The Elegant Dance of Dressage

With roots in the horsemanship of the Classical Greeks and reaching full maturity in Europe's Renaissance, Dressage has a long history as the premiere form of equine artistic expression. The prescribed movements of Dressage were standardized by European aristocrats while displaying their horses in elaborate and elegant equestrian pageants. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed very little since that day. Those same movements are considered the basis of trained modern Dressage and are used to judge today's modern competitions. Performing Dressage has won the artistic title of the Horse Ballet for effortlessly performing precise movements and difficult positions.

Gaits and movements performed at the top level, include collected and extended walk, trot, and canter; trot and canter half-pass (a movement where the horse travels on a diagonal line keeping its body almost parallel with the arena wall while making forward and sideways steps in each stride); passage (a slow-motion trot); piaffe (an approach to "trot in place"); one and two tempi changes (where the horse changes from one lead to the other in the canter); canter "zigzags"; and pirouettes (a 360-degree circle that is almost in place). Judges evaluate each of these intricate movements on the basis of an objective standard appropriate to the level of the test and assign each movement a score from zero to ten. Zero being not executed and ten being, well a "Perfect 10."

Talk about perfect, we're proud to have two of the world's top Dressage riders and trainers as part of the Southern States family, Sahar Hirosh and Evelyn Susol.

Born in Israel, Sahar Hirosh has been riding and competing in Dressage for nearly twenty-three years. Sahar has been a resident of the United States for six years and has competed in the Dressage International Grand Prix. Sahar prepares and trains other riders at the International Equestian Center in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Sahar states, "I enjoy the whole experience, both classical and freestyle Dressage." The secret to Dressage is that you have "to learn to ride the physical body of the horse, but also the soul of the horse. There are few who can ride the soul of the horse, where you and the horse become one, it's amazing when it happens," Sahar explains.

"Riding freestyle is all about finding the right music for you and your horse. It helps to create the mood and allows the audience to really see the expression and movement of the rider and horse, dancing as one."

Sahar's romantic view of his sport and life even shows in the name of his favorite performing stallion, Coco Cavalli. The name means Chocolate Horse in Italian. Not surprisingly Sahar is known as a passionate teacher with his students at his training center in New Hope, Pennsylvania. To learn more or make reservations to train with one of the best go to www.internationalequestrian.net or call 516-448-3430.

Equally celebrated as a Dressage rider and trainer, Evelyn Sushol and her husband, Mark, own and operate the Cool Breeze Farm in Orrtana, Pennsylvania. Evelyn decided to focus seriously on Dressage while in school at Lake Erie College in Ohio. When asked what drew her to Dressage, Evelyn explains, "It's hard to put in words, it's the discipline, the athletic ability required, and the training process that it takes to reach the Grand Prix level. It's very challenging, discovering and expressing the refinement."

Evelyn has found the way to express this refinement, at the time of our talk she had just returned from the BLM Championships in Lexington, Virginia. Riding Black Hawk, a Friesian owned by Sandy Holcomb, she was the 3rd level Musical Freestyle Champion. And, she and Fillipe, her 19 year old Dutch gelding, were the Reserve Champions at the Grand Prix Musical Freestyle.

For people interested in pursuing Dressage, Evelyn recommends, "a warmblood that's built uphill as the best choice. Though, the Friesian Breed is becoming more popular and excelling in Dressage. I would recommend them to adult amateur riders."

Evelyn specializes in training of the horse and rider from beginners to Grand Prix competitors. "We train any breed and we will help any rider that aspires to learn. The biggest challenge is getting both the rider and the horse to coordinate together." To learn more about training go to www.coolbreezefarm.com or call 717-642-8309.

Of the rewards, Evelyn says, "it's an artistic form of self expression exhibited through ring and music. Truly the horse ballet."

The Beauty of Good Feed

Sahar Hirosh feeds his horses Triple Crown^®. "My horses are looking good and winning more in every class. Everyone asks what I'm feeding because you can see the difference. The horses shine and look great. The oats and barley are clean, the quality very high. The horses look brilliant with coats shining, and in great health." New Jersey's Sergentsville Feed and Grain feeds Hirosh's horses, and Michelle Haney is his Southern States rep.

Evelyn Sushol feeds her horses Triple Crown^® Complete, Growth, Senior and the Oats. "We're very happy with the results. The main thing we see is that when horses come in for training they often have dull coats and poor feet. After a week on Triple Crown^® their coats shine, they build more muscle, and their feet get better. All our performance horses have bloomed and stayed healthy and fit." The Gettysburgy Agway in Pennsylvania feeds her horses, and Wendy Shoemaker is her Southern States rep.