Trick Training and Natural Dressage

In this post I want to talk about trick training and a type of natural dressage. I am still doing a lot of research and studying, especially on dressage since I basically know nothing about it but I figured this could be a good learning opportunity for all of us. I will be referring to Eva Roemaat (click her name to visit her YouTube channel) throughout this post as I have recently been studying her methods on trick training, natural horsemanship, and natural dressage. She is from the Netherlands and speaks dutch, but you don't need to hear anything, you just need to watch.... I have seen several people do natural horsemanship and trick training but she does it so elegantly that it truly is majestic to watch her with her horses (Shilas, Flip, and Que-Habil). I can only hope one day I can work with horses in such a graceful way.

So what is trick training and natural dressage? Trick training is teaching your horse "commands/tricks" on que such as bow, sit, rear, paw, kiss, spanish walk, lay down, jambette, etc. Natural dressage is dressage, but in a natural way. For example, having your horse at liberty or riding bareback teaching certain movements, and head positions naturally. I am very new to dressage and what exactly dressage is.. also what the purpose is besides making a horse move in some would say,"such an "unnatural" way". But that derives from harsh training methods such as rollkur, not so much dressage in itself. Others on the other hand say that its great for the horses muscles, their flexibility, and it makes a horse supple. And it also makes a rider learn more control.

If you look up dressage it says that dressage is a french term that means "training" and its purpose is to develop the horses natural athletic ability to work making him calm, supple, and attentive to his rider. What throws me off is the word natural..... I don't find anything natural about putting a horse into rollkur to learn an unnatural position in order for a person to win a ribbon, metal, or money. When I was first coming into the horse world I seen dressage and thought it was very beautiful, but I was astonished that these horses foaming at the mouth while being stuck in such an unnatural position with extremely tight reins. I just didn't and still don't understand... Why is that necessary? Why do the judges want to see that? Why don't trainers just train them to do this naturally? I could drop Furys head by the tap of my finger between his ears...

I am hoping to learn more about the actual sport dressage and come to an understanding of the true meaning behind dressage for certain dressage riders. I understand that not all riders put their horses in rollkur so I would love to hear different types of training styles that dressage riders use. Also whether you started your horse your horse from the ground up with teaching dressage, or if you purchased a horse that was already trained in dressage. I would also like to learn more about trick training and what other peoples experiences are with this. For example: have you found trick training helpful with your relationship/bond with your horse, did they catch on quick, what tricks can your horse do.. what type of training style do you use for trick training? Do you use treats, clicker, or a praise? What type of whip/stick have you found that works best (dressage whip, Clinton Anderson stick and string, crop, stock whip)? Did you/do you use verbal commands along with your stick command? Etc!

I am hoping to be doing a lot of this type of training once we buy our own place. I have been looking into becoming a certified professional horse trainer (I can even put PhT after my name, ooooh! lol!) and getting my certification in stable management but that will take time and several thousands of dollars to pay for my courses. So that will be a long term goal for myself. All options are open at this point in time, I just know I want to work with horses.. Which I will.


**Educating equine and Training tots; Leading to Liberty**