Nodding Heads

[virtuallyhorses]

I've just been re-watching the tape of the 2000 dressage world cup finals and have to ask about the hideous appearance of the 'nodding head' on one of the riders. It was so actively bouncing around that it was quite distracting.

Can someone (Heather?) confirm that this is a riding fault and not something which is 'normal' for some body types.  I've heard some people say that tall thin people can't absorb sitting trot because of their body type (I recall Mark Todd was afflicted too) but many of the other riders looked just as tall and I'm not sure how 'thinness' would affect the ability to sit the trot without looking like your head was about to pop off.

Comments anyone?  I'd also be interested to find out if anyone knows whether this is marked down.  I would hope so since it is so distracting but I understand that strictly speaking it doesn't matter if you look like a sack of spuds as long as the horse responds to your aids.

[Cobstar]

Hi

It is most definitely a riding fault and it is possible for any shape of rider to learn how to absorb the movement correctly without this horrible head nodding. Heather's techniques used correctly eliminate this rider head nodding.

The majority of the marks for a dressage test are based on the horse's way of going for each movement.  There are collective marks at the end for rider position etc but these are only a small proportion of the marks.

I'd say that the horrible head nodding would have an adverse impact on the horse's way of going but have to say that the marks don't seem to recognise this.  But then to my novice eye, lots of horses that get good marks get them for the quality of their paces and ignore things like a tense unhappy horse.

[virtuallyhorses]

I am obviously very naive because I thought that if you were one of the Top 15 dressage riders in the world you'd have sorted out that sort of issue long ago.

Surely her coach or someone would pull her aside and say "You look like your head is about to fly off!" let's sort this out.  Or even if she looks at her own performances wouldn't she immediately notice that she's the only one who does it?   (well at that level I mean)

[Cobstar]

I think the problem is that there is so much emphasis on the horse's way of going and unless a judge comments on it there seems little incentive to change. It's such a shame as there is a simple solution that makes it easier for the horse and comfortable for both horse and rider.

Another issue is that people see top riders doing this and think it must be OK for them to do so rather than tackle the problem.

Paul Belasik suggested some years ago that if the marks for dressage tests were 50% on horse and 50% on rider, riding standards would soon improve.

[Pete]

The problem here is that the coaches know less than the riders half the time - it is perfectly acceptable to nod the head and flap your legs in an attempt to take off - keep watching those tapes and you'll see some horrifying riding.  See if you can get a hold of any of the tapes in which Reiner Klimke teaches - Michael is a superb rider - so quiet - watching him is a pleasure, and gives you something to aim for - quiet, dignified, in tune with the horse, no stress, and so on.  I dont think it is anything to do with body type - its just lack of education about biomechanics - obviously the british dressage trainers aren't interested - they just keep spending more and more on horrendously expensive horses..!  Always the horses fault that we cant win...!

PS - nice to see that you can recognise what to look for - you are truly Enlightened!!!!  Next - how we help you improve.. keep looking - we're slowly getting things organised...

 

[sandpiper]

When I was at Heather's I watched some of her videos, firstly of Michael Klimke and another fantastic rider under the tuition of a Hungarian teacher (can't remember either of their names), then some of our British riders.

I have to say the difference was unbelievable.  The European riders were so 'at one' with the horse that the horses were doing amazing things with the rider seemingly doing nothing.  Then back to the British riders - hmmm, shall we say that 'invisible aids' were not apparent!!

[Torny]

I don't mean to Dis the 'Top' Riders, using the word 'top' Lightly otherwise Pete will moan (HI pete )
But I was watching the cd rom disc free with one of the horse mags the other day and I noticed that Pippa Funnel seems to have bit of a free moving wobbly head in the clips of her riding dressage.  Shes suppose to be one of the Top British Riders??

I agree, nodding heads don't look very nice, and they definalty look like a sack of potaotes bouncing around on the Horses back  <_<  

[Pete]

she's one of the better ones!

 

[kathyt]

Having watched dressage at a few local venues you wonder whether they ride like that just to do a dressage test or if they ride like that all the time  

[Torny]

Oops, Soz Pete.  :(
I still ave a lot to learn    

[virtuallyhorses]

Marietta Almasy (FRA) was the one that horrified me - came 12th in the 2000 world cup dressage finals. Having another look I don't think its got anything to do with being tall - its when they 'bounce' their shoulders upper torso without using their necks to absorb that movement so the head just flops in time with the shoulders.  I always have to fast-forward past this poor woman I just find it that distracting ...  

[Pete]

Think you'll find its caused by not absorbing the movement with the pelvis - refer the poor woman to Heather!

[Rachel]

Well............

I saw Pippa Funnell last night at the 'Funnell Factor' ( ), and I see what you mean about her head! In sitting trot the whole front of her body from head to pelvis moves - it looks very weird! Although her husband, when she did a dressage lesson for him, took the p*** out of her for it by copying, and she admitted that ''Yes, I know, it's one of my problems OK!''. So someone has told her how silly she looks   .

Other than that I thought she rode quite nicely, although watching William in canter made me wince for the poor horse. Thud thud thud. Ouch.

[Heather]

Hi Rachel,

It is so amazing that even these top riders display this nodding head syndrome. It all comes from a driving seat. I have just sent an article to our webmaster to put up on the site, about absorbing the movement- hope that it will explain where this horrible head nod comes from and how to avoid it!!

Heather

The article is now available and can be found from the library page.

[hyper]

If it's the same video I've seen then whilst |I agree with all of the criticism I think  the nodding head is the lesser problem - just look at the horse and the spurs!!  And all said and done I don't believe I can really ride at all.