RESTORATIVE AND REHABILITATIVE DRESSAGE

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Dressage for Prevention of Unsoundness and Preservation of Soundness!

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I welcome you all to the heart of the work I do, and the work at The Academy of Equestrian Arts. This is a project I have been working on for a very long time. I had the ideas of this rooted in the essence of my being at 11 years old, it's nothing really new, but it is something I specifically now wish to focus efforts upon for those who have interest in the betterment of work with their horses.

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Where has dressage gone wrong? Dressage in many cases no longer has the horse in mind--the horse's well-being, correct development, and training for preservation of soundness fall to the wayside because of human desire and ego. This mentality completely defeats the true purpose of dressage. Dressage should be aimed at continuously working to develop the horse gymnastically, strengthening and enhancing his abilities with a rider.

 

With Dressage for Prevention and Preservation, and with Restorative and Rehabilitative Dressage, a combination of over 30 years of classical dressage training with over 20 years of equine veterinary practice is unified to both scientifically and artistically develop horses and educate riders in dressage. Our mission is four-fold:

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1. Dressage for Prevention of Unsoundness and Preservation of Soundness: This is Dressage training for development of the horse. The horse is brought along correctly in his work from the very beginning. The training process should not break down horses or cause unsoundness! Training is focused on prevention of unsoundness and preserving soundness from the very beginning.

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2. Dressage for Restoration: Dressage exercises based on 4 main classical principles aids in restoring the horse's soundness through finding root causes of pain, addressing them directly both therapeutically if needed from a veterinary standpoint AND in combination with dressage exercises based on work in hand, long rein, and under saddle.

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3. Dressage for Rehabilitation: Dressage can be focused on rehabilitating horses suffering from prior injury, weakness, and imbalance. We take a WHOLE HORSE approach to rehabilitation, focusing on the GI system, musculoskeletal system, and podiatry. We utilize an in-depth understanding of ANATOMY and BIOMECHANICS along with PHYSIOLOGY to design programs that utilize training in work in hand, long reins, and under saddle to HEAL HORSES. If you heal the physical body, you also heal the mentality of the horse. Muscular attachments, origins, insertions, and how each individual muscle/tendon/ligament unit functions individually and regionally for the horse is a focus in this work.

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4. Dressage as Artistic Expression and Creation: When one culminates the above work restoring and rehabilitating the horse into his true and real potential, the result can be expression of lightness and artistic interpretation between horse and rider. Training should from the beginning be aimed at enhancing the horse's natural athletic abilities, not destroying them in the name of human egotistical pursuits!

 

Dr. Babits can set up an individualized and custom program for you and your horses whether you are looking to rehabilitate from an injury, are dealing with performance limiting issues, or want to develop specific weaknesses in your horse into strengths. A combination of veterinary knowledge and classical work will help build the steps that make up the journey to improved performance, and a healthier, happier, sounder horse. 

 

Programs can be set up with a combination of Virtual Lessons and Consultations. If you are located within the region, this may also include in-person work with you and your horse at our facility in Youngsville, NM. 

 

Contact Dr. Babits for more information.