Classical vs Modern Dressage - Finding the Lost Connection

"Modern dressage is a bit of a cookie cutter type thing," says Jessica Kenyon, a classical dressage trainer who's spent years watching the sport drift away from its roots. "You have to fit the mold and do the movements exactly how the judges want you to do them."

It's a blunt assessment, but one that reflects what many riders are feeling. Somewhere along the way, dressage stopped being about bringing out the best in each individual horse and became about fitting horses into predetermined boxes.

The Question That Started It All

"What's the difference between classical and modern dressage?" seems simple enough. But Jessica Kenyon's answer revealed something most riders never consider: we might be training our horses to perform rather than communicate.

This episode covers:

• Why modern dressage became "cookie cutter" training

• What happens when connection isn't part of the scoring system

• How cavalry training principles still matter for weekend riders

• The real story behind those viral training videos