From the start of basic work with the horse up to the highest levels of dressage, there is a firmness, joyfulness and a warmth in all of the work. This is the glue that holds all levels dressage together. This firmness is softness in action. Firm and soft are not contradictory but are complementary to each other when they arise the same source; joyfulness. It is a determination to communicate and a love of mutual intelligence. This idea was express by the old masters who characterized the aids as being like an iron bar wrapped in cotton. Where does the mind go when confronted with such an image? Do you follow the iron or the cotton? In my youth the iron was more important to me and now it is the cotton but each day and every ride, I ponder firm softness and soft firmness. It is compassion which enables you to find the balance between the two in every situation and joy which is a playfulness of being which invites the horse out to play. This is good dressage.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 10:38:49 +0000
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