"There are certain biomechanical realities involved in working horses but there are always certain psychological ones as well. The psychological realities have to always be first on the list.

Anytime special bits, special nose bands, draw reins, side reins or another man made contraption is used to position the horse are used, neither the psychological nor biomechanical realities are being considered.

Photographs are at best a pretty poor way to assess a horse's performance if for no other reason that the vast majority of people have never seen a correctly working horse nor have they witnessed a horse being properly trained. The appearance at the start is not what you find in the end. In addition, horses with imperfections in conformation each have their own way of progressing.

If a picture of the horse's mind could be taken, it would be a far better indicator but such a camera does not exist. Most people are very badly instructed to see what they have been improperly taught. This is not just at the "public level" but at the elite level too.

It is most important not to look at the appearance of the horse but the psychological atmosphere in which they work. Calm, quite, gentle work is always good regardless of superficial appearance. Lightness in the end is correctness. Many top competitive horses are neither light, calm nor correct and yet we see a constant parade of pictures.

Flat out, dressage as it is taught today is abusive and wrong. Whatever biomechanics you see is flawed to say the least. Show me the lightness, and kindness in the work. The best that I see is an owner sticking a carrot in a horse's face but in the work, not so much." - Craig Steven

Sant, intressant och lite det jag försöker förklara i min blogg, dels med inlägget om balans men även i inlägget om longering. Varför spänna in hästen med diverse människotillverkade redskap som inte ens gynnar hästen?! Kanske är dags att inställt börja lyssna på hästen och börja förstå vad man kan åstadkomma om man ändrar sin ridning!