MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC:

This article is reproduced from the 3rd issue of SEE March 1987

Beau Geste suggests music for relaxation, for training, and for performance. Just after Michel had acquired Willow Ridge Equestrian Center, he saw a horse dumping his rider in the indoor ring while two others humped around. Michel quietly put on a tape of soft relaxing music. Very shortly, horses and riders were calmer and quieter. Since then he has kept tapes  of relaxing music on hand, now including the Subliminal Relaxation tape that Beau Geste uses for Clinic 1. When Michel tried out the Subliminal Relaxation tape in the indoor ring for Clinic 1, a young handicapped rider for whom riding is doing wonders was in the ring on a pony who did not always pay attention to her.  That day, she commented to her mother about the very pleasant music that made her ride very enjoyable. The effect on Michel and Wits was a little too relaxing. It took an energetic Vivaldi concerto to get them back to work. How does Beau Geste suggest using music for training? Easy. When training for dressage, you often have to slow the rythm and increase the impulsion of your horse. Use a metronome to determine your horse's cadence while he goes well on the longe, at the trot and at the canter. Find music with a slightly slower rythm, and enough bounce to get a noticeable response from your horse. Play the music while longeing and while riding. Get the feel, then maintain the rythm and the impulsion once the music has stopped. Repeat this until you can do it without effort. When selecting music, chose a piece that appeals to you and (very important) whose rythm is appropriate to your horse's cadence. Avoid music whose rythm can throw your horse off cadence. Music for performance needs careful consideration, especially when you are preparing for a competition. Michel designs his Freestyle ride according to his horse's ability about 2 weeks before a show. During a clinic with a qualified instructor, he measures the correct rythms for the horse to look his best at the trot and at the canter. He times each trot and canter phase in the ride. From Beau Geste's collection of records and tapes, he choses music that most closely matches the measured rythms. He tries them while he trains, ans selects the pieces that fit best the ride, adjusting the movements slightly to match the music. He does not change the rythm; luckily Wits has a keen sense of hearing, and readily picks up the rythm of the music.

This page was last updated on: October 30, 2001

RIDING TO MUSIC Good for all occasions. Music does a great job at settling down even the wildest horses and riders. A handicapped rider relaxes on her pony with the help of music and recorded subliminal messages. An energetic concerto stimulates a large warmblood. Beauty in dressage is pure harmony. The rythm must fit the natural tempo of the horse reduced due to the weight of the rider. Tune ride and music until the combination of the two seems effortless. Select a music that fits the horse's cadence. After all the horse is the dancer. A horse trained for dressage evolves continuously. If you prepare your tape too early  the tempo may change slightly by the competition date. Matching music with the movements is a careful selective process. Some horses pick up readily the rythm they hear.