Dressage Stereotypes

[J.Everheart]

I am really interested in dressage for the simple fact that I know it would improve my riding ability. I am thinking of taking some lessons and maybe eventually (far into the future) doing some schooling shows. However, I have this idea in my head that the dressage crowd is slightly more pretentious than the hunter crowd. Not sure where I got that idea, but I'm almost scared to get involved because I really hate the snobbery that sometimes comes from horse people. Is this all in my head? Anyone have an opinion on this?
(P.S.- Not trying to offend anyone, I have a lot of respect for the art of dressage!)

[Sonia]

I have found from being at a lot of different barns that there are people in the discipline that are like that. However, there are a lot of people that ARE NOT like that. I'm lucky to have recently found a barn that does not have a single person (lesson takers or boarders or owners) that think like that. You really need to do some research and ask around to find a place that's good for you. If they tell you up front they aren't like that, it's generally a good place to go. If you are in the GTA I can tell you a few places.

Sonia

[Alla]

Hi Sonia!
If it is not too late could you, please, name those "few places"? I am in search for now for a another barn where I could take dressage lessons and improve my riding skills.
Thanks in advance!
Alla..

[Dorothy McDonall]

It's really unfortunate you have that perception. I agree with Sonia, I think it has everything to do with the barn you choose to associate yourself with. There is a "snob" factor in every discipline, I would have to say, and rooting out a barn that shares your down-to-earth, grass roots, for-the-good-of-the-horse philosophy is worth the search whether you're into dressage, jumping, eventing, whatever. Being a former hunter/jumper rider myself I can understand where you're coming from. But I have learned since beginning my journey into the world of dressage that there are many, many people who are as far away from being snobs as it is possible to be, so keep that in mind while you're looking for a good dressage coach. Maybe you'll find one through this site! To me one of the things to keep in mind is that you bring whoever you are into your chosen circle and that can make a big difference. Good luck and enjoy your adventures in dressage!! :-)

[Barbara F.]

Hi there,
The snobbery is not all in your head, but I do think it occurs in every discipline. Would you be staying at your current barn and learning some dressage where you are, or would you be moving?

I have been riding dressage for many years and before that I was riding jumper and eventing. I have learned a couple of things along the way. Regardless of the discipline, the "culture" of the barn starts at the top. At one barn where I rode, there was a clique of women who used to ride around yelling "TRACK, TRACK!" and everyone had to scurry out of the way. At another barn, people used to sit in the lounge and criticize whoever was riding. Now I am at a barn where the owner has set a superb standard of behaviour just by being kind and friendly to everyone. The boarders are all friendly and supportive and we talk about a wide range of things that are going on in our lives. Everyone is friends with everyone else and the more experienced riders never look down on riders who are just learning.

As far as the schooling shows, I find that everyone is focused on their own rides, but many people do start to watch the score board as it fills up with marks - and I'm sure some people are tempted to fling a plastic bag into the ring while their competitors are riding, but no one ever does! :)

[Shimmer E]

It is my personal opinion that the H/J crowd is a little more stuck up than the dressage group, but that's just my experience. The best group I've ever found is actually the Arabian horse community! Would you believe that? I've never found so many people openly willing to help and so fun to show with than that community. Maybe you can combine and ride arab sport horse classes and dressage there? lol

Best of luck in your future!! have fun with it!

[Catherine]

I think it just depends on the people. There are stuck up riders from every discipline! But I think if you find the right barn you'll find hard working and dedicated people that want to get the best out of their horses. At my barn everyone tries their best and we're a team. So like I said, you'll see good and bad people in every discipline but you just have to find the right barn for you.

[Bernd]

Hi,
I'm in dressage for a long time and I've found that the snobby people are usually just covering the fact that they are not really dressage insiders.They only pretend to. Some professionals like it as those people are the easiest ones to overcharge by selling them expensive trainings, horses, clothes, trailers, etc... -
so keep cool and remember that the snobism will cost them a lot of money.- and the professionals need them, it hard earned money to be a dressage trainer in many cases.
I agree though that they are sometimes a nuisance.
Just ignore them and let them have fun with their money.

Best regards
Bernd

[J.Everheart]

That's great advice! Thanks!

[Stephanie H.S.]

Hi
Everywhere you go there are going to be the nasty ones. I do dressage, Pony Club, Showjumping, schools etc and theres always someone who likes to stir the pot.
Steph

[Susanne / Happy Horse Stables]

Hi there, I can see where you're coming from. But not everybody is like that, the snobs you'll find in every discipline, usually it is people that cover up what they don't know. If you are in the Ottawa area, I can give you a few addresses, where I find they have a very nice environment at the barn. I am a dressage instructor myself and come across these people and those people. Don't hesitate to ask.

Take care,
Susanne

www.happyhorsestables.ca

[slc2]

A knowledgeable, experienced dressage person doesn't act like a snob. They know it's a difficult sport and that it takes time to learn - they ALSO know a person can learn a lot with a very, very average horse, and doesn't need a fancy one to learn on. They also realize some people ride casually and don't try to make everyone do it at the same level.

It's really, from what I've seen, the beginners and insecure people who make it lousy for the rest of us. It's really that way in any sport or endeavor. It's usually the beginners who really act snobby.

There are plenty of annoying people in ALL riding sports. I've done most horse riding sports over the years - I can assure you, dressage riders have no monopoly on being snobs. It's in every riding sport. Frankly, I thought Western was so bad I took up hunters. I thought hunters were so bad I took up dressage. Then I realized - hey, there's a couple people like that in every crowd.

And yes, they're usually the people who have to pretend they know what they're doing.

On the other hand.....if a rider doesn't know how to ride in the ring with other people, he MIGHT hear 'rail please!' or 'hey, you almost ran me over'. There IS a way to ride with dressage and it's different from the etiquette rules for hunters or western riders. If you don't know how to work with others you can disrupt a lot of people trying to work on their dressage.

Too, if you tell a real experienced dressage rider, 'Me and my Pookie are going to the Olympics using nothing but videos of celebrity horse whisperers from Youtube and a clicker, and riding once a month in the summer', yeah, you might say their response is 'snobby', but it might actually be something more realistic. People have a lot of weird, inaccurate ideas about dressage (mostly thanks to the internet) and they can get a little bit offended if someone says, 'That's not really how it is'. The one person I was told is 'REALLY A SNOB' had actually said something in response to a really unrealistic person who thought they would be in the Olympics in a year when they couldn't yet sit the trot. The person really was just speaking some commonsense.

[Snaffle]

Yes, snobbery exists in dressage barns. Some are awfully snobbish, but they aren't the people who define the discipline - they are the people that the real dressage riders look down upon. They are the people who are only riding dressage because it looks pretty, no because it benefits their horses or makes them better riders.

There are snobs in every discipline. You say you are a hunter rider - I have been to a few A rated hunter shows and was hard put to find a good rider amidst all of the snobs. You know the type - butt in the air, laying on the horse's neck. Hunter and dressage riders seem to have the most snobs, hence their stereotypes, but not all - not even most - riders are like that.