The Natural Dressage Forum

Is it just me, or is (big-D) Dressage closing its ranks to the priviledged? In the "Ringside" column, a good word was put in "of the value and importance of all breeds" -- which was in the world of the handicapped! I had to laugh. So me AND my horse are considered crips, ha ha! Okay, not funny, but it didn't come across very well.

I'm also leery of US national goals to develop an "American System"-- without ANY mention of the diversity of knowledge and varieties of approaches this country offers -- WHY should we follow the Europeans in having a singular, "Unity in Education"? Why can't we give a nod to the training circle, and still belong? Why does the lovely horse on the cover need to be wearing a flash noseband??

I haven't seen this particular material but as I am having a very quiet summer and anticipating my few lessons this late summer/fall with traditional trainers- am trying to weigh the "what do I want to learn from them" vs trying to explain/ defend why I don't need to "look" like the picture- that wins in the show ring- but I need to FEEL it....and be content...... ( and yet not so complacent that we don't keep progressing......)