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The Lost Art of Dressage: An Interview with Herr Zettl

By [Your Name]

In a world where competitive dressage has seemingly lost its way, prioritizing ribbons over the well-being of the horse, one man stands as a beacon of classical principles: Herr Zettl. An interview about his efforts to bring back the true art of dressage.

From last time: Walter Zettl was talking about “   one of the very famous trainers in Germany, he was a student of mine, he would say to his students, the horse must get mad at you to do a good piaffe.  Isn’t that ridiculous.” 

HFL:    That is ridiculous. 

Walter:    I told him -- I say are you crazy!  Don’t say this stupid stuff.  This is not what you heard from us.  

You know, the trouble is you have to make really all the tests and you make an exam for being a professional teacher, every thing in the rule book.  And also we learned the nose band must be not tight.  And that the horse has to be ridden like a partner.  And then, you have to jump, you have to go into country and.. and.. and.  .  I had horses, they were Grand Prix jumper AND Grand Prix dressage in the [same] show.  And now, and then when we did ride the best in the morning, the horse had to go and back jump after the test.  We had the main test as they called it, the horse had to go in single file, and they had ride every thing in sync Then the judges tell you to do this and this in single file.  So the judges could see how the horse behaves in with the other horses.   

HFL:    I didn’t know that part.  I knew about the jumping.  But I didn’t know about that part.   

Walter:    Now, at times the horse was perfect in the morning, like a friend of mine she has a beautiful mare, and she won a lot of tests he say, but when this mare gets in heat, say she might win in the morning, but it would be different with the main test in the afternoon.  So you can see really how the horse has to behave and then we had to go up in line, let the horse stop and when horse was called up, when he was winning, he had to go slowly forward and stop, and stay quiet.  We did go all around, most of us one hand, around the whole arena for the people to see what winner they were and how wonderful the horses were.  And now, they try to put this out because the horses don’t stop any more.  When they had do go all around, they do it in trot or not at all.  Because the horse gets off with them.  And the horses was really afraid from the front, or from the back, is very different, yes.  And we did ride the young horses, they had to always walk, trot and canter, and then we had to ride a dressage test, we had to come to jumps, and when they we had to line up.  And we had to dismount, we had to go around the horses, we had to mount again, we had to turn around in the saddles.  So the horse couldn’t move.  Why?  Because they had trust.  And now, I would imagine they would go around the horse, they would be gone.   

HFL:    Exactly.   

Walter:    So sad. 

HFL:    It is very sad. 

Walter:    There’s no more art, you know, it is only torturing.   

HFL:    Absolutely, absolutely.  One of the things that we’re hoping is that, I don’t think the FEI will ever take onboard the concept of the 2-finger rules because then most of their competitors couldn’t ride.  But one of the things we’re hoping is that if people realize that if you ride with two fingers space between the cavesson and the horse’s head you can’t cheat anymore.   

Walter:    One should break you guys, your fingers and let you ride. 

HFL:    If we can get the cavesson loosened they can’t do roll curbs, can they?  They can’t 

Walter:    It’s impossible. 

HFL:    It’s impossible.  They can’t force their horses into a frame because the horses are given the opportunity to speak out, to fight back --literally.   

Walter:    Of course, you know, they would open up the mouth, through the ears, into the chest.   

HFL:    Yes. Absolutely. 

Walter:    And because the horses don’t trust the hands if they tighten the nose band so.   

Oh god, the poor horses, I feel so sorry for them.  And they are so kind to us, they do anything for us.  And they still try to do it.  In fact, the worst thing is, they say, oh, I love my horse.  Sometimes I wonder do they hate the horse to do these things to the horses. 

HFL:    I think what it is is just a lack of, I think there have been a lot of bad teachers out there in real lack, in education. 

Walter:    Absolutely.   

HFL:    You know, I think there have been too many people who have gone out and taught, that perhaps were not ready.  And then their students have taught.  And it’s gone from bad to worse.   

Walter:    In the last horse book --I’m talking in this letter about this teacher, telling her students, this partnership and love the horses is foolish and what comes afterwards, he`doesn’t have any feeling, he’s just an animal.  It is so sad as she’s a very influential teacher.  I tell this teacher you don’t have any right to teach young riders and tell the young riders such terrible stuff.  Our parents when we were young, they told every animal and if it’s small or big, feels like the pain exactly like you.  So just remember this and that’s what I’ve tried to tell 

Walter:    The whole thing did start out one of my very, very good students, like `00:36:07  the handicapped riding in the Olympia.  She did get the gold medal and a silver medal.  One of these young riders sent her a letter and somehow she did show to Linda this letter, and I did get to see this letter, too.  I say I can’t believe this.  You have to get those letters out [respond] and tell them what kind of stuff this is.  To have some influential teacher, tell the students such terrible stuff.  Any feeling of partnership is just all shit, sorry, and now of course after she heard, what did you do, show that around, I did send you this letter in trust and so we did really get the poor girl in trouble.  Now, I did write, and I say, now look I’m sorry I did get you in trouble.  But I’m not sorry about what I wrote to this woman each of you.  And you wouldn’t do this, then how can we ever help the poor horse _____ the well-being of the horse.   

HFL:    It’s really hard, it is.   

Walter:    I write in St. George. I write what terrible riding this is and [try to make a difference]. 

HFL:   Ive been reading the Circle of Trust and I have been really enjoying it. I would love to talk about it in the future. 

Walter:    For the general reader.  And now I’m sitting on the next one. 

HFL:    What’s the next one? 

Walter:    The title is Ask Walter What It Means.  It comes in two parts.  The first part is almost 300-expressions of riding and what it means.  I explain every one of them.   

HFL:    Oh That’s wonderful.   

Walter:    Very clearly.  And then in the second part comes the common mistakes and how to avoid them and how to correct them en route.   

HFL:    When are you going to have that book ready, that sounds excellent. 

Walter:    I did go now for a third time through in German, and then my wife puts it in the computer and then we have to find somebody who will translate this into English.  And the Germans asked me already, they are interested also in this book because nobody really write exactly what the expressions really means.  [For example],  they say keep the outside and drive from the inside.  But [no one explains] what is the reason – so I guess this book will be also very, very good. 

HFL:    If you have problems finding a translator please let us know.  I am not certain but perhaps we can help you find one. 

Walter:    But not too expensive.   

HFL:    Well, that’s always the problem, isn’t it. 

Walter:    That’s right.   

HFL:    Like I said, let me know if I can help you find someone and I’ll see what I can do.  Because that would be excellent. 

Walter:    That’s very nice.  You’re angel, what can I say. 

HFL:    No, I wish I was. 

Walter:    You know what I always tell my students you know have all these nice ladies around you, to watch your back.  And you know I tell______ my wife all the time, I don’t know why I try to get up in heaven, when I have heaven is already down here with all those angels around me.   

HFL:    I bet you they love that when you say that. 

Walter:    Yes.  Me too!  Pretty soon I have my 80th birthday, my dear. 

HFL:    I know.  Look at you, you’re just going and going and going and you know what, you are my inspiration because I want to do the same thing for the horses.  I want to keep going and going and going and trying to help the horses. 

Walter:    You know, for me it’s really the teaching.  I love to work.  I love to do it. It’s not a burden, it’s really what I love to do and when I see them, when I bring the horses and the riders together in harmony, without forcing the horse, and becoming better and better and better to the Grand Prix.  This is nice for me.  It makes me happy and keeps me young.   

When you’re 80, you have to make your driving license, so they do teach your first one for an hour what you have to write down and then remind you of all those signs. And then she did say you have to, when we get in this age, we have to train ourselves.  So she did ask what are you doing for, are you doing exercises, are you doing this and this.  So I did say yes, my body I swim exercise everyday and I write books and I give lessons.  Oh, she say, then you’re really have train, your body and your brain.  I say yes I do.  I would get really rusty.  And you know I stand up in the morning singing, of course, I’m happy, I have wonderful home, I can swim everyday.  I have a wonderful wife. 

HFL:    I’m going to use you as my inspiration which is I don’t plan to ever retire and I want to keep working with --- it’s a joy, it’s a calling. 

Walter:    That’s right, that’s right.   

[Editor’s Note:  With a schedule that takes Walter all over the States, then overseas to London and Germany  then back to Colorado, Kansas, Ohio and so so on, we feel priviledged that Herr Zettl takes time out of his busy schedule to work with us. We look forward to the new series starting shortly with Walter on his latest book The Circle of Trust a book available through Half Halt Press. I told Walter how much I really enjoyed the book and how it was so much more thatn I expected. It really has some really good material and information inside the pages. I was so pleased when he agreed to participating in a new series just covering this text so that we could share it with all of you.] 

Walter:    You know, I already did start to write a book, Dressage in Harmony, already in Germany, but then I have to move over here to Canada in 1981, so the book it got to the side,  After awhile, I say, god, I have to write some, or somebody should write really something what is simple to understand for everybody.    All the books, many people they say, you know, you’re books is my bible.  I take them everywhere, I have it on my night table.   I read every night before I turn the lights off.  Sometime I read in the streetcar or on the bus, I forget to get out, so I have to get the station back because I’m so fascinated from your book.  You know, it’s really like my bible.  Last time I was sitting on the plane and a couple of young ladies came in and somebody, one of these ladies had my book.  So I asked how did you like this book.  She say, she looks at me, that’s my bible.  And I say when you like to I can sign it.  I did write this book.  Oooo she was so shocked, you know.  So she came and asked for this and I did sign it.  I’m lucky.   

HFL:    I think that’s wonderful.   

Walter:    My dear, it was a pleasure talking to you. 

Walter:    Keep up the good work. 

HFL;    Well, I think you’re doing a lot. 

Walter:    You can spread that out even better than I do. 

HFL:    Talk to you later. 

Walter:    Okay, dear, bye-bye.