Equestrian Disciplines - Dressage! An interview with Alice Meyers-Paulin of Hudson Mill Farm

Susan: Alice, I notice you have a beautiful European accent. Where are you from, and when did you come to the United States?

Alice: Thank you Susan for inviting me to this interview. I try not to sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger but I, too, am from Austria. I came here in 1990 and have dual citizenship in both Austria and the United States. (Editor's comment...Alice does not sound like Arnold S!)

Susan: When did you fall in love with horses, and at what age did you start riding?

Alice: I have loved horses as long as I can remember. I started to ride at 9 years old (against my parents' wishes) and have never looked back.

Susan: Who was (and what breed) your first horse/pony?

Alice: I never had time to own a horse because of training and showing other peoples' horses. My first horse was an "accident" in the stables where my riding club was located; he was the product of Austrian crossbreeds. He was the sweetest thing on earth but not at all a dressage horse.

Susan: Tell me a little about dressage. I know the word “dressage” translated from French means “training”. Can you explain?

Alice:: The "Art of Riding" has its roots in Greece (around 400 B.C.) and was based on empathy and the gentle treatment of the horse. Much has changed since then and there is a ton of literature out there that tries to explain dressage...about the translation - dressage comes from the French word 'dresser' - to prepare.

susan: : What is it about this discipline that interests you the most, and how did you become involved in training?

Alice: Have you ever felt harmony between you and your horse while you ride him? The total connection of your mind and body with that of the horse is for me the ultimate goal in dressage that can only be reached with an open mind, knowledge and many years of disciplined, hard training. I just want to pass on what I have learned over all the years.

Susan: How do you feel dressage is different from the other disciplines?

Alice: On the contrary, dressage is the foundation to all other disciplines. In Europe every student has to begin with dressage training before they can move on to other disciplines. Even carriage drivers come to me for dressage training with their driving horse. This will also benefit the other driving disciplines like cones and marathon. Same with the jumpers – a horse that has no balance and is incapable of bending will never be able to run the tight turns to the next jump.

Susan: How long have you been training?

Alice: I have been training horses and riders since 1980 mostly in Austria. I've been training in Virginia since 2001.

Susan: Is every horse capable of learning the art of dressage? Are there some breeds that are better at it than others? I ask because Aladdin appears to have some training, and he and I practice the side pass and half-pass; he’s quite good actually!

Alice: Every horse has the ability to perform basic dressage movements and some are just more capable than others to perform the higher arts with training and conditioning. In the international sport of dressage the judges want to see specific executions of movements and for those movements the European warm blood horses are best suited and have been bred especially for those movements. You have to look at all the different horse breeds and their specific qualities. Your Aladdin for example: Arabs have the most amazing endurance, which was refined over the thousands of years with breeding, and are being used in those disciplines where endurance is required. Of course your horse is capable of executing dressage movements but probably in a different way than the dressage judges want to see. Look at all the gaited horses and their disciplines – Warm blood horses could never do this! I hope not every horse owner who wants to start riding dressage expects to win the Olympics!

Susan: In competition, what are the different classes?

Alice: The dressage tests begin with “Intro Level” (2 tests) - simple patterns and no canter. If your horse has developed more suppleness and rhythm you move up to “Training Level” (4 tests) - simple patterns with canter. After your horse has developed more balance, throughness and thrust you can move up to “First Level” (4 tests) – small circles (volte), more bending, lengthening, lateral movements. From here on it will get much more difficult and many riders will spend most of their time perfecting the transition to the higher levels (1. – 4. level). After this you can say you have made it “all the way” – Prix St.Georges, Intermediate I and II and the Grand Prix. Many riders have discovered the Musical Freestyle, Pas De Deux and Quadrill. There is something to do for every rider and horse and their level of education. You can find all the details on numerous websites.

Susan: What are riders and their mounts judged upon?

Alice: I refer to the dressage test score sheets and quote:
Gaits: freedom and regularity Impulsion: desire to move forward (my comment: the original French term says ‘desire to carry itself forward’), elasticity of the steps, suppleness of the back, engagement of the hindquarters Submission: attention and confidence, harmony, lightness and ease of movements, acceptance of the bridle, lightness of the forehand Rider: position and seat, correctness and effect of the aids
In short – harmony between rider and horse in executing various movements in different gaits.

Susan: What is your favorite aspect of dressage?
Alice: I want to emphasize that the true education and development of a horse is based on the classical art of riding where the healthy, voluntary participation of the horse is shown with suppleness and lightness in the movements. A long, disciplined way to reach that goal but so much reward is awaiting you when you get there. With much disrespect I see the classical dressage wrongfully interpreted by the so-called “Pull- and Squeeze Society” and the judges who allow this to happen.

Susan: Any closing remarks?

Alice: A few words from my mentor, Colonel Alois Podhajsky, director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna:
"Theory is the knowledge, Practice is the ability. But always put the knowledge in front of the action."

For information on Alice and dressage, please visit this link to her farm http://www.hudsonmillfarm.com. Here you will find links also, to Alice's favorite and special areas of interest. Shown above, Alice and Tonka and below, one of Alice's students (and my friend) Lisa MacDonald and her Thoroughbred/Clydesdale X, "Ankh"one of my favorite horses of all times...she's a beauty)



Also, please visit my favorite source for everything!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressage