What is a kür?

April 11, 2014

I’ve spent many hours explaining horsey terms and identifying equipment for family and friends, but the latest question got me thinking more seriously about trying it myself. First off, what in the world is a “kür”? It’s a German word meaning “freestyle” and it’s most commonly pronounced like “coor”. Here in the states, it’s oftened referred to as “musical freestyle” or “freestyle Dressage”. It is essentially a dressage test that is choreographed by the rider/trainer to include specific movements and figures, depending on the level of competition. Oh, and there’s music! How cool is that? There are freestyle competitions ranging from first level to PSG for all age groups!

Besides having fun, which is always a given, the main purpose of this style of competition is to highlight your horse’s movements and make the test seem effortless. So what about the music? Can you just choose your favorite song? Well, it’s not that easy. If your favorite song happens to match your horse’s gait or exemplify your horse’s personality, maybe. Many of the top riders actually hire composers to write custom music for their specific horses so that the timing is perfect. Others hire professional mixers to create a mix of songs that will do the same. Others manage to find the perfect song without hiring a professional. It’s really up to you, but finding a trainer with some experience in this would be a great place to start.

Here’s a great BBC video featuring Anky Van Grusven’s freestyle composer talking about his process:

I’ve been wondering what song Dancer and I would choose. Would it be something by The Clash or The Ramones to highlight our edgy, stubborn sides? Or something classic and fun by The Beatles because you can’t ever go wrong with the Beatles! Maybe a nice classical piece would work best, but nothing that puts the judges to sleep!

Here are some of my favorite routines:

This is arguably one of the best freestyle routines ever on one of the best Dressage horses ever – Totalis!