Dressage riding

There's nothing like a picture that makes it look like you know what you're doing, even when you don't! Thanks, Jennifer for snapping this one yesterday of Sizzle in her new dressage bridle.

Many years ago, I took dressage lessons from a stern lady who managed to teach me a little bit through her exasperation with my lack of talent. Since then, I've done all kinds of trail and western pleasure riding, but no other dressage training. If you're not familiar with dressage, here's a brief description from Wikipedia:

Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet."

The "relaxed and effortless" is the hardest part, and we're a long way from anything resembling "ballet." But Sizzle is a good sport as I fit her out with new tack, and we both try to learn from something new from the bottom up. I'm lucky now having the chance to take lessons with our Dr. Jean, an outstanding rider and exceptional, kind teacher. Last weekend, she hosted a riding clinic sponsored by Artistic Dressage, an organization that trains riders and horses in this extremely difficult art. We were out of town, so unfortunately I missed most of it. But on Monday I watched several lessons taught by Dr. Ritter, who was trained at the intimidating Spanish Riding School, which is the pinnacle of fine horsemanship in the entire world. Very inspiring!