It is an amazing ride but the mare is wringing her tail at almost every step in some places. Is she nervous or is she picking up her rider's nerves? Or is it something else? I always thought that tail wringing was a fault in dressage- though this is strictly speaking not a classical dressage test. Regardless, it's an amazing ride and it makes me miss dressage like crazy. Not that I ever rode any where near this well!
I don't think she's nervous. She couldn't turn in a performance like that - neither of them could - whilst suffering from nerves to that extent. I think she's just full of beans.
I have to agree with you- it's hard to put in that kind of perfect performance when anxious about stuff. I just wonder, though... Whatever, it's an amazing video and the first three times I saw it it made me cry. Plus, I love grey horses...
A quick google of "dressage tail wringing" netted me several sites with discussions about this particular performance. One person pointed out that the wringing seems to happen mainly when the spur or leg is being used and it does seem that way. Otherwise the mare seems exceptionally relaxed (her face, ears, carriage, etc) so maybe at some point in her training she was pushed a bit harder than she was ready- associated with the spur perhaps- and it's now a habit. Anyway... what a stunning horse. The rider ain't so bad, either!
PS I just chased down the dog dressage video- what a hoot!!! Very happy-looking dog and I bet that girl is in amazing physical condition doing all that running around in dressage gear... Very good indeed!
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timeasmymeasure
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