I believe there really are three groups out there in the world of riding.
Group 1 – the Competitors. Their primary goal is competition in various disciplines be it dressage, jumping, cross-country etc. The great thing about competition is the fact that it gives you a goal and you have a clear vision of what you are working on and what you are working for. The not so great thing about competition are the riders that put winning above everything else and are therefore willing to take shortcuts. Most shortcuts come at the expense of the horse.
Group 2 – the Weekend Warriors. These are riders that primarily have time on the weekend, they often keep their horses in their own backyard and they don’t always get a chance to ride. While they love their horses, they often have little access to any formal training and also don’t always see the need for it. Their primary goal is to have a horse that is safe enough for trail riding. I truly believe that this is the group that the majority of the natural horsemanship movement is designed for. All the horsemanship trainers try to help these rider have a safe and quiet horse. That really is the main objective of their tours across the country, DVD courses and TV shows. Thankfully they are around or there would be a lot more bad accidents. This kind of rider however is satisfied to simply get from point A to point B.
Group 3 – the Artists. These riders want to ride for the Art of Riding. Primarily in the field of Dressage. This riding is about developing a true partnership with your horse. And it requires a profound understanding of the biomechanics of the horse as well as the rider. This kind of riding also means the utmost discipline on behalf of the rider. You need to know your body and be able to control it. Once you have that you can request precision from your horse. Your horse can only move as precise as you can ride. While this is certainly the most intense and slowest path of all groups, it is the one I have chosen for myself. Progress here is often small and slow but when it finally comes together, it is truly enlightening.
I believe there is room for all three groups out there and of course anyone can choose which group they want to be in. Besides, there is cross-over, many riders in group 1 want to become better artists and I certainly enjoy a fun trail ride a few times a year. A lot of riders start in group 2 and then strive to become better horsemen or horsewomen and move into another group.
No matter which group you see yourself in – go out there and enjoy your horse!
Nicely put and something many can relate to. I myself was in Group 1 as a child and teenager, became disillusioned and spent many years after moving to Colorado in Group 2 before realizing I wanted more. I now find myself at age 41 firmly planted in Group 3 and once again enthusiastic about training and studying the “art” of Classical Dressage for the sake of my sanity and my horse’s well being and happiness! I feel fortunate to have connected with Simone and Ralf to keep me on the path.