the performance itself was superb. (the judges usually don't like that much movement in the tail)

Amazing for such a young horse; dressage horses aren't usually in their prime till at least 2-3 years later.

And really, at that level, they all love what they're doing. :)

When i was a teenager I had the opportunity to look after a Thoroughbred Racehorse who was full of personality, but it was just pleasure riding - nothing in the show ring at all. I would have loved to have been able to do something like that.

Thanks for the info.

although I did do some showing, in both dressage and jumper, they were both much more basic classes (jumping 3'6, dressage - training and first level).

I don't ride anymore, but I loved them both, and loved the horses.

How cool you got to look after a racehorse. :) Do you remember the name?

He was a big gelding, about 15 hands or so, dark brown (Bay?) with a black mane and tail - not a white hair on him. He was about 7 when i first started working with him.

He was a bit of a character, too. The gate to his stall was made from metal tubing and when i would groom him, i would sometimes hang a towel over the rail. I'd be back at his hindquarters picking a hoof or curry combing him and the towel would land on the ground. I watched what he was doing and he would carefully, slowly nibble at the towel, grab it and with a flick of his head, toss it to the ground and then immediately stand perfectly still as if to say "What? I had nothing to do with that! It just fell off by itself!"

I have a pic of him with a Jockey up that i'll have to get scanned and post, one of these days.

I've never seen a race horse do that, but I guess they can.

Dressage is basically very advanced flatwork.

Race horses will know to walk, trot, canter and gallop, to circle, and lead changes, but not the more advanced movements. Totally different discipline, though.

An off-the-track thoroughbred may be taught, but they may never get to that advanced level. The warmbloods have the power, and as well as the temperament. Many TBs don't have the concentration involved to get to that international level.

Lipizzaners also have a few unique and exclusive movements, like the
Capriole http://youtube.com/watch?v=BI5vr_ngvXQ
Courbette http://youtube.com/watch?v=QN_nwRQ2cK8&feature=related
and Levade http://youtube.com/watch?v=R8qYWG_YHLU&feature=related

Here's a bit of a unique show jumping class called the 6 bar (it focuses on only one rider, obviously a fan uploaded the edited version). Wait till you see the size of the jumps at the end!

Enjoy :)

that did not try to bite me and I had a hand full of carrots to bribe it. They are the only animal that does not like me and I have no idea why. I think they are beautiful. Sigh.

I'm still in awe.

My daughter wants to do that. She's been riding for about 3 years now.

awesome.

on edit: That "hesitation" lick is :wow: -- I wonder about the tail, though :shrug:

and that "sideways" step :wow: -- I guess they "use" their whole body from the tip of their ears to the tip of their tale ;)

it brings tears to my eyes to see the brilliance of that beautiful horse!

Man, that made my day. Thanks for posting it.

My guy was a very versatile horsie -- he was great either Western or English.

He was amazingly responsive to very subtle cues from me, and when we worked together, it was one of the most amazing feelings ever. :loveya:

As i mentioned above, i used to ride every day and got to know "Robber Boy" very well.


It is a great feeling to know your horse can anticipate you or even do what you are thinking (so to speak) before being asked.

but I know that amazing feeling....
my horse does it to.....
to move to the side, slow down, jog off...
well you know


lost

Thankss for posting that. I've bookmarked it! :)