Doma Clasica

Doma Clasica – from Purpose to Pure Beauty

Adapted from “Living and Working with the Horse of Spain”
By Peter Maddison-Greenwell and Jane Lake
Reproduced courtesy of the publisher by J.A.Allen

The debate about what classical riding is, or should be, would constitute a book in its own right, but in this book we talk about doma clasica from its roots in war to what it means generally in Spain today.

Dressage today is often considered to be simply another type of equestrian competition, but it should be much more than that. Classical dressage should be the enlightened and understanding training of a horse, which helps him to achieve the level of education that is right for him and for the sphere in which he will be used. Not all horses are destined to be high-flyers and outstanding performers, but there is no reason why the classical principals championed by historical and modern masters cannot be applied to the training of every horse and pony.

Doma is the Spanish word for dressage, that is, training, and in Spain, doma clasica is manège, or school riding, as opposed to doma vaquera, or country, riding.

We can see the epitome of classical dressage demonstrated by the Royal Andalusian School for the Equestrian Art, the Portuguese School for the Equestrian Art, the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and the Cadre Noir in Saumur. These are the last strongholds of classical riding as we know it today. There are, however, some truly passionate ambassadors of classical riding who work outside the auspices of these academies but who make every attempt to adhere to the academies' principals; some are able to execute not only good classical movements but can also perform the 'airs above the ground' or at least some of them.