I have moved this topic for Winsome :


I wanted to revive this topic just to post a link to a really fascinating video I just viewed. It's Rafael Soto and Invasor, performing at "Fantaisie Olympique" (a display at an event I sadly have no further information on, so I'm not even certain of the year). They deliver their brilliant kur and Invasor performs more wonderfully than I think I almost ever saw him in competition.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvqljCV3a0c

The reason I found this video fascinating is - like the one of HansPeter and Zizi Top - it shows an interesting example of how to cope with difficult moments in dressage. Rafael and Invasor perform the one and two time flying changes on a 20 metre circle, usually with great rhythm and accuracy, but this time when Rafael asks for the first two time - it doesn't happen! Invasor is momentarily confused in his bend, and still doesn't quite understand when asked a second time. He stays on the left leg for about ten strides while the communication difficulty is sorted out, then gets the message and achieves a lesser number of nonetheless safe two tempis. Rafael then rides almost directly into his double pirouette, but during that short time there is an obviously intense conversation going on between rider and horse. Rafael collects Invasor and balances him in an intense way (intense without tension I mean), shortening the canter strides into almost slow motion without losing rhythm or activity, then commences to turn into a deeply sitting double pirouette, the first pirouette of which had ELEVEN strides!! He then rides positively forward for eight strides, refreshing and opening out the canter, then straight into twenty-three easy, rhythmic one time changes on a 20 metre curved line.

Of course the test then culminates in mouthwatering passage and even one handed walk pirouettes after the halt to turn and display the mighty magnificence of Invasor. OLE!!

My analysis is strictly amateur, but I wondered what others thought of this real test of nerves, what to do when it suddenly goes wrong in the Kur. In practice one always wishes to address mistakes in a manner that corrects the training, but in the arena the music is still running, your horse is confused and everyone's watching - what do you do? This particular video I think showed what a great partnership this combination had, how in tune they were generally that a mistake could be corrected and the horse could be rebalanced (and de-confused!) with the general impression barely being disturbed. There such confidence between them and I think Rafael gives a slightly quieter ride than he could sometimes do in competition, with his very infectious enthusiasm and obvious joy in his horse!

Thanks Theo! Such a fun ride

You hit me straight into my heart with that video. Again. And why is that? The horse is fabulous. No question about that. The rider is less good, at least according to the modern standards. His aids are often too strong (see his kur in Athens), he visibly pulls the rains, he doesnot sit straight., he kicks with his heels in the horses sides. And yet, his horse works for him, wants to work for him, the communication is excellent, at least most of the time, but best of all they radiate such a pleasure in their work together. I think that is the most important aspect of horse riding. I do not see often so much fun in all these dressage test.