On Friday, I learned something new about myself.
I really don’t enjoy watching Dressage.
Ok, before anyone gets their fur ruffled up, I’d just like to say that I don’t dislike watching ALL dressage…and I don’t dislike the concept of dressage, and the positive benefits of dressage for riders and their horses.
And in fact, I do enjoy watching Freestyle Dressage and Higher Level Dressage. But I just can’t help it. I really dislike watching Level 1 Dressage!
I worked as a Level 1 Dressage Judge’s Assistant/Score Sheet Runner at the 20th Annual Arabian & Half-Arabian Youth National Championship Horse Show in Albuquerque, on Friday, for 4 hours………….
And I must admit that I felt like a Los Angeles commuter stuck in freeway traffic for most of those 4 hours. I was so relieved when lunchtime rolled around (and not just because I was hungry! lol!)
Watching Level 1 Dressage isn’t so bad while the first 3-4 riders and horses are performing.
But by the time rider and horse #5 take their turn performing the exact same pattern as the last 3-4 riders…..and the same pattern as the 30+ rider/horse teams after them, for 4 hours straight…….I just can’t help saying it! It’s just so tedious and boring!
At first I was enchanted with the formal dressage tradition of a sweet, little salute to the judge before and after each rider’s performance, but even that wore out it’s novelty after the first few times.
Sometimes, an especially talented and unique rider or horse arrives in the arena and perks you up a little.
Or an adorable and very cute kid with great skills will make your eyes light up and pay close attention.
But for the most part, it’s just very mundane.
And the only people who do seem to stick around to watch (besides the judges, assistants and photographers) are the family members of those competing.
The riders and horses wear the exact same color and design of clothing and tack, and unlike the Western riders and horses, there aren’t any costume rhinestones or silvery saddle bling, no flashy colors, or unique saddle tooling to catch your eye.
The horses even look the same: Most of them solid colored. And they all have their manes braided and knotted up tightly to their neck….just like their riders.
While I respect and admire those who do dressage…and especially those who compete in dressage, I guess I really do get more excited about Western riding, like Reining, Cutting, Sorting, Western Pleasure, and Working Cow Horse.
I really do love me some Western bling!
I appreciate how rider’s and horse’s clothing and tack are so well coordinated.
And speaking of Working Cow Horse….I’ve got some fun photos to share, coming up next…including a performance that blew the socks….er…….boots off one of the competitors!
You just gotta come back and see!
12 comments :
It truly is not for everyone! Me either to be honest, I like to watch it form time to time, and would love to learn the skills but 4 hours of watching? nope
LOL you almost had my fur standing straight up! But you are correct, in that situation, it can be a bit tedious. Just think though, your volunteer time helped make the day for the kids that no one else but family and trainers wanted to watch. Hats off to you :)
Yah - my fur went up too.. just a bit. I do understand though, it is tedious to us riders too at times.
Having ridden Western Pleasure, Western Showmanship I have to say I like Dressage better. I like formal attire, etc. We can add bling to our browbands =)
I have to agree with you regarding the soporific quality of lower level dressage! A few years ago we went to a dressage show. I think hubby made it through three horses - I made it for one or two more. Recently I've been to some combined driving events. The dressage is even more boring at lower levels - no canter! At least you can look at the different carriages!
I enjoy watching some of the dressage on the olympics. Yeah I can imagin 1st leval would get boring after a while, but 4 hours! LOL
There is nothing more breathtaking than watching a good cutting horse, to me!!!
It's a big deal for the participants, but watching lower level dressage all day is just a few steps up from watching paint dry.
You should go volenteer sometime at one of the endurance rides out there if you have time. We have all sorts of brightly colored horses and tack and we enjoy a little mix up in our day. Still, bravo to volunteering to dressage. I too find it boring on the lower levels even though I understand it's purpose.
Hey Caitlyn,
Last September, I volunteered to do P&R's for an Endurance Ride up in Santa Fe at the Caja del Rio. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot and enjoyed all of the riders and horses...and tack....BUT it did get a little boring while waiting for the riders to return. There is a lot of hurry up and wait...and then crazy frenetic rushing around when the riders return...and then a lot more waiting again. lol!
~Lisa
I totally hear ya on that! I would rather watch the english, hunter, western and reining/cow horse classes any day!
Great pictures. I love, love, love the western bling, but then I am a western girl!
LOL! There is nothing wrong with finding watching hours of low level dressage boring and tedious lol (heck reining is that way to me; same pattern over and over). It really is. I prefer watching clinics over shows because you get to hear the clinicians advice and you learn a LOT just from watching. It's probably only interesting to me though because I do ride dressage. :) Actually a lot of sports can be boring (heck have you ever watched auto racing zzzz) and there's nothing wrong with that. It's just a difference in preferences and opinions. That's what makes life interesting.
The thing about watching low level dressage (even some of the higher levels before freestyle) is it can feel a little bit like watching paint dry.
I like the technical aspects of dressage but it can get a bit boring, did you see there is a 71 year old man riding dressage for Japan? Thats pretty cool..:-)
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