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Following our last TDC General Meeting, Dressage University attendees listened with rapt attention while Master Horse Trainer and Instructor, Scarlett Fahrenson, discussed how European and particularly German competitive dressage compares with that in the United States. Scarlett is eminently qualified as a speaker on the topic, as she has been a professional in the horse world for thirty years, the last six years of which she has spent living and working in the U.S. We all shared a laugh when she confessed that prior to moving from Germany, she was looking for a break from the grind of competition and wanted to slow down and just have fun with horses. The movie, "City Slickers" caught her in an adventurous moment and she was enticed to head west to push cows, wrangle dudes, and ride the mountain trails. She did have lots of fun, but now at her Sonoita-based St. Georg Dressage and Schooling Barn, Scarlett is back in the show ring with some fabulous imported warmbloods.
After considering her assigned topic, Scarlett realized that there was really very little common ground between the European and American show rings and in order to explain the differences, she needed to begin at the beginning: the preparation of the rider, the horse, and the trainer. The following are highlights from Scarlett's talk.
Training the Rider
Everyone starts on a lungeline with two to three lessons per week for at least ten hours. When you are released for your first group lesson, your hands are quiet, you know how to post, you know to keep your heels down! People learn to ride at riding clubs on school horses. You do not buy a horse until you prove that you can ride and care for a horse. You learn dressage, jumping, trail riding. An all-around education is taught before anyone "specializes".
Riders are expected to ride properly
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dressed at all times in breeches and tall boots. The thinking is that if you cut corners in appearance, you will cut corners in your performance as well. If you ask your horse for precise movements, you must be precise and disciplined yourself.
Riders require a license before they are allowed to compete in shows. The license is issued by the government when the rider demonstrates the ability to ride the equivalent of a first level test, jump twelve obstacles 3 to 3 ½ feet high, and pass a test of basic horse knowledge. Once you are allowed to show, you begin at the lowest level and must earn your way up to the next level based on your performance. The government monitors your show results and the officials will inform you when you may apply to move up.
The horses are monitored as well. In Germany, you will not see a rider purchase a Grand Prix horse and then compete at second level. If you are an inexperienced rider, you may show two levels below your horse! For example, a rider may show a third level horse at first level. Once you achieve a level of performance, you cannot go back down to a lower level.
German riders tend to have a more disciplined attitude. They follow instructions very well. If you tell Germans to stay at the gate, they will stay. If you tell Americans to stay, they are gone before you get back.
Training the Horse
Germany does not necessarily have better horses than here in the States. It has to do with suitability. All young horses receive basic training--some dressage, some jumping, and some trail riding. They do not specialize until it is obvious what they will be best at doing. A horse suited to being a coach horse does not go on with dressage training. A horse that jumps flat does not go on to become a jumper. This is just being
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more honest. A four-year-old horse is a baby, they learn just to go straight. A five-year-old begins serious training. A seven-year-old is done growing and is able to do more strenuous movements. Pushing three-year-olds to perform will result in problems later on.
Training the Trainers
The government requires licensed trainers. It requires a long, hard education of up to eight years and rigorous examinations. First you are a horse trainer and then a Master Riding Instructor. No one else is allowed to call himself a professional.
And finally, Showing
The first difference is in the terminology. "Shows" are called tournaments in Germany. This means friendly competition that includes spectators, hundreds of spectators! Horseback riding is a common sport, a folk sport, that is not just for the very rich.
There are many shows every weekend form which to choose sponsored by the many riding clubs or associations. These are all big social events that last two to three days due to the large number of competitors. You may well have over one hundred riders in your class! Awards are given at the end of the class, the winners ride into the ring and line up. The judge gives you your ribbon and shakes your hand. The music plays for the round of honor. People cheer. If you fail to show up, your place goes to the next best horse. So everyone hangs around until the show is finished. The person with the green ribbon is just as proud as a grand champion. Sometimes there are so many competitors that more than one rider is judged at a time. Can you imagine riding a test with two or three others in the ring with you? The riders and spectators all have a good time talking, sharing, and hanging out.
There is no separation in the show ring (Continued on page 16)
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