This is Olympic Level competition. It is extremely expensive. In this picture "Rafalca" is performing an extended trot. I defy anyone to show me where in the natural world this gait exists. It doesn't. Dressage grew out of the practice of training 'stout' horses for battle, a long time ago. Like in armor plating. The horses used in battle did not have legs this fine or delicate.
The wild Mustang will never be found to run a collected gallop or an extended trot. These are not natural gaits for horses. They are possible because they can be leveraged in their 'balance' with bits, saddles and riders. They are at least a half a ton and can be controlled into developing their musculature to perform amazing feats. Their diet is high in protein and is not inexpensive. This horse most likely eats an alfalfa mix hay and is appropriate because it is not too rich to founder his hooves due to the high energy demand.
Jan Ebeling of Moorpark, CA and Ann Romney’s Rafalca (click here) followed up their strong performance in the Grand Prix test with another highlight in the Freestyle. From the very beginning, this pair was out to impress with a technically challenging first section. Their music was set to the soundtrack of the 1986 Robert De Niro movie “The Mission” and suited their choreography perfectly. Throughout their powerful trot work, Ebeling and Rafalca stayed perfectly in step with the music, helping them to earn a 72.589%. The pair completed the Grand Prix Freestyle in 11th place....
Ann Romney and I have a lot in common, but, not at this income level. My realtives too were miners. They worked as a blacksmith for the coal mines and a coal miner at the age of 17 in the Anthracite mines in Pennsylvania. There is no more Antracite coal anymore, except, in an occassional mueseum piece.
I too have a chronic inflammatory disease and riding can be a passive exercise that does not cause the body as much stress as one might find in sincere equestrian sports. A person competing at the level as seen above is fairly fit. But, never in my days did I find a Romney Academy for the Afflicted. So, the idea of riding in this case was singularly a status issue that would contribute to Ann's well being. She married money. Smart girl.
There are many people that can benefit from riding horseback as a pleasure sport, but, it is an expensive proposition. I know because I was involved with people that competed within the dressage community. So, let's not equate this to backyard sportmen and women, they aren't. This is status pure and simple. It is a sport and it is out of doors in many occassion.
I have been involved with American Horse Show A Rated Shows and Grand Prix Competition, but, never outside the USA and never as an owner. I have owned and rode Quarter Horses, not European Warm Bloods.
The horses are at least upwards of $25,000 for an American throughbred wtih potential, the training, the riding lessons, the vets, the trailing/transportation and shoeing is enough to kill a household budget. Those that often ride at this level aren't cleaning their own horse's stalls.
So, she and I have nothing in common really, similar backgrounds, but I would probably never converse with her and feel a kinship. I could tell you more about these horses, their temperment and the fact they don't really look forward to exhibiting their skills so much as performing for their riders. That, by the way, is what dressaeg is all about. It is not about the natural skills of the horse, it is how well the horse performs the demands of it's dressage course for the rider. The rider can mess up a routine ride and then the horse has no status at all. So, this isn't a sport the average folks can cling to as a realistic part of their lives.
This level of competition falls between backyard horsepeople and racing. It is primarily unattainable to most Americans, unless there is someone in the family with the descriptor "millionaire' attached to their adjectives. You won't find this level of competition at 4-H shows.
