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!)

[slc2]

Every single group of horse people, every type of riding, every single one of them, has their snobs. You can always find annoying people in any group. I think it's a riot to even try to prove that 'dressage people are more snobby than hunt seat people'. EVERY group of riders has their snobs.

Horses, in and of themselves, attract snobby people. Horses are expensive, and they are the hobby of the rich...rich people aren't generally snobby, but people who are trying very hard to appear rich sure are!

For some people, riding is, in fact, a snob activity, and a way for them to walk around and act like they're better than everyone else.

You EVEN have reverse snobs. 'WELL! I ride Grand Prix on my Shetland-Percheron cross that was tied up in a guy's garage and fed marshmallows for ten years, and we may not win, but that's because the judges are all wrong...besides, I hate all those expensive horses and people who get LESSONS, they all stink anyway! I'm MUCH better than them' !!!! LOL.

Some people get attracted to dressage with the idea that they are 'more classical' and they are such good riders, and they get mixed up ideas in their heads about how their instructor, their horse, their breed, is better than any other instructor, horse, breed. This has nothing to do with dressage, it has a lot more to do with being inexperienced, ignorant and 'over-magazine-ized' or 'over-bookish-ized' in one's education. You DO get people who are attracted to the 'classical ideal of horsemanship' and they DO make life miserable for the rest of us mere mortal slobs....LOL.

So, you meet snobs in every crowd, with every type of riding. Some people are just...annoying. If they were working in a homeless shelter, they'd probably be standing around telling the other people who work there how THEIR homeless person is a better homeless person than someone else's. If they were digging worms out of the ground, they'd be saying THEIR worms are bigger and stronger, or they got more, or whatever.

But....don't fall into the trap of being overly judgemental of everything riders say, and getting all bent out of shape if someone doesn't oooh and aaah at your horse or immediately declare you're on your way to the Olympics. It's also a hard sport and takes time, and if someone isn't entirely gushy isn't always a 'snob'. Besides, most of the unpleasant comments you hear around horses are made because of one reason: ignorance. Feel sorry for people who are ignorant - usually they don't even KNOW how much they don't know! And the sad thing is, they have to learn themselves...you really can't help them. They don't listen and learn easily....they'll have a very hard time as they go on. So feel sorry for them, laugh a little, and just forget what they say. The saddest part about them is that what they say really isn't important.

Because there are so many new people in dressage, who haven't been through the experience of training their own horses and showing for years, you get a lot - an awful lot - of opinions. What you need to do is ignore about 99 percent of them. I learned a lot from an international rider who responded to every single criticism and snobby remark with either of these two words, said very, very loud and drawn out very long:

'GREAT!'

OR....

'THAAAAAANKS!'

Then she'd walk away, and forget about it.

THAT skill will help ya in ANY type of riding. Find a good instructor, and IGNORE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAYS.

[Blair]

Not all are like that some are however I've been to several different barns over my years of riding I've done jumping, dressage, eventing, western, ect you'll find in all of the horsie disciplines there are extremly nice people and some that are not and who tend to be stuck up. I know at least 36 dressage people who would give you the shirt off there back if you needed it. It depends on the people who you surround yourself with. Dressage is really fun you'll like it.

[Kess Paquette]

I love dressage and ive been ridin 1year and a half done 3 schooling shows.I honestly think u should try dressage cause really my cousin does hunter and after she did a bit of dressage she went from the bottom to the top.Most judges are nice like where i go my coach chooses a nice lady named Melanie that has lessons at the same place i do and she judges the schooling shows.Good luck!

[Linda Dennis]

oh that is so sad... when I first learned about Dressage I was up till then a Saddle Seat rider! it was an obscure European Equestrian ART then...only a few former cavalry types and British horse society women were teaching it here then. It was mostly associated with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, and if you could find one of those riders to work with it was a big deal. H-J was the snobbiest, at least the A show kind. Now Dressage had changed from a pursuit of the esoteric really devoted idealistic "intellectual riders sport" to mainstream big time show horse stuff with wealthy amateurs on imported horses being the core of the thing with many many very well trained professionals available all over to work with them.
It makes it easier to find a trainer! lol, but I do miss the idealistic idea of it some..when any horse was considered appropriate for dressage, and it was like a coterie of devoted lovers of the bond between horse and rider more than a snazzy bling infused wealthy woman's pursuit.

[Kim Berenbaum]

I would have to say that I have found that overall this stereotype is not true. I spent many years as a hunter/jumper rider before switching over to dressage and so far my experiences have been much more positive with dressage. I have found in general most of the dressage people are a lot friendlier and more apt to strike up a conversation with you even though you have never met them before. I have also found that they are a lot more willing to step in and help if you are in a bind. Maybe part of my positive experience is that I am showing a 14 hand quarter pony with a rather unique blaze so she is a good conversation starter...

[Jan Jollymour]

Hi!

I think your last statement covers the issue: "...I really ahte the snobbery that sometimes comes from horse people.". As a coach, trainer and rider who's worked and competed in every discipline (except CTR and endurance, and I do coach CTR and endurance riders) at some point or another I'd have to say that there are snobs in every discipline.

I think the dressage crowd tends to be perhaps more obsessive compulsive than others, especially when it comes to our "fashion police", but there are lots of us who work within the discipline who are not blinded by name brand accessories and horses. Certainly there's more room for more breeds and cross-breeds than there usually is in the hunter ring, and more breeds and types of horses can do successful lower level dressage than can do jumpers, for example, so I think we actually tend to be more tolerant of strange breed combinations than other disciplines. Heaven knows the average WB is really a Heinz 57 in disguise, so it's hard to keep your nose in the air when faced with Arabian and TB pedigrees!

There are wonderful dressage barns and coaches who don't promote snobbery and gossip, you just need to find them. Perhaps you could post you location on this site and those of us who read it regularly could give you some suggestions.

[Gail Morse]

They are not more snobby. I find the dressage crowd at the lower levels which is the only experience I have, to be very helpful.

[Michelle Synnot]

I think the key is to stay away from the super ritzy barns to keep snobbery out of your life... if there's chandeliers in the aisleways..RUN!

LOL.

[Ari]

I've competed in quite a few disciplines, dressage and hunter included, and while it is sometimes true that the odd person is a snob, looking down their nose at you and your backyard horse from the back of their 10,000 dollar horse, there are few and far between. These are the people who think they know what they are doing, and are trying to appear professional. They might get under your skin a bit, but any real professional rider will be happy to give you a helping hand should you need it. This includes all disciplines, not just dressage... and sometimes more in hunter. Surround yourself with kind, helpful people and you will be sure to have a blast!

[Petstorejunkie]

I'll tell you the only show i have ever been to where all the competitors were positive, helpful, mature, and congratulatory was at a dressage show.
yes there can be snobbery but to me dressage snobbery is about how "by the book and classical" you ride as opposed to what brand of helmet you are wearing... as found in the hunter ring ;0)

[Frances Brown]

Perhaps it used to be that way, at least in the US when Dressage first started becoming popular in the 1990's. I was riding a loud colored 15 hand paint at the A rated shows at the time and getting asked "Love your mascot, but where's your real dressage horse?"

But I think that's changed drastically. Even those who have the money to buy the best horses and instruction are finding out that dressage requires more than deep pockets and a snooty attitude. It's hard work, requires diligence and dogged determination, and the rewards come in tiny little glimmers.

But they're well worth it! I think the best part about dressage for me is that competition, in the traditional sense, is optional. I derive as much satisfaction, if not more, from the day to day work with my horse. We compete against ourselves. And as we learn the dance steps, the thrill is bigger than any trophy or ribbon ever could be.