Classical Riding Club Charter

Brutality begins where knowledge ends. Ignorance and compulsion appear simultaneously. Charles de Kunffy

For what the horse does under compulsion.....is done without understanding; and there is no beauty in it either, any more than if one should whip and spur a dancer. There would be a great deal more ungracefulness than beauty in either a horse or a man that was so treated Xenophon

1. Never forget that the horse is a living member of God's creation; let us respect this fact in all that we do with our horses.

2. We should understand that discipline does not equal force; however, it is something we all need if we are to live useful, constructive lives. Just as our children thrive on clear, disciplined guidelines, so do horses.

3. We ourselves need discipline if we are to be capable, attentive riders. This involves discipline of the mind as well as the body. We owe it to our horses to be as balanced, centered and disciplined as possible when we ride. Classical Riding Club Charter

4. Abuse to horses is not always intentional; it can happen as a result of ignorant thinking and thoughtless riding. We should strive to continue learning all our lives, as there is never enough time in anyone's life to learn all there is to know.

5. We should aim to think positively and look for the best in everything around us. We owe it to our horses to be in a positive frame of mind when we ride. If we feel angry, frustrated, or even very tired, we should rather go for a hack, rather than to try to train or school.

6. Punishment should only be administered if a horse actually threatens us in some way. A horse that has reared or bitten should be immediately punished; he should not be punished when he refuses to do something because he is fearful, unfit or simply does not understand.Classical Riding Club Charter

7. Remember that the only way we can tell him he has done something correctly is to reward him. Touching the neck, praising in a low, gentle voice, has a lot of meaning to horses. This can be done several times during a training session and will reap its own reward. It has nothing to do with sentimentality. All the great masters from time immemorial dealt in rewards in order to train more efficiently.

8. The training path of every horse should be done step by step - systematically and logically. We should never have to undo anything we teach our horses. Training slowly in this way builds muscles, mobilizes joints and gives the horse time to develop physically and mentally. It also builds trust.

9. The proof of the classically trained horse is that he will grow more beautiful. The rider too will become centered in every sense of the word.

10. Classical riding is more than an art; it is a philosophy, a way of life.

Classical Riding Club Charter

The Airs above the Ground

The Airs above the ground are a series of higher-level dressage maneuvers where the horse leaps above the ground. These moves are performed by horses at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and the Cadre Noir in Saumur. The Airs:

• The levade : a position wherein the horse raises up both front legs, standing at a 45 degree angle, entirely on its hind legs in a controlled form that requires a great deal of hindquarter strength.

• The courbette : a movement where the horse balances on its hind legs before jumping, keeping his forelegs off the ground and his hind legs together as he "hops."

• The capriole : a jump in place wherein the stallion leaps into the air, tucking his forelegs under himself, and kicking out with his hind legs at the height of elevation.

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