What is Classical exactly?

Does anyone know what classical actually means? The theosaurus states
'classical 'pertaining to or characteristic of Greek or Roman antiquity or civilisation'. So going on this we must assume that Classical dressage pertains to Xenophon who started a training system eons ago in Greece. Does this mean that we should all be riding in that ancient way or merely that we abide by some of the principles? Then there is the German system, also known as classical, who gave us the scales of training, some of which is lost in translation. Whilst many like to talk about 'classical' and quote the old Masters and books, soooo many books, others are busy riding their horses and trying to discover the secrets of biomechanics that produce better movement and elasticity and suppleness. Quoted today, 'classical dressage was designed to keep horses sound.' Yet the very people who quote this cannot understand working a horse round, deep and over the back! What is it about success that causes a few small minded people to come out of their lairs and start spouting classical as if it is the holy grail? I suspect these are the very people who buy patent riding boots, bling brow bands and the latest designer breeches! Of course their horses never wear draw reins or side reins or elasticated reins as this would not be classical. Instead they meander around on the forehand for years and the penny never drops!

Never fear there is always a silver lining to every cloud! The Equestrian has I hear, been finished or wrapped as they say in the film business. I haven't heard yet when it is due to be released but a good source tells me it is very good with some of our own top riders making appearances.I do hope that they show LDR in the working in and maybe a few pairs of draw reins during training!

Back in Germany when I was still considered a child, we all rode in Thiedermans which are a bit like Market Harboroughs. This was so that the horse stayed in a relatively steady out line and we pupils concentrated on learning to sit with the horse and ride some movements without upsetting the contact or fiddling with the reins. The school horses were not plodders and would often leave the group bucking the rider off in the process! Now the custom in Germany is that the faller buys a round of schnapps and the whole group must toast the faller and drink the wretched stuff. I was unfortunate enough to be on a ride where three people fell off! My father was not amused to find a tipsy twelve year old waiting for a lift home nor was he happy when I threw up in the back of his Merc (his pride and joy)! Happy days and all the horses were on ze bit!
If you could go back in time where would you go? Which part of your life has the best memories? Mine would definitely be my time in Germany, both as a young child and as a young woman. Don't let anyone tell you the Germans have no sense of humour! That is what they would have you believe but trust me I had more fun there than most places bar one over here. For a start there was no health and safety! I remember going out with a young officer who had ambitions of becoming a show-jumper. He could walk trot and canter and jump a cross pole but he had set his heart on one of the show-jumpers that I had been riding at the school when I was visiting. The horse was a westphalian with a huge jump and only 6 years old. He was very brave and powerful to ride but had a sense of humour. Well, the boyfriend got on board and trotted around a bit, then he popped into canter which got more and more out of control. Why would you then present the horse at a treble? I mean it was a big treble with the last fence at 4'9" and an oxer. He jumped in big, boyfriend got left behind a bit, one stride and made a huge jump, boyfriend shot up neck, ballooned the third part, boyfriend catapaulted into orbit with a triple sulki and landed in a heap. By which time both trainer and me were on our knees hysterically laughing! Poor chap, he did badly sprain his ankle but his pride was hurt more! Needless to say that was the end of our short relationship! Now thats classical! I suspect that the Old Masters were trying to produce what our top riders do now but they just did'nt have the horse power. Breeding has changed so much over the years just look at some old photos and you will observe that the horses still looked like driving horses and most were long backed. Now the horse is categorised as an athlete, quite rightly so, and the training is about gymnastising and developing the musculature so that there is peak performance. Haven't we come a long way? I suspect in two hundred years or so if the world is still here, our generation will be called Masters and the training will be called classical or maybe it will be known as the LDR era, who knows! Whats in a name? What matters is that we develop happy athletes and happy riders!