Linzi's blog

Unfortunately not for long (3 nights to be exact). But, hotel, and flight are now booked, tickets recieved, and I can not wait. Gorgeous horses to look at, dressage, showjumping, I could go on. Apparantly the nearest train station is only 2 or 3 kilometres from the showground, so not too far then. I have been advised to get a taxi, so I probably will. Just checked on Google, and it's near 5 kilometres (driving). So definately getting a taxi.

I have been asked by someone to define the term OTT movement. Since, I am still on the warpath about such horses, I suppose that I should just blog my feelings about this phenomenon that is seemingly sweeping all before it in dressage.
Please do not get me wrong, I love dressage, it the one discipline that I can sit down and watch at any level for hours on end. I know that I would never make a dressage judge, as I am often a bit too harsh with my comments. For example, Wansuela Suerte, who is full of natural cadence, could have more impulsion. I don't care who the horse or rider is, I just say what I think, not what they want to hear.
So any way, back to the point of this post: What is Artificial Cadence?
Artificial Cadence is a term I use to describe a horse that has overly extravagant movement in it's extended trot, Piaffe and Passage. Artificial Cadence is often not very noticable in any other area of a test. But you do see clues as to horses that have had this unnatural extravagance trained into them. For example, you will se a horse that has the most beautiful, natural collected trot, suddenly explode into a seemingly powerful extended trot. A horse which is lacking impulsion in other areas of it's trot work will suddenly have plenty for it's Passage and Piaffe work. One that is not working from it's hind quarters suddenly appears to be working from it's hind quarters in it's flying changes. I have felt for a long time now that there are far too many of these horses about, especially in the upper reaches of the sport. When Salinero won the Dressage To Music World Cup in 2004 with Anky Van Grunsven, everyone's first thought was that, yes, this was a good horse, but he wouldn't be able to topple Ulla Salgeber and Rusty, who were the European Champions. At Aachen, Anky and Salinero embarrassed them, with a beautifully ridden test. And then in Athens, the Dutch pair beat Ulla and Rusty to the Olympic title. It was at this time that people first noticed something strange about Salinero's Passage and Piaffe - there sometimes seemed to be some hesitancy creeping in. For example, he would go forwards at first and then suddenly, the steps seemed to be much shorter. Most put this down to his age and inexperience, after all, he was only 10. Salinero will be 14 at the next Olympics and the hesitancy is still there. I am sorry, if it is natural, but I have never seen anything to convince me otherwise. If it is the case that Salinero has artificial cadence, then I would be unable to view Anky as one of my idols any more. How can you worship someone who has trained their horse to have such unnatural movement? I really hope that I am proved wrong on this.