In the world of dressage, conversations about gender occasionally surface, and recently, I came across an article with a striking line:
“We need to be braver in how we celebrate our sport, one of the few where women consistently outperform men on equal terms.”
It’s a statement that got attention, but it also made me pause.
Not because the claim is inaccurate. Dressage is one of the rare sports where women dominate at the highest levels, and that’s something to acknowledge. But framing dressage as a competition between men and women misses the true essence of the sport.
Because dressage has never been about gender.
Dressage is, and always will be, about connection
Dressage Is a Partnership, Not a Gender Comparison
What sets dressage apart isn’t whether men or women ride better.
It’s the relationship between horse and rider.
The softness.
The harmony.
The quiet, almost invisible dialogue that unfolds with every stride.
You can’t muscle your way through a half-pass.
You can’t force a piaffe.
You can’t dominate your way into true collection.
Dressage rewards qualities such as:
Feel
Empathy
Timing
Subtlety
Emotional intelligence
These are not gender-specific traits, they are human traits. And they are the foundation of great riding.
Why Creating a Gender Divide in Dressage Is a Step Backwards
Another reality is emerging in our sport: fewer men are entering dressage.
If the narrative becomes “women outperform men,” we risk discouraging even more potential riders.
Imagine a young boy considering dressage hearing messages like:
“This is a women’s sport.”
“Girls are better at dressage.”
“Men can’t compete at the same level.”
This doesn’t grow the sport, it shrinks it.
And it pushes away riders who might otherwise fall in love with dressage.
Dressage Thrives When We Prioritise Connection Over Comparison
Instead of focusing on gender, what if we celebrated what truly makes dressage special?
- The harmony between horse and rider
- The courage it takes to be soft and patient
- The emotional connection built through trust rather than tension
- The riders of every gender who commit themselves to partnership and growth
These are the qualities that attract people to dressage.
These are the qualities that keep them inspired.
These are the reasons our sport has such depth, beauty, and longevity.
The Heart of Dressage - Partnership, Compassion, and Feel
Dressage does not need a “battle of the sexes” storyline to shine.
What it needs is riders, and ambassadors, who highlight the real heart of the discipline:
Connection
Artistry
Compassion
Emotional balance
And the partnership that makes the horse–human relationship so extraordinary
If we want dressage to grow, we should widen the welcome, not narrow it.
Encourage more riders, not fewer.
Celebrate the journey, not the gender.
Because at the end of the day, the horse doesn’t care whether the rider is male or female.
The horse responds to:
Your energy
Your clarity
Your patience
Your intention
Your kindness
And maybe that’s the most powerful thing about dressage, it equalises us.
It reminds us that what matters is not who is in the saddle… but how they ride.
Neil