Jennifer O. Bryant - The USDF Guide to Dressage: The Official Guide of the United States Dressage Foundation

THE USDF GUIDE TO Dressage

JENNIFER O. BRYANT

WITH A FOREWORD BY GEORGE WILLIAMS

The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Deborah Burns and Marie Salter

Cover design by Kent Lew

Text design by Vicky Vaughn

Text production by Liseann Karandisecky

Production assistance by Jennie Jepson Smith

Front cover and spine: U.S. competitor Guenter Seidel aboard Graf George, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Photograph by Bob Langrish.

Back cover photographs: Arnd Bronkhorst/www.arnd.nl, lower right; Bob Langrish, top four;

SusanJStickle.com, lower left

Frontispiece: Guenter Seidel aboard Nikolaus 7, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Photograph by Bob Langrish.

Complete photography credits are provided on page 331.

Illustrations by Joanna Rissanen; arena diagrams by Chuck Galey

Indexed by Susan Olason/Indexes & Knowledge Maps

Copyright 2006 by Jennifer O. Bryant. This book has been written in cooperation with the United States Dressage Federation. USDF is dedicated to education, the recognition of achievement, and the promotion of the sport of dressage.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher.

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Printed in Hong Kong by Elegance

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Bryant, Jennifer O. (Jennifer Olson)

The USDF guide to dressage / by Jennifer O. Bryant ; with a foreword by George Williams.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-58017-529-6; ISBN-10: 1-58017-529-5 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Dressage. I. United States

Dressage Federation. II. Title.

SF309.5.B79 2006

798.23dc22

2005032239

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: U.S. competitors Debbie McDonald and Brentina bring the house down with their Motown-themed freestyle at the 2005 FEI Offield Farms Dressage World Cup in Las Vegas.

Even to those of us who grew up trying to do it, dressage has always seemed mysterious. Over the years, a few books have been published that have helped to demystify this intriguing and addicting sport; Jennifer Bryant has written such a book.

When I was a small boy, I remember my father saying that it takes a better teacher to explain something complex, such as Einsteins theory of relativity, in an understandable manner at the elementary school level than it does to explain it at the college level. Although dressage is not rocket science, in The USDF Guide to Dressage Jennifer Bryant tackles a complex topic by breaking it down into concepts understandable to the uninitiated. In clear, concise language, she simplifies dressage, making it accessible to everyone. She guides aspiring dressage enthusiasts through the crucial process of finding the right instructor and explains the terminology, fundamentals, and principles of dressage. The book covers the basics in detail, enabling readers to understand them, to appreciate their importance, and therefore to progress in their dressage training. Also included are exercises for the continual improvement of both horse and rider.

This wonderful book opens the door, allowing many to enter and experience the world of dressage, a sport that at times can be both frustrating and delightful. The frustration sometimes originates from a lack of knowledge or a lack of a clear path to follow through the challenges presented during the course of daily training; the delight comes from the relationships we forge with our horses when we are successful in our daily training.

The key to training success is our understanding of the principles of dressage as developed over the centuries. Dressage has its base in the teachings of the Greek master Xenophon, whose teachings were expanded on by many subsequent expert horsemen and continue to evolve to this day. As our understanding of equine biomechanics, physiology, and psychology continues to advance with each successive generation of experts in horsemanship, we become more enlightened. When we gain the proper education, historical perspective, and practical knowledge, along with equestrian skill, our horses benefit, and we benefit through the joy that comes from the bond we share with our horses.

Books like The USDF Guide to Dressage help us feel the joy and delight that come with the study of dressage and make the journey more rewarding.

George Williams
Vice President, USDF, and international
Grand Prixlevel dressage competitor

DRESSAGE DIVA: The Grand Prix mare Rocher, owned by Chuck and Joann Smith, and George Williams.

I am the perfect person to write this book, not because Im a great dressage rider or trainer, which Im not, or because I edit USDF Connection, the member magazine of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), which I do. No, Im the perfect choice because when I began studying dressage back in the 1980s, I had no feel whatsoever, no natural seat, no innate gift. I am blessed with good hand-eye coordination, mediocre athletic ability, and decent posture. That was about it for me in the suitable for dressage category. If Id been a sport-horse candidate, I probably wouldnt have passed the breed registries inspection tests.

I give you this background to explain that everything Ive learned about dressage has been hard earned. I now ride at a fairly advanced level, but nothing has come easily. I have struggled with my riding position until the unforgiving saddle drew blood. I have read countless books and magazine articles, many of which I didnt understand because they seemed to be written for people who already know what a half-halt is and dont bat an eye when told mysterious things like, Your horse is behind your leg. Huh? Fortunately, dressage is a sport in which dedication and hard work can overcome many obstacles, so if you dont consider yourself a natural athlete or a natural rider, dont let that deter you.