Dressage

Question
Hi, I'm a beginner English rider with 1 year experiance.  My husband relocated us from southern Louisiana to Northwestern Minnesota, I have a 11 yr old ex race horse that I got in LA when he was 9 he raced until age 5 then thrown out to pasture.  So he's still pretty green.  My question is I can't seem to find any dressage instructors in our area, is it possible to learn the basics on my own?  My husband is the new Director for the equine facilities at the university even the people there says that there isn't any Dressage instructors around. I want to get my horse on the bit.

Answer
One year experience is typically too little to teach a horse anything.  Of course, it depends greatly on the type of person you are, how you learn best.  Can you follow books / videos?  

My great worry, based on experience, is that you will get hurt.  I guarantee that the horse will get hurt in minor ways, hopefully no great damage (emotional ad well as physical) will be done if you just try to play at teaching a horse anything.  Again, :) it depends a lot on whether you can adjust and modify what you do, how you approach the horse on a minute by minute basis.

The thing with one year experience is similar to someone moving to Mongolia and attempting to teach Shakespeare to the Mongolians, when the person doesn't speak but a few words of the local dialect, and the students don't even have their  primary school finished.

And again, there are always exceptional people/ horse combo's who will surprise you :)

However, I realize you have major help and major support in  you husband and a whole equine department: :):)
The way I see it, any good cowhorse knows 3rd level Dressage, and any good dressage horse should hold his own out on the range working cows.

I learned more dressage from Buck Brannaman than in years of studying dressage.  I learned much, much more about the horse from Buck.  He has tapes, you can stud at home...

So find  a good western basics instructor, get your TB in a snaffle bit and get to work! :) :)   

The last thing I'd worry about is getting a horse on the bit.   Yes, the basics:  that means, you have to learn about horses.. how to ask, wait, and release.  What "pressure" means.  How to lead, and how to use the lead and body language pressure to drive a horse.  How to instantly relax your cues, and pressure , if the horse even thinks about responding to what you are asking.

How to be a leader to your horse, supportive yet expecting the horse to yield to you.

Sure, there that on the bit thing in dressage... I say it a bit derisevly because too many people ride on the bit incorrectly, and it amounts to pulling.  So, pursue your basics using good local resources... find out how/ when to release/ reward your horse, how to use your seat and legs.. improve your seat.  Can you controll your TB? Can you condition him on the trail, or anywhere?  When you ride well, you can ride dreassage, and your horse will be ready.

Eventually, you can travel to a dressage clinic and polish for the showring.

Rena