McNair Dressage and Horsemanship

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McNair Dressage and Horsemanship Riding lesson and horsemanship skills beginning lead line to more advanced. Lesson horses available.

So proud of my student Mallie at today’s CPDS schooling show! She and Ace did amazing!
09/06/2024

So proud of my student Mallie at today’s CPDS schooling show! She and Ace did amazing!

08/01/2024

Delta and her first canter work! Just off the track the middle of November. She has a great mind!

Madea doing the thing! I so appreciate her help!
25/12/2023

Madea doing the thing! I so appreciate her help!

25/12/2023

True story 😆
credits: Pinterest

25/12/2023

New OTTB in for training! Meet Delta! Thanks Madea

07/12/2023

There is a difference between making horses and buying made horses. Get your horse advice from the ones that made them.

In keeping with busting the myths and clarifying the misconceptions of modern dressage, today I say that they do not kno...
07/12/2023

In keeping with busting the myths and clarifying the misconceptions of modern dressage, today I say that they do not know what they have. Before all of us were born, authentic dressage became obsolete because it was primarily used to train cavalry recruits. “Dressage” translated then roughly to "training" horses and soldiers for war. WW2 changed the nature of war from pre-industrial horse cavalry and infantry foot soldiers to mechanized troops. Ultimately, dressage was redefined as a civilian horseback ballet. Untethered from its roots, dressage became a shadow fantasy of its former practicality.

European dressage transformed horses and their riders into the ultimate battlefield weapon for both offensive and defensive missions in its time. The collage of images you see below are called haute ecole or high school “Airs above the ground”. These movements were battlefield techniques, not ballet. This history has been forgotten.

The pictured “Airs” were used to intimidate, injure or kill enemy soldiers on a battlefield. The Courbette at lower right, was an offensive technique designed to break formations of foot soldiers. From their rearing position, a line of horses would hop forward on hind legs, threatening foot soldiers with the horses' front feet striking down toward the heads of infantry. The foot soldiers broke and ran from such techniques when a line of cavalry horses in the Courbette approached.

The Capriole at lower left was used to defend an individual cavalry rider who became separated from his unit on the battlefield. Foot soldiers would swarm such isolated cavalry horses and attack them with bayonets, clubs and pikes. To counter such a swarm, a well trained cavalryman would use the Capriole. The rider would cause his horse to rise up and kick out front and hind, which literally kicked the heads off the shoulders of a swarming foot soldier. Cavalry horses would do repeated Caprioles, landing and turning a few degrees and executing another Capriole until these actions created a wide berth from which the horse and rider could escape.

In the top is collection of the haute ecole "Airs Above the Ground", each pictured movement is of a weaponized horse. The movement's names are French because the French Cavalry, such as Napoleon's Imperial Guard, were the best trained in these battlefield movements.

I wonder how many modern dressage riders know this historical basis for their discipline and its most revered “artful” movements. I sincerely doubt that many have an inkling that the Haute Ecole movements were lethal battle techniques. A lack of historical understanding has allowed modern riders in many disciplines to adopt fantasy ideas of horsemanship that are based on nothing more than human imaginings.

13/11/2023

Donovan is going to be such a wonderful lesson horse!

Yes, my horses get an equine dentist that’s certified and went to school just for the horse’s teeth. Thank you Hunter Wa...
10/11/2023

Yes, my horses get an equine dentist that’s certified and went to school just for the horse’s teeth. Thank you Hunter Washburn.

This can be a difficult concept to comprehend. You are always looking for a bit of flexion, bend is used during certain ...
08/11/2023

This can be a difficult concept to comprehend. You are always looking for a bit of flexion, bend is used during certain movements.

Our beautiful new Dressage arena! I am so grateful for it!
17/10/2023

Our beautiful new Dressage arena! I am so grateful for it!

15/10/2023

Donovan beginning to listen to my voice cues.

15/10/2023

Donovan now! He’s such a different guy!

When things go wrong with shoeing! Here is Phelps having his hoof soaked to prevent an abscess in the hoof wall.
12/10/2023

When things go wrong with shoeing! Here is Phelps having his hoof soaked to prevent an abscess in the hoof wall.

This holds true for Classical and Western Dressage.
09/10/2023

This holds true for Classical and Western Dressage.

Farrier Day!
03/10/2023

Farrier Day!

25/09/2023

The newest prospect or is he a project? He has a great brain, and Brogan may be his new name!

I swear I had someone come into the barn and ask me if I thought some random horse was 15-5! I said no I don’t think so,...
22/09/2023

I swear I had someone come into the barn and ask me if I thought some random horse was 15-5! I said no I don’t think so, he might be 16 or 16-1, but he’s not 15-5

If you don’t take care of your horse’s feet, you won’t have a horse!
20/09/2023

If you don’t take care of your horse’s feet, you won’t have a horse!

Tucker can go western or English in riding lessons. PM me for lesson availability. We are located in the Deer Creek area...
20/09/2023

Tucker can go western or English in riding lessons. PM me for lesson availability. We are located in the Deer Creek area.

16/09/2023

Hey peeps! This is Tucker. He is waiting for someone to take him up on the offer of a great lesson.

Donte has to have a warm bath, not cold please
10/09/2023

Donte has to have a warm bath, not cold please

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Tuesday 09:00 - 19:00
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Thursday 09:00 - 19:00
Friday 09:00 - 19:00
Saturday 09:00 - 19:00
Sunday 12:30 - 16:00

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Videos

Delta and her first canter work! Just off the track the middle of November. She has a great mind!

New OTTB in for training! Meet Delta! Thanks Madea

Donovan is going to be such a wonderful lesson horse!

Donovan beginning to listen to my voice cues.

Donovan now! He’s such a different guy!

The newest prospect or is he a project? He has a great brain, and Brogan may be his new name!

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