Or if you prefer to call it low, deep and round then go right ahead. I don’t differentiate the two very much, it is mostly political semantics so the FEI can avoid making top riders responsible in training their horses without abuse. I digress.
What you came here wondering about is Edward Gal’s involvement. He is the famed Dressage competitor who rode Moorland’s Totilas to the highest score ever awarded in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Did he use Rollkur with Totilas? That I cannot tell you, what I can offer however is video of him riding other horses though. Enjoy -
Edward Gal aboard Rubin Cortes in France, 2011
Video Commentary
- relaxation at a gallop, the horse is round and deep low attitude, it is very casual, in that attitude back to the maximum amplitude of operation
- Edward Gal and then enlarges the wake of reduced gallop, the horse remains flexible at relaxes. Rebound asks the horse to expand or reduce its “framework” without transfer of weight forward or backwards.
- Have you seen the small discrete strokes of the left hand? He asked after each movement reward the horse.
- Observe the relaxation of the base and legs, the simplicity of hand actions. The hands are “sets” of symmetric arms very flexible.
- End of relaxation at a gallop, the pirouette working a large circle provides a gradual stance somewhat higher.
- Little by little he tightens his work until obtaining a pirouette.
- Changes in the feet closer together like the rest of the key points are control of the speed and relaxation.
- Lateral work at a gallop, the horse is very curved and does not lose the quality of its locomotion.
- We clearly see here the preparation of lateral work. He asks the horse to walk straight with a fold inside, he asked the press when the horse relaxes and waits in balance.
- Transition in the trot for the passage.
- End of meeting, he lets the horse stretch at a gallop and trot off.
- Passionate, affordable, smiling, humorous … It would take a book to list the qualities that listeners have found in Edward Gal in the forum for questions.
- And the next day with a microphone was even more awesome!
My neck gets sore just watching. It is only during a poorly developed (read spoiled) walk that Edward Gal allows any freedom of the neck to his horse, and during the rest of the ride he keeps him round, round, round. Keep in mind that not only FEI rules but also Classical Dressage Masters have noted that the position of the horse’s face should be anywhere between 45 and 90 degrees depending on the horse’s individual conformation, this horse is well beyond 90 degrees.
Edward Gal’s heavy-handed training of Asther de Jeu
It is hard to watch this, particularly after watching Carl Hester videos just recently. The striking contrast between Carl Hester, whose riding is light and quiet, and that of Edward Gal cannot be missed. I feel as if his horses miss the basic element of balance, in the previous video his horse came lunging out of a canter pirouette and seemed unsure whether it should come or go through the lateral work. This “training” video is no different but it is more obvious to see how heavy of a rider Edward Gal is in it. Heavy handed, heavy legs.
Naturally, we will probably see Edward Gal continue many years of raging success on the laurels of Moorlands Totilas, who I am still convinced is a fluke. He is, or I should say was the horse for Edward Gal. The two were indeed a matched pair and seemed in unison. I don’t see that in any of the other horses that he is riding, training or competing.
Update
I had suspected this for awhile, so thanks for the post. The horses aren’t even moving in a balanced manner. How in the world can people not realize that? Dressage should improve a horse’s natural movement, and the movements in those videos were not natural, nor where they rhythmic or in harmony.
On the flip-side of rollkur, I often see more of the heavy-bottomed necks with noses stuck in the air type of riding around here. The dressage horses with their extra muscle behind the jaw and third vertebrae muscle development and huge dips in front of the withers are a source of discomfort to watch as well. Horses that are not as adept at rollkur who are now “learning” to rear are becoming more prevalent. It is so common as to be normal. People riding who’s main goal is to get immediate obedience despite the wear and tear it produces on the muscles.
Ann,
I know that I was quite shocked to watch the Hong Kong Olympics and the myriad of problems that the riders seemed to have, followed up by many notorious “incidents” at various Internationally recognized shows involving not just Rollkur but also for example the blood in the mouth of Adelinde Cornelissen’s horse.
Cheers
It is painful to watch such disharmony, particularly in a sport promoted as the “ballet” of equestrian sports.
I first got interested in dressage, back in the 80s when I was in high school. All I heard was that it was “dancing with horses.” This isn’t anything of the sort. I am so glad that I discovered classical dressage about 10 years ago. Otherwise, I think I would have given up on dressage entirely.
I started out in competition myself, but felt the whole time like there was something out of sync. Kind of fell into Classical and talk about night and day – even just from a learning the philosophy of riding aspect.
[...] thus appear seamless.Visit Anja Beran’s WebsiteCarl Hester – Inspirational Equestrian #3Recently I compared Carl Hester’s style of riding to that of Edward Gal, needless to say Edward Gal is not one of my inspirational equestrian references. I quite like a [...]
Could you elaborate on where do you see Gal being heavy-handed ?
I see the horse moving with a lot of impulsion , the riders hands are steady , he is really only using his seat and legs , this is an athletic and constant picture.
Kiku,
In heavy handed – the horse’s head is being held behind the vertical by Gal, not of it’s own doing. As a result there is considerable stiffness you see through the neck – easier to spot when he rides towards the camera, the neck and head do not move in sync with the body. He may not be moving his hands around uncontrollably but instead applying a considerable pressure during the ride which gives a false impression of a frame and hence collection.
I would bet money he could not ride this horse in a frame on a loose rein – the horse has to be held into that position which negates the idea of dressage to begin with which is conditioning the horse physically to carry the rider’s weight and as a result collection and the favored “frame” is the ultimate result, without requiring the rider to hold the horse in that position.
Cheers,
Erica