beginning dressage

Question
I am interested in beginning dressage and I have never done it before.  I do not have a dressage horse I was wondering if you would get a beginner dressage horse so we could learn together or get a horse that knows what he's doing even when I don't.  I don't know anyone in my area that does dressage but I am very interested.  Any information you can give me will help. Thanks,
               Rebekah

Answer
Hi Rebekah;

It's usually best if you can take some lessons on an already solidly trained dressage horse.  That way you can learn the aids and have the horse respond immediately when you get them right.  Later on then, if you want to, you can purchase a less knowledgeable horse and will be able to teach the horse all that you've already learned.

There are lots of dressage books out there, so go to your local library or browse a place like Chapters or Nobles and pick out a few books and read up on dressage.  Don't forget to include one or two books about the history of dressage as well.

Then you'll need to look in the phone directory and call around to places and ask around about dressage lesosns.  If they don't give them, then they may someone who does.

Dressage takes years and years to perfect and thus lots of practise and patients, but it also builds a fantastic relationship between horse and rider that makes all the work worthwhile.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt