Tips on Dressage
                ...by Warrick Cozens

             ' It is very important that riders don't revolve their
             training around a show schedule. They should
             try instead to understand what the horse is capable of
            achieving. It's not advisable to rush your horse into
             competition work. Training should take into account
                not only what the horse is capable of doing on a physical
                level, but also what the horse is capable of understanding
mentally as well.'

              ' The horse has to be ridden from the seat. Any hand aid
               that is given must be backed up by a stronger seat and leg
                  aid. The hand can only be as strong as the seat, and the legs
             can back it up. The horse must be put on the outside rein, and
               ridden around the inside leg, and pushed through from behind.
              Many riders slow their horses down to accomodate their lack
              of seat, and their inability to sit to the forward work. The rider
              must learn to adapt to the active, forward stride of the horse.
               But instead the horse is slowed down so the rider feels happy
..and they have ruined the horse.'

           ' Sometimes horses going into advanced classes run out of
                    impulsion. They fall down into Piaffe and Passage because
                 they are struggling to get the impulsion and engagement
                 out of the hindquarters, which is needed to balance them
                for this work. Some horses have problems with Pirouettes
                  and fall on the forehand because they can't carry the weight
               on the hindquarters. These horses need more development
                  in the hindquarters, which would give them the balance to
                  cope with the collection required. This can only be obtained
                  by systematic gymnastic training. This takes time. You can't
                     force the horse and pull him in. It must be developed, and can only come from a horse which has developed
a round, swinging back..'

              'A horse will never balance unless it is ridden well forward.
                A horse can do very little before it is five years of age, and
                serious training should not be commenced before that time.
                  Three to four years should be allowed before it is brought to
                  Grand Prix. You will then have a horse starting Grand Prix
                 work at eight to nine years, and then you have two to three
              years to really master the routine, and to present the
               movements and the training of the horse. From about
                 twelve years onwards, the Grand Prix horse should reach its
                peak in competition for three to four years. '