Neither is any other kind of good horsemanship. Studying and following a tradition or theory does not mean locking ourselves into a rigid mindset of “there is only one way to do it right.”
I look at dressage as a series of guidelines built around core values of respect for the horse and optimal development of his body and mind. Dressage promotes balance, athleticism, partnership, and long-term soundness. If we look at them in this way, the principles of dressage function like guard rails against tension, exaggeration, and abuse.
These guard rails give us a safe place to improvise, to play with the concepts of good horsemanship. They allow us to experiment with variations and degrees of the basic ideas.
Working with a horse means listening and responding to the feedback he gives us, not going through a series of prescribed motions. As long as we respect the core values, we can - no, we must - adjust what we do to the horse we’re with, today, this minute.
Dressage is an ongoing, ever-evolving dialogue between horse and rider, not a pre-recorded script. If we treat it like one, chances are the horses have not read their lines. Chances are the horses won’t get what they need from us.
So, let’s read (and re-read) the books. Let’s study with our teachers. Let’s get curious. Good riders are educated riders. But let’s use that education to do right by our horses, not to limit our field of vision.
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