I love seeing the animal planet features on horses, but I really wish they would feature some on dressage. I am a former jumper turned dressage rider and compete at the upper levels with my seventeen year old appendix mare and am just starting my three year old appendix stallion's show career. Dressage is often viewed as dreadfully boring (I know I used to view it that way). But after seeing it done well and really learning to appreciate it, I fell in love with it causing me to abandon riding jumpers (though I jump my dressage horses from time to time to teach the young ones in using their backs). Any other dressage fans out there?

Hi! I love dressage. I got a new horse about a year and a half ago, and I'm starting dressage on him. I love jumping, too, and honestly, it IS more exciting than dressage, but dressage isn't so boring when your riding. Infact, it can be pretty challenging! I think it's harder than jumping.

I too love eventing of all kinds, but I recently got into dressage...mostly because of a beautiful little Selle Francis mare who's talents are unbelievable.
...I'll stop gloating now...haha

But dressage is sometimes more difficult than jumping...

I love looking at dressage videos and just be in awe of the riders who just make it look so easy...that's some serious talent.

I used to think it was boring too...when I was a kid all I wanted to do was jump jump jump. I've since lost my nerve a little to jump, but I find that if you can be a good dressage rider, you can be good at anything else...

i TOTALLY agree with darciedarkrider. I used to think dressage was as fun as watching paint dry, and of course you would think that if you are just starting to learn it in the intro levels. (trust me i would know) But if you watch people that ride third level and up, and sometimes even second level, it is amazing to see the connections these people have with their horses, and how easy they make it look. I personally only do second level, but I have ridden a Grand Prix horse, and it was as if he knew what I wanted before I asked for it, < best horse i have ever ridden.

So yeahh, dressage is deffinatly more difficult than jumping, but i personally think its more valuable than jumping. (please dont mind my user name, it has been my name for alot of other things, so I just used it)

I LOVE dressage!!! I have done a little jumping before but I didn't like as much as I like dressage. I also think dressage is more difficult than jumping...all movements in dressage are pretty complicated I think. I started dressage about a year ago. At first I thought dressage was boring, but now i love it. In dressage you really have to have a REALLY strong connection with your horse. (In showjumping you do to but i think you need it more in dressage)