A video of some of the most beautiful horses

I don't know how many of you love dressage but in case anyone does, here is a video of a nine year old mare that absolutely dances! She is delightful and her and her rider are a spectacular team. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do every time I watch it. It brings tears to my eyes each time. And by the way, you do need your speakers on so that you can see how well their music and movements combine.

And for those who haven't watched good dressage before, keep an eye on the mares feet so that you can see how she switches her leads (front legs) and then at the end how she has a short pause, back 'toes' just hesitating for a moment before she pushes off again for the next step. Enjoy:) and especially from the 5 minute mark!

 
Not being particular familiar with horses, other than a few trail rides in the distant past.. I have a question.. HOW do they get the horses to prance like that? And lift their legs so high.. It does not appear to be their natural gait.. Just curious.. They are so beautiful though.
 
Incredibly beautiful, I love dressage, but have only seen it in real life a few times at the PNE horse show years ago. Thanks Debbie, I found it emotional too, especially at the end when he hugs his horse.
 
QuickSilver said:
Not being particular familiar with horses, other than a few trail rides in the distant past.. I have a question.. HOW do they get the horses to prance like that? And lift their legs so high.. It does not appear to be their natural gait.. Just curious.. They are so beautiful though.
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I'm no expert on the training procedure of course, but it's probably something like this (and if anyone has a clearer understanding, I'd appreciate learning from them too.

First of all the trainer would look for a horse that already had a naturally higher step at a trot, then from the ground, as the horse stepped forward, he'd give it a very light tap just behind the forelegs and would use a specific cue word for each leg. The horse learns the cue word as time goes by and then with a rider on, using the words to signal, would move the horse out at a walk and begin including little seat and toe signals. Also it's important to teach the horse to keep his head high which makes him round his back, which causes him to move with his butt more under him. This lightens and centres his balance so that his front end and back end are freer to move those legs easily.

I would guess to that in teaching them to lift a little higher than is the norm, you might proceed with a light tap-tap-tap to keep moving that leg up just a bit more each time and then when you stop tapping, they could put the leg down.

Then as the rider is on board, he'd also be using his seat (shifting ever so slightly from side to side, back or forwards) and would use toe or heel pressure or just the slightest touch to signal the horse. It's absolutely amazing how you can direct all four quarters of a horse, plus their balance with movements so subtle that the average watcher sees very little movement from the rider. Even a twitch of the reins can send a signal so the riders hands should be still and quiet.

Some horses are naturally willing and interested in the learning and others resist because they're just obstinate. My one mare was very willing, but easily upset, so working with her was easy as long as I was patient and gave her time to understand. The other was, well let me put it this way, her nickname waffled between 'our magic pony' and 'the old grey hag'. It took about five minutes to train the first one to step over sideways at a gentle touch of my fingertips (just brush against her sides) whereas the other (our sweet 'hag') I finally had to resort to using a rounded spur to put pressure on her rib cage because she ignored my aching finger tips entirely. Her attitude was, 'I can outlast any pressure you can lay on me'. Keep in mind that you start with the lightest pressure, then if they don't respond appropriately, you push a bit harder and hopefully they move away at that point. But through it all, they are the one who decides how much they will resist, they make the choice. The point of this kind of little exercise is to get them to move over or away from pressure (so I didn't get squashed against a wall or to get a foot off my toes)....so the minute they step over, you take the pressure away and that's the reward to them. Do this a few times and they get so that they learn to respond to that first light touch. Unless they are the sort who challenge you on everything which Ambra was.

And I'm glad you enjoyed watching Blue Hors Matine. Unfortunately about five years ago she broke her leg in the field and had to be euthanized. But you got to see her at her finest!
 
VERY informative Debby. I hate to admit how I thought they made them step high like that. Someone told me years ago that weights were put on the horses front legs and removed just before a show causing them to lift their legs higher. I'm glad that's not true..
 
What you are thinking of is the Tennessee Walkers and that truly is horrendous. The American government has been trying to stamp that out for years. And what you're thinking of in particular is called 'The Big Lick'. It's the ugliest gait I've ever seen and cruel beyond belief and those folks who participate should be ashamed for calling themselves 'horse lovers'.

What they actually do is apply a corrosive substance like kerosene to the ankles of the horses, wrap them in cellophane so it causes burns and then they put chains around those raw ankles and the shoes they are on are weighted and inches high (sometimes with nails protruding slightly into the foot or a hard putty to cause bad bruising). The idea is basically that their feet hurt so much in the front that they do anything they can to get the weight off as long as possible, hence the high, high step. Imagine yourself going ballroom dancing in high heeled shoes that are too small and you have blisters on your heels and your toes! There's a lovely experience eh?

A few years ago, one of the top trainers of the Big Lick was exposed by an undercover HSUS video, and subsequently lost his reputation, fined heavily, and was kicked out of the TWH Hall of Fame. The video even shows him having to beat a horse that was laying down and groaning in pain in its stall, just to get it to stand up!

This little short video shows how a Big Lick show looks:

and here's a side by side comparison of the Big Lick and a natural gaited horse:[video]https://www.facebook.com/BanTheBigLick.stop.soring/videos/1398654947120338/[/video]

On a lighter note, my daughter had a Friesien (like the OP showed) for a couple years. A lovely young horse with the sweetest temperament and loved being with people. She was very sad when she had to give her up because there was a baby on the way and they couldn't afford to keep her anymore.
 
Debby, I am sitting here speechless. What an amazing horse or should I say team. Simply breathtaking. Grinning ear to ear at the moment. Thank you so very much for sharing video.
 
I totally understand your enthusiasm Temperance. I just get goosebumps watching that video of the dressage team! That is horsemanship and I think is only achieved with time, patience and a real understanding of a horses temperament! I'm so glad you enjoyed watching.
 

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