It is a fact that Spanish Doma Vaquera is an outstanding form of riding. To some riders it is an incomplete riding style because it lacks the development and perfection of the trot. To others it is an art form that has survived the test of time since it's primitive years as the form of riding used by mercenaries in battle. Even though some do consider Doma Vaquera as an incomplete form of riding, these same critics cannot ignore that Doma Vaquera set the foundation for the Mexican Charro, the California Vaquero and the Argentinian Gaucho, just to mention a few. Also the form of Doma Vaquera is still used in the ranges of the Iberian peninsula to work brave bulls and even in the bull rings despite the controversy that this may bring. There was a time when there two forms of riding, "a la brida" (on the bridle) the military form of riding and "a la jineta" as we said before, the mercenary riding style.

I rode one of my training horses today, and we worked on some of the advanced training of Doma Vaquera. Sliding stops which can also be found in Reining, and Canter Pirouettes, which can be found in Grand Prix Dressage.

Now some of the differences between Doma Vaquera and Reining is as follows:

Reining- Sliding Stops, the horse will drag his hind quarters and basically continue to run on it's forelegs while it slides. A beautiful movement executed correctly.

Doma Vaquera-Sliding Stops, are done more up hill, the horse will slide but come to a dead stop much sooner.

Reining-Roll Back, the horses will sit on its inside hind leg and turn almost in a half spin type manner.

Doma Vaquera-Roll Back, the horse will also sit on its inside hind leg, but also on its outside hind leg to make the roll back practically doing a levade in motion.

Reining- Flying change of leg, the horse usually is made to change leads on a very large circle or on a straight line.

Doma Vaquera-Flying change, the horse is made to change on the circle after a change of direction, in the circumference of the circle, or on a straight line. Advanced horses will also perform flying changes at every one or two strides (tempi changes), and some will do flying changes to go from a pirouette left to a pirouette right almost instantly.

Reining-Spins, the horse is started from the stand still and is made to pivot on its hind quarters at a very high speed.

Doma Vaquera-Spins, the horse does a canter pirouette on four to six strides per spin and can immediately got out of the pirouette into a canter in any direction.

Some of the differences between Dressage and Doma Vaquera are as follows:

Dressage- The horse is trained in a snaffle up until about a third or fourth level when he is put in a double bridle.

Doma Vaquera-The horse is trained in a serrata, and then i a double bridle with serrata and curb bit during its first stages of training.

Dressage-The horses performs with a  double bridle in the Grand Prix

Doma Vaquera-The horse performs in a curb bit only at the Grand Prix Doma Vaquera and the rider is allowed to use only one hand.

Dressage-Tempi changes are demanded in Grand Prix

Doma Vaquera-Tempi changes are demeaned only to the two tempis, and one tempis are optional

Dressage- Piaffe, Passage, Pirouettes, Zigzag Half Pass, and Tempis are the peak of training

Doma Vaquera-a perfect collected walk, Pirouettes, Tempis,Half Pass, Parada a raya (sliding stops) and Medias Vueltas (Roll Backs) are the peak of training.

Dressage-Elegance and perfection of the paces are demanded.

Doma Vaquera-Elegance and effectiveness are demanded.

Dressage-Developed for military purposes and exhibitions in the royal courts

Doma Vaquera-Developed for military purposes and survival

These are just some points to look at, to see the differences in the styles of riding of today. Doma Vaqurea no doubt is one of the oldest forms of riding, used by some of Hernan Cortes' men in battle and dating back to El Cid Campeador and Babieca. One of the preferred styles of riding in the Iberian Peninsula today, and one of the forms of riding of the Classical Spanish Equitation styles. Doma Vaquera can also be seen in the more recently founded Working Equitation competitions world wide.

Don't forget to visit my website at http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and subscribe to my YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/tonytopete1