Dark Horse Riding Club

Riding Club Patrick Lessons Training Jumping/ Eventing/Dressage Links/Info

MISSION

To promote an effective standard of riding & horsemanship to all horses and riders. To adhere to traditional values and concepts that foremost benefit the horse and its well being, regardless of what endeavors the horse and rider ultimately pursue.

"What you cannot teach in 30 minutes to your horse remains for tomorrow" SRS

EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

Horses have been used as mounts for the military since early history. As the horses had to be obedient and maneuverable, a system of training was developed, first documented in the writing of the Greek Xenophon. As horses in the past centuries was used primarily by the military, it only stood to reason that a test of the military horse be the standard during the inception of the modern Olympics. The military test included obedience and maneuverability (or what would become dressage). By 1912, the equestrian disciplines as we know them (dressage, jumping, and eventing) were included. The US Cavalry at Ft. Riley exchanged ideas and instructors with the schools in Europe and started the trend that brought dressage training not only to the military but to civilians. The modern Olympics commenced in 1898 with equestrian events, and the “military test” first included in 1900 which evolved into the separate Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, and stadium jumping.

Dressage; is a 3,000 year old method of training horses originally for war purposes, and evolved into an art form during the renaissance period. It is based on principles of kindness and patience, developing the horse to its best, while preserving his balance, strength and soundness. Dressage is the basic foundation for all other forms of horsemanship. With so many different ways of training these days, there are misrepresented forms of training which confuse both horse and rider. Training shortcuts are the downfall of competition sports.

Patrick Ruppe