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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2019)
LOCAL Wallowa.com Wednesday, April 3, 2019 A7 Dressage fosters better communication for riders By Ellen Morris Bishop Wallowa County Chieftain To a lot of us, dressage seems an awkward and downright strange way to ride: skimpy, impractical, horn-less saddles and a horse with no real work to do. The whole idea seems a waste of time for rider and horse. But that’s dead wrong. “Dressage is helpful in learning communication with your horse, whether you are gathering cattle, or com- peting in the dressage arena,” said Enterprise rancher Con- nie Dunham. “It’s all about balance, feeling, and connec- tion with the horse.” Dun- ham runs the Dunham Ranch north of Enterprise with her husband, Jim. She trains and rides the ranch horses. And for more than 20 years, Dun- ham has also ridden dressage and competed in eventing trials, a sort of Triathalon for horses and riders that com- bines dressage, show jump- ing, and cross-country. She is one of the instructors at the upcoming Eagle Cap Dres- sage Club clinics, April 6, 13, 20, and 27. Although revered horse- men Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman may not have outright rec- ommend dressage train- ing, they have endorsed its principles. “Responsive- ness … is something that has to come in the unity between horse and rider…. Feel, timing, and balance. I still can’t improve on those three words…” said Tom Dorrance in “True Unity.” Ray Hunt put it in a slightly different way in “Think Har- mony with Horses”: “The right feel and timing bring you in balance….The fi rst thing you know, your way of movement is the horse’s way of movement and you are one….It’s one body and one mind, but you have the say.” At its most basic levels, dressage, seeks to improve the horse and rider’s rhythm, relaxation (softness), collec- tion, impulsion, and straight- ness. Formal dressage has been around for more than 4 centuries, and began with the principles of Xenaphon 2,500 years ago. Now, inspired by the teachings of Dorrance, Hunt, and others, there’s Western Contributed Photo Eagle Cap Dressage Club member and Dressage Clinic instructor Jo Jeff eries schools her fi lly at a Buck Brannaman clinic near Walla Walla last year. Basic dressage principles of balance, rhythm, and connection with the horse apply to all kinds of riding. DRESSAGE IS HELPFUL IN LEARNING COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR HORSE, WHETHER YOU ARE GATHERING CATTLE, OR COMPETING IN THE DRESSAGE ARENA. IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE, FEELING, AND CONNECTION WITH THE HORSE.’ Enterprise rancher Connie Dunham Dressage, too. The West- ern Dressage Association of America “…combines the Western traditions of horse and rider with Classi- cal Dressage.” They sponsor and sanction western dres- sage events across the U.S. “Dressage is based on relaxation and rhythm,” said Eagle Cap Dressage Club president Gail Murphey. “You can’t train a horse until they are relaxed. In dressage we learn to sit a balanced seat. Lateral movements, suppleness and softness are so important. Dressage prin- ciples are great for any of the disciplines.” Jo Jefferies has day-ridden for ranches, ridden in event- ing and dressage, and shown in hunt-jump. Jefferies is training her gray fi lly to show this year. “Her gaits need to be free and balanced,” Jeffe- ries said. “I need to be bal- anced as well, and I need to SPACE RESERVATION DEADLINES for weekly advertising is 5pm Friday for the following week. Ad copy is due on Monday at 10am. Ads must be approved by Tuesday at 12pm. Contact Jennifer Cooney to place an ad this week jcooney@wallowa.com • 541-805-9630 209 NW First St., Enterprise OR 97828 541-426-4567 • wallowa.com Hurricane Creek Grange is Hosting A Wallowa County 4-H Fundraiser our 2nd Annual Not-Quite Traditional BOX SOCIAL Sat., April 6 th , 2019 At Cloverleaf Hall EVERYONE INVITED! Box check-in from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Auction begins at 5:30 pm Free coffee, tea, and punch. Decorated Box meals to be auctioned and Home-made Dessert auction Enjoy a great meal and support our 4-H Program. All proceeds go to Wallowa County 4-H Leaders Association. Call Barbara at (541) 426-8015 www.HurricaneCreekGrange.org/BoxSocial EAGLE CAP DRESSAGE CLUB WHAT: Four-session clinic, “An Introduction to Dressage for Anyone” WHEN: 1 p.m., April 6 WHERE: Wallowa County Fairgrounds in Enterprise. The clinic runs every Saturday in April at 1 p.m. COST: $15 per session, or $50 for all four. WEBSITE: https://westerndressageassociation.org/ support my horse. I need to show her the way. She has to be good in her body and good in her brain. If I’m not doing my job, she’s not good in those spaces. When we are really connected, I just think about turning or stopping and it happens.” “People can come English or Western,” Murphey said. “The basics are the same. The clinic is super low key. It’s not fancy it’s just an introduction.” Instructors are all club members, and bring a broad spectrum of experience to Call Today! the clinics. Dunham’s expe- rience includes riding ranch horses. Murphey excels at teaching young people the fi ne points of working with horses at her horse camps. Marina Parris Woodward is Grande Prix rider who has shown at high levels, and is also a dressage judge. Other instructors include Brenda Johnson and Jo Jefferies. Our whole approach to this clinic is that we want to give back to community,” Mur- phey said. “A lot of kids want THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR YOUR HVAC... PARTS S & SERVICES MAINTENANCE 72 INSTALLATION Tickets Available March 22nd - April 20th For Tickets: 541-633-5191 or bethanderson.cjd@gmail.com to do dressage at 4H and Fair, but they don’t know where to begin. That’s why we are not charging much. It’s a great opportunity for them to painlessly learn about dressage and then do it at fair.” “It’s very informal. We want it to be fun for every- one,” Jefferies said. “If you don’t want to bring a horse, you can come and just watch.” Eagle Cap Dressage Club four-session clinic, “An Introduction to Dres- sage for Anyone” begins at 1 p.m. April 6 at the Wal- lowa County Fairgrounds in Enterprise. It continues each Saturday in April at the same time. The cost is $15 per session, or $50 for all four, and pays for use of the Fair- grounds as well as insurance. Ed Staub & Sons Energy Community Service. 201 East Hwy 82 Enterprise, OR 97828 541-426-0320
