We have read quite a lot of books, have searched online libraries all over Germany for books dealing with the subject. We have looked into the history of riding, have tried to simulate the development of both ways of riding und have researched the derivation of the education scale of the FN and compared them with the education conductor from the book „Akademische Reitkunst“ (Academic Riding Art):

Here  a little extract:

Regardless whether English Riding according to the FN or Baroque riding – as for instance Bent Branderup`s „Academic Riding“ - in both „catagories“ of rdiers there are recommendations which apply to the training of the horse: The „training scale“ of horses of the FN according to the official assessment text book for the riding badge (Reitabzeichen) of the German Riding Association divides the complete training of the horse into three phases: The acclimatisation phase, in which the cycle of giving the horse its head  and the support are being conveyed, the „development of thrust“ in order to reach  suppleness, support and straightning as well as „the development of carrying capacity“, to which belong the verve, the straightning and last but not least the assemblence .  The big aim of all training phases is the „prenetrability“. The sequence arises from the necessity dictated by nature. The overlapping in the single phases points to the connections of the particular steps, every point is the condition for the completion of the next, but none can for itself be the aim of a training segment.“ (from: Grundausbilding für Pferd und Reiter, Band 1 Richtlinien für Reiten und Fahren – Basci training for horse and rider, volume 1 guidelines for riding and driving)

What is described relatively unspectecular and factual in a drawing, undirectly claims the same as also Bent Branderup in his book „Academic Riding Art“, namely that the training of the horse asks for time and patience. Bent Branderup states similar basic terms as the FN: „Dutifulness, participation , penetrability, supplement, speed, tact and verve“.  He calls his „Training scale“ the classical ledder, which starts with step one, the lungeing and finally ends with number 17, the caper. Even if  lessons like the Levade???? or the caper do not count to the dressage lessons of English riding anymore and are not shown at tournaments, the FN has divided its particular lessons into classes „E, A, L, M, S“  and thus structured them similar to Branderup.

Basically the two training steps of both ways of riding are not so different after all.

During the Baroque era riding developed into leasure activities at court, during which Bent Branderup's idol Francois Robichon de la Guérinère was teaching. According to the examination book „Die Reitabzeichen der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung“ Guérinére was the first to create in 1733  with his „Ecole de Cavalarie“ a coherent and successional , methodically constructed riding lesson, which today serves the modern dressage work as foundation.

If the way of training in Baroque riding and English riding accodrding to the guidelines of the FN hardly differ, where now is the attraction for so many riders, to change the category? Is it the historical etiquette, the traditional clothes, the beautiful saddles and bridles or the noble Baroque horses which makes the difference? Maybe its exaclty these „accompaniments“ which gives the Baroque riding such a boom.

Since long ago the Baroque riders are no mavericks anymore who are training  behind closed doors. In Germany they are also organisationally structured. Their German Association for classical Baroque riding  with their president Richard Hinrichs is attached to the Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (German Association of riding)  and has issued its own training and examination order, according to which the education to achieve Trainer C with main focus to Baroque rdiding  is possible and according to which  especially developed tournament assessments can take place. Admitted to these official tournaments are however merely Frisians, all Iberical races and Lipizzaner. The German Association for classical-baroque riding says on their website that they will offer horse enthusiasts who want to train their horses according to the classical basic principles of baroque riding today an organisational framework.  The German Association for classical-baroque Riding e.V. is devoted to the protection of the idea of classical-baroque riding. This includes especially the ministration  and education  of exactly those elements which were founded in the baroque riding, which however were not taken over by todays riding on the part of the International Riding Association's (FEI)  definition  of dressage.

Perhaps one can circumscribe the difference simply with the fact that in baroque equestrian riding can be looked at not only as  a sport but also as a life philosophy (in the framework of which on should not only occupy oneself  just with the practice of riding but equally  with the contact to the horse and the history of the horse and with riding in general).  Who occupies himself closer with the baroque way of riding  will first of all discover one message: Riding is an art. In the FN-equestrian however the sporting achievemnt stands in the foreground.

Both is without doubt ambitious and time consuming. And thus very alike...