I am currently between trainers/stables and riding with both a hunter/jumper trainer and a dressage trainer. I have noticed firsthand what I think we all know: there exists a good deal of animosity between these disciplines. Of course, I don't think this is exclusive to dressage and H/J, nor is it the truth for all trainers and riders. It just seems that in general H/J people don't care for dressage and dressage people don't care for H/J.
My questions comes from my H/J trainer who explained to me that the two main "styles" of riding are "centered seat riding"(dressage) and a "forward seat riding" (H/J). My H/J trainer claims that forward seat is better for the horse because, for the most part, the rider is off of the horse's back, whether they are in half-seat, two-point, or just riding with a "light" seat. Dressage riders, he says, pound their seats into their horses backs and restrict them from moving freely and fully.
So the question becomes, what do you think is better for the horse, both in terms of pressure on the back and as a discipline overall- hunters or dressage?
Also, let's keep it civil....I don't want to start a H/J or dressage-bashing thread! I'm only curious about the welfare of the horse.
My questions comes from my H/J trainer who explained to me that the two main "styles" of riding are "centered seat riding"(dressage) and a "forward seat riding" (H/J). My H/J trainer claims that forward seat is better for the horse because, for the most part, the rider is off of the horse's back, whether they are in half-seat, two-point, or just riding with a "light" seat. Dressage riders, he says, pound their seats into their horses backs and restrict them from moving freely and fully.
So the question becomes, what do you think is better for the horse, both in terms of pressure on the back and as a discipline overall- hunters or dressage?
Also, let's keep it civil....I don't want to start a H/J or dressage-bashing thread! I'm only curious about the welfare of the horse.