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The evolution of dressage: Vet and head judge in dressage, Hans Christian Matthiesen

Photo: shutterstock
Photo: shutterstock
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”Those who manage to meet the horse’s needs are the ones that succeed”

In the past, when horses were used in war, canter pirouettes were simply handy when riding fast. To be able to turn around on-site in both directions if the enemy came towards you was important. Otherwise, you might get killed.

It was also a good thing to be able to stand at a distance and move on-site, so it looked as if you were coming towards the enemy. That was how piaffe was invented. You had to be able to go backwards and sidewards. Ride with one hand. People spent hundreds of years fine-tuning that. 

The kind of dressage that we know today is called modern riding. Out of the 5,000 years that the horse has been domesticated, it is perhaps something that we have worked with in about 20 minutes. So, when you look at the big picture, modern dressage only takes up a little space. 

READ ALSO: Good posture is important for the horse – Even when we’re not riding

According to head judge in dressage and President for International Dressage Officials Club, Hans Christian Matthiesen, dressage in itself is incredibly conservative and tradition bound. He believes that it is largely due to the history that is described above.  

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“The conservative way of thinking can go in both directions. From the belief that what once was, was better, to the belief that we haven’t at all developed, that everything is awful and dressage is rollkur,” Hans Christian says.

According to Hans Christian, discussions regarding something that you have seen at a show or in the riding arena can have their justifications. But observations are often just a glimpse and not necessarily a picture of the way the horse is trained at home.

”It is a healthy discussion and it has to be there. Discussions are also part of the reason why we have developed. Within the last 5-10 years, we have developed more than we have over the past 200 years. But we need to get better at accepting each other’s road to the goal – what we perceive as perfect. Keep in mind that dressage often is just striving for perfection – we rarely get there. The realization that we never reach perfection and that we often have to settle for less – that should never be wrong or unacceptable,” he says. 

How do you experience that?

“There is now so much focus on horse welfare, and how the horse feels. What you can do. An interest that we might be able to do better than we did yesterday, last week or with our former horse. That is really good,” Hans Christian says.

photo lily forado  (1)
Photo: Maxima Stables, Stas Mulyar

Hans Christian Matthiesen

Hans Christian Mathiesen has worked as a vet for Hørsholm Horse Practice for 20 years, and works with many top competition horses. He was vet for the Danish National Dressage Team from 2006-2013, is a trained chiropractor and is International Head Judge in dressage, FEI.

Hans Christian has always been interested in riding and training related issues. He believes that it is almost always possible to make the horse sound, but the real challenge lies in keeping it well. For Hans Christian that is an exciting challenge. To create a plan that works for the owner. Hans Christian believes that if habits are not changed, the horse’s issues will return.

Important to look at each horse

Hans Christian not only look at dressage on top level, but on all levels all over the world, including countries that we do not normally associate with dressage. He believes that we are doing well in Denmark. And that we also manage well in connection with training and horse welfare. 

“Denmark is still one of the only countries in the world that has a law regarding horsekeeping,” Hans Christian says.

Hans Christian experiences a general open and good dialogue, even though it can always improve. 

”Those that yell the loudest, including on social media, are often those that believe that everything can fit into a certain model or box. That could not be more wrong,” Hans Christian states.

“Those who manage to meet the horse’s needs are the ones that succeed. If you say “This is the way I’ve done it with all of my horses,” you will meet challenges.” 

Good development

“I believe that dressage is in a good development. We judges are glad to reward horses that stand calmly inside the frame with a relaxed mouth. At the same time, as dressage judge I still have to look at the entire picture. Once in a while, there are horses and riders that do almost everything really well, but the horse is behind the vertical or opens its mouth. In those cases, things can get a bit controversial or difficult. There are those who will only look at that one thing, shout and only show a glimpse of the full picture. That is not what the world looks like,” Hans Christian states.

According to Hans Christian, there is nothing natural about the big competitions, and not at all from the horse’s point of view. 

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”The riders who manage to get their horses to still look happy and confident, and where it is obvious that the horse trusts the rider - that makes me really happy. I get goosebumps, because you still get them to perform in there. It is amazing. And then you win gold medals.”

Not the same system works with all horses

Hans Christian believes that the reason why those riders succeed is because they pay attention to what each horse needs.

“There are no top riders who train all of their horses the same way,” he says. 

”I am always sceptical about those who shout the loudest on social media about how everything is done the wrong way. I tend to think, “Fine, you have your own system, good for you.” But that does not mean that the same system works for someone else. We have to respect each other,” Hans Christian believes. 

It is not the top horses that get injured

“There are those who say that the top horses are under pressure. I have been around for 20 years now, and my own statistics clearly show that it is not the top horses that get injured,” Hans Christian says. 

“I'm often asked how the dressage horse is doing in Denmark. I think it’s doing well. At least better than before. Of course, that is not the same as saying that it couldn’t do better. It’s all about an open mind in relation to what could be done better.”

photo lily forado 
Photo: Lily Forado 

The role as head judge

Hans Christian is a judge at both large and smaller competitions around the world. He uses a lot of time educating other judges. According to him, the job as judge is very exiting and challenging. All marks are out immediately, and as judge you are very exposed, when it comes to other people’s opinions.

“As a judge, you try to guide the sport according to guidelines and rules and in the direction that you believe is right. Opinions and beliefs have become more extreme. Therefore, it can quickly appear as if we disagree or that the sport is going in the wrong direction. But that is not the case. As judge you put yourself on the line, and people have opinions about you, but that is part of the job. As a judge, I do care, but I cannot be affected. I can change my opinion on the basis of discussions, but first and foremost through education,” Hans Christian says.

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”It is the many extra rounds in the arena that wear.”

Diversity is fantastic

Hans Christian believes that we should spend some time understanding each
other and being open minded. 

“As a vet I have to be open minded. I cannot arrive at a client’s stable and burst out, chocked: “Do you ride without a saddle?” That does not work. 

“I think we need to understand and respect each other’s differences. We have horses in different ways, and that is a good thing, because the horses are also different,” Hans Christian says. 

”It is a little too easy just to blame the professionals or the top riders. It’s their way of living and they need their horses. So they take good care of them.”

“It is often those who are conservative in one way or the other, who are critical. If they also include accusations about missing horse welfare, it is a bit of a pity. Because that blurs the fact that a lot of good things are happening in the sport,” Hans Christian says. 

”Organisations are often accused of just thinking about money, and that no one listens to the horse. I don’t believe that. It is often a compromise and a collaboration. But everyone tries to create the best conditions for the horse whether it is housing or training. At least in Denmark. There are many places where it’s not good enough. Remember, being ”too good” to the horse can also be dangerous.”

Getting a new owner is the hardest time for the horse

”We as vets always say that the hardest time in a horse’s life is when it gets a new owner. It is often then, all the injuries occur. There are new systems, new management. And the horse is generally not good at adjusting quickly,” Hans Christian explains. 

According to Hans Christian, injuries can arise due to something around training or riding. The horse might have to go extra rounds in the riding arena in order for everything to fall into place, because horse and rider need to learn each other’s signals and buttons. And according to Hans Christian, it is the many extra rounds in the arena that wear. The horse gets tired, compensates, and as a consequence, gets injured.

”If you are a good rider and only need to train your discipline for 20 minutes each day to get there, it does not wear in the same way,” he says.

Han Christian therefore recommends shorter training pass, even though the horse does not get in shape that way. 

“You can get the horse into good shape with versatile training, including heart rate training. It is actually difficult to achieve with dressage alone,” Hans Christian explains. 

”You need to have a clear plan for the training, before you put your foot in the stirrup. It is fine, if you just want to take your horse for a walk one day, because that may also be part of the plan. Or train physical fitness to get the horse in shape,” Hans Christian believes.

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Thus, it can be a problem, if we do not read the horse. Hans Christian explains that some horse owners come to him saying, “My horse runs and bucks. Do you think that it has a sore back?”

”My answer is: I do not believe so. If you have a sore back, you don’t do something wild, because it hurts. You think twice, and so does the horse,” Hans Christian says.

There must be something wrong with it

As horse owners we are quick to say “there must be something wrong with the horse,” if something is not working. Some say “that was how it was with my old horse”, or “it was really sweet the first six months after I got it.”

As a vet I sometimes have to step in and say, “No, I actually do not believe that something is wrong with it. I believe that we should look at your training and what you offer your horse,” Hans Christian says.

Hans Christian believes that we should have an open mind in relation to the fact that we do things differently and that horses learn in different ways. That we do not arrive at the destination in the same way. Some might take train, others take the plane and some might drive there. We all learn differently – both horses and humans. 

”Those who fail are often those who try to use a certain system for all horses. It is often the same people who shout the loudest. They are conservative in that way. Their eyes are not open to other ways of doing things,” Hans Christian says. 

Breeding has taken a quantum leap

According to Hans Christian, we have some fantastic horses in dressage. The mares have also achieved great results in the sport which was not the case in the past.

”It goes fast now, because we can order seed in southern France and have it here tomorrow, and we can scan for everything. It is a luxury, but it also have its challenges,” Hans Christian explains and goes on: 

“We have had a goal about having horses that look a certain way, move a certain way and have a certain amount of power. Earlier, we had horses that may have been a bit heavier and demanded a little more work. They did not have natural big movements, so you had to train them to move that way. Today, we are not willing to put in the work, because modern breeding can solve that for us,” Hans Christian says.

”When we breed so much blood into them, there is a certain temper, and I believe that this is our biggest challenge right now. That extra temper that we have bred into them often demands more rounds in the arena, before the horse has accepted,” Hans Christian says. 

”It is a different scenario, if they are ridden by professional riders. They can handle it and think it’s amazing, when the horse has a lot of energy. Some of us might think that it is too much and that we cannot handle it,” Hans Christ.

Photo: Canva Pro
Photo: Canva Pro
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Breeding moves forward at full speed and we as regular riders cannot keep up.

The healthy balance

More horses today have lots of temper and movement, and a lot of them end up with amateur riders. 

“In breeding, we use top selection. It is the best stallions and the mares are fully tested. We are able to take eggs from the good mares and do extreme things. Breeding moves forward at full speed and we as regular riders cannot keep up,” Hans Christian says. 

Are the horses more sensitive?

“People have a tendency to think that horses are sensitive, but they are exactly that, because we make them that way. Because we often lack versatility in our training and management. Then they become sensitive. Just like if you place your child in a closed ecosystem. Then the child will not experience the world and get the bruises that will harden it,” Hans Christian says. 

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It's about being honest

”I have no problem seeing what people fall for with the top bred horses. I often think; “Wow, that’s a great horse, but it’s quite a handful." People get a lot for their money. The horse may be 4 years old, and it’s almost doing passage already. They are just  bred for it.”

“Does that mean that average riders are able to handle that? Maybe not,” Hans Christian says. 

Realism is important when buying a new horse

Hans Christian does not often experience owners turning up with a horse, saying: “This horse may be a bit ordinary, but it’s really sweet. It is exactly the kind of temper that I’m looking for.” When that happens, Hans Christian is full of respect. 

”It is my experience that if you are realistic about what type of horse that is suitable for you, you will get less injuries. Too many people turn up with a barely broken in horse, saying; “Well, it was really poorly ridden, but my trainer and I agree that we can change that.”
And then I think, that the kind of change that needs to be done, might not be right for the horse. Maybe it cannot live with that change. It is hard to know beforehand,” Hans Christian says.

New possibilities

The marked for equipment has evolved radically, and it is hard for horse owners to navigate in that market. 

“Before, a bit was a bit, but there are many possibilities now. 10 years ago, people would have looked at you strangely, if you had mentioned an “anatomical” girth. Back then, it could be made of leather or nylon – that were the options. A lot has happened in a relatively short time,” Hans Christian says and continues:

“There are so many options. It is understandable if horse owners are confused once in a while. It is also possible to go on Youtube and find all kinds of training videos.”

”Horses are individuals and it is important to keep in mind, that there are no systems that work for all horses. It is ok to get tips and try them out. But sometimes it works, sometimes not.”

”You have to try things out. If it does not work, it does not mean that something is wrong with your horse. Then it simply does not fit your horse or your riding,” Hans Christian says.

READ ALSO: The most common errors dressage judges are looking for

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