Behind the Scenes of Dressage - In Pursuit of Perfection

Find out what drives Laura Tomlinson to compete at the very top in a quest to achieve the perfect Dressage test.
At all levels Dressage - likened to ballet on horseback - demonstrates a horse's ability, under subtle communication from its rider, to display absolute control over its body. The communication between the rider and horse must be effortless, as if the horse is acting under its own will rather than on instruction from the rider.
To learn more about Laura, and the other riders featuring in this series visit:
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[@amalkin671]

"[Dressage] is a mixture between ballet and athletics and weightlifting." -Dr. Wilfred Bechtolsheimer. Well said. Very well said.

[@BlancheDuBoisIntrovert]

As much as I love my life, I wouldn't mind being reborn into a horse dynasty family so I can ride all day without worrying about the next paycheck or boarding fees.

[@loudmatty2461]

don't we all...

[@jasminerebeccagray]

Im so sick of people not giving riders the applause they deserve. Only a rider knows how difficult riding actually is.

[@annamariayannetta242]

I train dressage, just live it so much, you have to be dedicated, live my passion!!!@🏇♥️🏇♥️🏇♥️

[@sahassaransi_mw]

"The equestrian athlete has got four eyes, two brains, six legs, two arms, and one tail"

[@carmen-heleensepp1724]

everybody talking about how cool or how bad is dressage, wanting to be on her level and like that, then there's me like " wow, her last name is Tomlinson"

[@franziskak.8258]

Carmen-Heleen Sepp Sameeee😂

[@ladyj7517]

Carmen-Heleen Sepp what does her name have to do with anything - don’t we all have a surname????

[@SaraLennox]

Dressage is so beautiful! :) i have a long way to go if i want her level tho :')

[@Gigabitties]

Sara Lennox ya well done. Another idiot who supports this kind of abuse.

[@em111x]

Abbi Curvelo well done another idiot that hates on every video on horses saying “sUcH aBuSe”.

[@ava_a313]

@@Gigabitties Wake up and suck it up, buttercup.

[@meganmcmahon9376]

I love dressage

[@caitlinlynnete152]

I want to be horse riding in the Olympics one day 🇦🇺

[@myvisionroy4270]

Goals. I like her ambition.

[@XxSparky2010xX]

Personally I am much more of a jumping person but this video is definitely my favourite out of all of these videos!! I really want to do dressage now!!!

[@1994donika]

What a gorgeous horse.

[@Christina11Lotte12]

So inspiring!

[@EllaEquestrian]

ADORE these!

[@biankaag4051]

wow shes amaze, actually shes my inspiration, i just wanan be just like her, the energy she has to have is just wow!

[@PhoebeBrownpheebzequine]

loving it! More please!!!

[@shj9714]

perfect future good luck ... bless you

[@bexylvsellie]

Loving these videos!

[@xClareBear92]

Wow amazing video!

[@cristinawagemansrovira721]

I'm in this video jajajajaja can't believe it, minute 2.43!!

[@xiluvhorsesx98]

this is brilliant!! keep them coming! x

[@bgleeson98]

amazing!

[@caracho7191]

What´s the title of the Music? It´s great. I love it

[@YurimoHikashi]

Very beautiful :) inspiring

[@schluckfisch]

nice view an video! :)

[@SAIFIful]

"[Dressage] is a mixture between ballet and athletics

[@ilovehorses3333]

I think that the most demanding is actually cross country because it takes more stamina strength and effort than dressage you have to be on your game for cross country and I should know I do cross country

[@TheNickyAndTheDogs]

dressage is awesome belive me :)

[@isi15love]

whats the song ?

[@choupachoupette35]

What's the song please ?

[@LONEEAGLE_space_rock]

jolly spiffing, break out the champagne

[@birgitschenk6569]

The noses are too often behind the vertical. To achieve perfection this would be an aspect to work on - to get the nose on or before the vertical much more.

[@hayleagreaves6755]

At their level the horses should never be in front of the vertical

[@marielambert4107]

+Haylea Greaves In dressage horses actually should always be slightly in front of the vertical and never behind the vertical. That is at least what would be perfect. Please don't just assume things that you know nothing about.

[@eligil4629]

Haylea Greaves GP horses should be directly on the vertical for collected paces and slightly in front for extended gaits.

[@TheKendog1988]

I have a love for horses and would love to learn how to ride one is dressage a lot of fun to do?

[@horsegirl07]

It's fun, but very hard! That of course is my opinion though. I've been riding for 12 years and dressage was the hardest. I learned so much though, but don't ride it anymore. Give it a shot, no harm in trying! :)

[@kaiadssd3955]

just be prepared that even if you in say 3-4 lessons ($40 each for a good coach) a week, you will still be a beginner in the sport for many more years. Although a horse takes roughly 7 years to get to GP level, it takes a rider a lot longer than that, not to mention the money/luck to be able to ride a horse of such a high caliber.

[@platinum_amortentia]

I find at least from personal experience that those who don't have a passion for jumping and the adrenaline that comes with it love dressage. It is very fun and satisfying to be able to put a horse into a frame, however it is A LOT of hard work even just at the walk. You''ll need a horse that is willing to work with you or else you'll get absolutely nowhere.

[@benkibby7839]

Which horse at 0:31 please?

[@Shaka84Lonigro]

Wouldn't be there and probably shouldn't

[@karenogo3553]

You can only commit, if you have money and money. I have to volunteer just to get half price off on lessons. Don’t own my horse. You need your own horse to compete so that you can practice everyday anytime

[@scenery001]

One think to control you dont need pul so much but nvmyou only think you wana be best but about horse if she he wants it? You dont mind that is disapoined

[@ava_a313]

I think I had a stroke reading that. I'm sorry, but what are you trying to say?

[@niamhconway2886]

Karoline Gloomluck the horse doesn’t know if it’s the best, it wants to work and that’s all they see

[@CatchLightAnne]

Dear Laura (and your Dad) almost every frame shows your horse in rollkur. I did a Google search on 'dressage and rollkur' and you two popped up. I appreciate that the result is unnatural movements that win but the cost to your horses is so high. Begin a New Standard and let's all compete Dressage in a snaffle. You may have the influence to make that so? Hexter/Charlotte did a demonstration in a snaffle . The trainer did NOT warm that horse in a snaffle. Make a difference in Dressage or there will be no dressage, with the current circus and abuse.

[@annie4204]

Anne P The horse in this video is never in rollkur. There is a big difference between rollkur and behind the vertical and her horse is rarely even behind the vertical. :)

[@sanjaykhan7530]

you are nice

[@evergladesequineobsession3976]

I use to say dressage as um... *laughs* dress- age- I use to say it like dress then age as in years...

[@hanina12345]

I understand she's an amazing rider, connection blah blah. But what i don't understand is why she needs to use the spurs?? if she needs to use them, then some form of communication between horse and rider is missing. Why do people feel like horses need spurs when they can feel a fly on their back?

[@platinum_amortentia]

Most dressage riders, myself included, do not use spurs for faster as much as a quicker response to the command and more of an on point completion of the move. It keeps the horse on their toes more and keeps them from dragging their feet in such a precise sport. As for the communication between horse and rider, dressage is probably the most intimate of all the disciplines because you are really getting in there and minutely fine tuning every move your horse makes. The deep seat and instruction that comes from that seat alone is probably the most powerful communication there is.

[@DrivenStar]

Exactly because they can feel a fly on their back: that is why top riders use blunt end English spurs. Their signals require less body movement, making them more precise and clear to the horse. You can merely lift a few hairs with a spur as an aid whereas you'd have to move your whole leg (causing you to shift your entire balance slightly) and a lot more pressure which would be far less direct and be more confusing to a horse. It's not big deal at the lower levels and on younger, less trained horses, but an advanced horse requires a precise ride.

[@sofiaovsyannikov4642]

hanina12345 Actually at that competition level, the use of spurs is required, if the rider is not wearing them, they will be disqualified.

[@beautifuldancingfreestyle2202]

Sofia Ovsyannikov not true. Spurs an whips are never required.

[@berlinrebhorn8549]

hanina12345 you can wear spurs without using them.

[@lukaoisunicorn3837]

Modern dressage is most brutal and cruel way of forcing Horse to perform simpliest behaviours of Haute Ecole. More complex figures or movements are impossible to perform by Horse becouse of tension caused by inflicted pain with curb bit and dental bit and forced and overheld collection. Legalized form of abusing one of the most noble and graceful creatures on Earth. Togheter with races, polo games, rodeos, showjumping- dressage is welcomed and rewarded form of Horse abuse.

[@leah_9806]

Behind the scenes of dressage is abuse

[@sticktopapayas2447]

Leah Startalon Sorry... what did you just say? You’re a Raleigh fan? We can’t use bits and spurs? Oh sorry, just the voices ahah

[@niamhconway2886]

Moon _ 🤦‍♀️

[@cameliagaudreau7770]

omg the horses are in so much pain... I study horses body language and I can tell you there are a lot of pain signs :(

[@Kimberly00000]

Where?

[@zephyrpyrexoxo]

Dressage can be abusive depending on the rider. But none of these horses are showing signs of pain, they are actually showing signs of obedience towards the riders. They are doing what the riders ask and doing it on time and correctly. If there was any agony signs, they would have cropped it out to show the good side of dressage. None of this is abusive.

[@pfftxoxo1502]

why is this so dramatic 😭

[@tiekmarieke]

poor horse

[@margs82]

umm what poor horse these horses are spoiled to the max and don't even start on that dressage is abusive because it is not. It can be but so can jumping but this lady is very nice to her horses!!!

[@dbwjjjxjcm2811]

Ich finde sie reitet überhaupt nicht gut (vllt für Dressur ) aber wenn man überlegt verstellt man die Pferde so extrem das ist unnormal ... Sie sind frei Tiere und würden in der Wildnis ihren Kopf niemals so biegen ! Wieso tut man es dann ? Was erreicht man damit? Es ist einfach nur grausam wievilte Druck die ganze Zeit auf den zügeln herrscht!

[@Kimberly00000]

Je höher die aufrichtung desto samfter ist der druck auf den zügeln. Weiß ja nicht ob du das weißt aber alles an der reiterwelt ist unnatürlich, und die hohe kopf position ist über jahrhunderte angezüchtet

[@gskateri6008]

Rich people who want more money!

[@ava_a313]

?

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

The Dressage rider is horrible.

[@Yoctopory]

Poor horses.. Stupid heartless people.

[@cloudberrrie]

Youre kidding right?

[@juliahansen8768]

+Aussie Equestrian nope😒🙄

[@juliahansen8768]

+Aussie Equestrian I wasn't just saying it to that comment, I'm saying it to everyone here who is being over dramatic. But this is an old comment so I'm done here.bye

[@aleynadunn3557]

You clearly know nothing about this sport

[@DariaKur]

+Aleyna Dunn yup.

[@msbreeden]

Poor horse. Used and abused. You're so fooling yourselves that the horses enjoy this .

[@megancaswell7214]

You obviously do not ride. These horses have top of the line care and they wouldn't be doing this for people if they didn't want to or they felt "Used and Abused"

[@alexanderbasso8828]

Equi Megan I agree if they don't want you on, you are going off one way or another.

[@lottepepplinkhuizen9220]

ong shut up and go to ride a horse first before you say abused and used...the horses are breed for this and trained for this if the horse would not want this that woman would be laying on the ground alresdy

[@ginolepreco4957]

Helena Hart o

[@platinum_amortentia]

faaaaaalse.