I love that this $100k, exquisitely responsive dressage horse clearly understood cantering was a really bad idea and made an executive decision to not comply with orders. 😂

"do you ever get sore" "i stay sore" lmfao man as a horse person of over 30 years i felt that one 🤣

Thank you for having a horse episode for those of us who are horse crazy!

My son rode dressage in middle and high school. I always told people it was basically ice dancing on horseback

This young woman is amazing. I wish her much success in qualifying and winning Olympic gold.

What a great sport Mike is!!! We are not just passengers on our horses, that’s for sure. It’s supposed to look easy, but it’s not ❤

Mike, what a rare talent to tackle a topic so complex and nuanced, and speak about it in simple yet accurate understanding.

Dude, that ride on the race horse trainer is some of the funniest stuff I've seen in a while. Love it!

This is several years old, but I loved it! AND Lauren Billys made it to the Olympics! She went to Brazil and Tokyo! She won gold at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games last summer!

Wow, you did a wonderful job explaining Dressage and 3 day Eventing. ❤ If you ever want to do a show on Eventing, you should contact Boyd Martin. I can't even imagine how hilarious the two of you would be together. 😂

I never even thought about how much work a jockey must go through. They are amazing athletes!

I always told people that Dressage is Advanced Rider Training. It will teach you everything you need to ride safely, for you, your horse, and both your biomechanics. When I started riding Dressage professionally in Australia fourteen years ago the first thing I had to do was two weeks of horse anatomy. I was taught by several of Australias best trainers and riders. I loved it, until sheep ended my career, now I can’t ride anymore.

I cant even tell you how much I love this!! As a lifelong horse enthusiast, this was so great!!!!!!!!!

Mike you never fail to provide both intelligent insight and humor on such a vast variety of topics. Thank you. It’s always a good release from the mind numbing day to day nonsense our world has to offer.

Thank you for showing that riding is hard. But it's also a sport you can do into your eighties and many do. You should do a segment on the Century Club by the US Dressage Foundation!!! Combined ages of horse and rider have to be 100 to participate!

Impeccable timing! My daughter leaves for the Washington high school equestrian state championship meet next week. She qualified in dressage.

When I was in Germany, my ex and I boarded a train to Vienna Austria. Visiting The Spanish Riding School and watching The Lippizans going through all of their drills, was something an upstate NY country girl never dreamed could ever be a reality. What they do is dressage on steroids. Vienna indeed is a magical enchanted city.

Fresno State has a spectacular equestrian team. Many bring their own horses. The members are also excellent students. She is a shining example of what the equestrian life is. Kudos!

You can feel Lauren's intensity and competitiveness through her explanations and teaching. I'd have a hard time believing she WON'T make the Olympics. Simply amazing!

And It's... Somebody's Gotta Do It sliding graceful across the finish line on a rocking horse!🎉🎉🎉🎉😂

You read Dick Francis! ❤ Yet another reason to love you!

“It would be SO embarrassing to have a stroke on a fake pony!” 😂😂😂😂

Dressage is fantastic. I am so in awe of the control they can have of the horse with just their legs.

Watching this as a horse person who strives to reach eventing but also someone who has watched Mike Rowe since they were 6 years old...I AM DYING! I love this! Keep them heels down Mike!!! ❤

Fantastic episode! WOW, Cory is tall for a jockey. I'd bet keeping his weight down to 115 is a constant struggle and he probably gets it down to around 110 on race days.

Mike attempting a prelim test....Caller: "so that's wrong" 😂

My friend rehabilitated horses and she would teach them dressage as part of the rehab and it was amazing to see horses that wouldn't even let you touch them to how confident they would become. Although i know my friend used to mess with me as she would make me go on the horses without a saddle and when i wasn't paying attention tell them to canter or similar just to try break me (also learnt not to try wrestle her or the other guys that did dressage they would break you with there hips/leg strength)

MIKE, YOU SO.... GOT THE HISTORY OF DRESSAGE CORRECT! Thank you so many that say they ride it have no idea of the history and why we ride it.

Omg, bahahaha killing me riding the training horse at Churchill. Awesome

Those breeches were money well spent. My thanks to the "investor".

Dressage is really the foundation of every equine discipline. Lauren is such a talented rider and horsewoman! Thank you for shedding the light into our world of show horses. So many people tell me, oh you just sit there and the horse does all the work. In reality you want it to look effortless. I think what sets these sports apart from other sports is you have a partner with their own mind unlike a golf club, racket, ball, or bat. Its a 24/7 365 days a year commitment.

Well, done, and thank you for doing a segment on the world of horses. Made it fun while not "making fun". Much appreciated!

Got into dressage for a couple years [my jodphurs were tan & my helmet was dark blue velvet]. The particpants can be a bit snooty, but the sport is challenging, the main competition is with yourself as the judging is pretty standardized, until you get into the upper levels & Olympic competitions. The history is a bit more involved - dressage was developed for war horses. Both for agility and ensuring that your horse was not affected by outside commands and noise. [One of my main criticisms of modern dressage is the requirement for quiet during competition], One might consider dressage as gymnastics for horses and the pinnacle of athleticism for both horse and rider. I trained my Tennesse Walker in dressage, which is unusual for gaited horses to limit them to walk trot & canter. Even tho novice we would score in the mid 70's because of his amazing extended walk. My dressage teacher let me work another of my Walkers in gait - closer to pacing than trotting, and the cross ring side passes looked really weird as she was crossing same side legs at same time ie front & back crossed then front and back spread. Wish I had a video, but this was in the mid 1980's before smart phones. Met some Lippenzaner stallions in Oregon and attended a lecture by a European gentleman who taught at Spanish Riding School. Was a marvelous time in my life.

Bring this to tv this is amazing love it 😊

Oh Mike, that polyester riding outfit was just too precious! Lauren Billies - Good Luck all the way to the GOLD!

i am DYING. what a good sport mike is. and the horse is a saint.

never thought I’d see my two favorite things collide like this…blue collar work and dressage! I’m just a young female carpenter from Maine trying to make it big in the sandbox someday ❤️

Owned and rode 30 years, miss it so much! Thanks!

always loved watching dirty jobs back in the day. but just found you again this last year and just love all the vids. your are a great guy for real and would like to thank you for trying to make the world a better place one vid at a time. cheers buddy. from Canada.

The horses are the athletes, so many look over. That was a beautiful video.

What a great horse!!!! Good luck with your goal at the Olympics!

That is Intro Test A dressage is hard very precise ..He did a good job 😊

Shout out for Dick Francis!

That gentleman just won the Kentucky Derdy. Great rider.

Such a beautiful horse. She is a awesome jockey

Mike, do it, take a leap, and buy into Purdy. Excellent episode

Dressage is beautiful. My friend rode gymkana now that’s work out. I love horses

How did I not know Mike Rowe had a KZfaq channel?! Love all you have done for the trades.

Mikey, you look good in the fancy duds when you're "Horsing Around" and make it look so easy, too. Cheers, Mate.

Love you Mike! Loved the horse episode! You looked pretty good on that dressage horse!

mike......one of your best, still laughing.😅

AWWEEE MIIIIKKKEEE!! I’ve always loved your shows; the odd, the new, the gross, the selfless, but this one made me giggle, A LOT…. 😂😂😂😂 The horse that you rode was a SAINT! Thank you for deeply amusing AALLLL the horse owners with this masterpiece. We salute you. Try riding some western horses….your butt will look better in wranglers than breeches and your wife agrees. ❤

Huge fan of you, Mike. Love everything you do and the amazing perspective you give on life.

My granddaughter, age 16, has been riding for 10 years. She's a hunter/jumper girl... spends her life (past school) at the barn.... on a horse. She loves it ... the ups and the downs.... (pum intended). Horse people are like no other. You should tery hunter/jumpers! And... the cost is unbelievable.

Is there anything you can't do? That exercise horse that took you to win the Notyucky Dorky, was really feeling the win. You could tell by the pain in it's eyes. Congratulations!

Having trained & showed multiple disciplines , I highly recommend Mike next trying cutting horses - they're amazing athletes ! Also , the people involved are friendly , always willing to share their interests in this great sport .

Awesome! I ride dressage and even have chased cows with my horse in dressage tack, because it's more comfortable for both me and my. horse than the western tack I grew up with, but it takes a LOT of time and work. Good for you giving it a try, Mike!

I never dreamed he would do an Equestrian show. But wow ! I’m impressed and as a fellow horse lover I really really enjoyed this ! It shows the true talent that it takes while being extremely beautiful, calm and in control !!! Amazing !!! ❤️🐴

Oh! The Churchill Downs segment was great fun! Thank you Mike Rowe and Company for this great show! I learned a lot about Churchill Downs, but it was the Dressage part that really helped me. I have watched Dressage, but I never knew how the rider signals the horse what to do. Fascinating and entertaining!

I want to see you on a jumper 😍😁

I love this! You did a great job on the dressage horse if you've never ridden.

Great episode! My sister has been addicted to horse games since she was a pre-teen and now her daughter has fallen into it as well. I have never been able to make sense of the events, but I take delight in their passion for the animals.

All the reasons I love this guy, nice pony ride!

Kudos to you, Mike! This one really hit the spot for me. I ride dressage, and my dad was a Thoroughbred trainer and breeder. I hope you enjoyed this adventure.

100% it is NOT a walk in the park no matter how easy it looks! Thank you for doing this!

Your BEST video to date Mr Rowe!!!! Made me laugh out loud soooooooo many times that my dogs were barking at me!

Great job Mike well done ❤❤❤

Awesome look inside the craft!! ❤❤

Been riding since I was about 10, but never had the opportunity to try dressage. It's always looked like fun.

This was fun. Pound for pound the jockey is the fittest strongest athlete on earth👏

That was fun

Mike,you did a great job! You have definitely been on the back of a horse before this. You have great balance!

People that I know that ride Dressage, don't wear jackets and or top hats on their daily rides. But otherwise a pretty interesting show.

As a lifelong horse girl myself who has studied dressage (no, I'm not good at it) and currently owns draft horses (no, I don't show them), Lauren is an excellent instructor and you got a wonderful lesson, Mike. I know your mom had horses, so it's neat to see you jumping in there and taking it on. And you look great in the Dressage uniform!

Mike, I gotta say, you NEVER disappoint! I have enjoyed everything you have put on tv and really loved this video. As a life long horse rider, breaker, trainer, and yes-lover of dressage, you are welcome anytime to get some riding lessons from me and my family. If I could afford it, I would already be seeking that Olympic goal myself but if you enjoyed any of that ride, you really should give horses a chance,. They take this woke and evil world away just by taking a ride. Good medicine!

Mike, you did very well! You were committed and had a nice quiet seat! Feel the rhythm and ride!

My wife rode and competed in dressage until she was in her 30’s. I’m looking forward to sharing this video with her.

Appropriate. Kentucky Derby tomorrow (today). On May the 4th (be with you).

Great job. Thank you 😊

Mike! Thanks for these ridership insights. You can top this with the horse ‘training’ difficulty. Getting a horse to agree to rider ask, tell, demand is even more challenging!

Great episode! Thanks Mike.

This popped up in my feed really enjoyed watching, you did a lot in a short time period. Dressage is like puzzle putting all the pieces together. The first boarding barn I was at once a race horse farm with a track, that leased a barn to own/trainer. I started to exercise with the owner/trainer on the track really helped my lazy Dressage horse. The owner/trainer family and mine became good friends and behind the scene at the track is exciting.

I am so enthralled with this episode. When I was a kid we would herd cattle. My uncle's always taught us to steer the horses with our legs and waist. I'm so happy and respect to this wonderful lady

What a jock…she’s very cool. Good luck with the Olympics 🥳

🤔🤣 The horse was a gem for you! Fun though. You both did a fun presentation, and yes I ride as nd used to compete.

I love Mike Rowe 😂😂.

I love that they put him in legit gear!

In reality, you got sweat pouring off of your face, horse slobber in your hair, wearing dust/hay/hair/water, wearing muck boots, and being lucky you can ride your horse after all of the barn work is done. Oh wait, that is my life. It is worth it for these animals.

I do not know if you have covered any other disciplines in the equestrian world. If not it would be nice to see. I have APHA paint horses. Have show western please, reining, and speed events. All are just as demanding of both the horse and the rider. Really enjoyed this episode.

Loved this, you are a great sport Mike!!! Greetings from a South African happy chillaxed equistrian😊🐎🇿🇦

What a great job Mike did!

Great video! Thank you so much! 🙂

Thanks @mikerowe This is one of my favorite channels on KZfaq

Nice.

I can so relate. “It’s like sending somebody on a map quest.” Straight line? Round circle? Hahaha!

God Bless these people who do the sportsmanship, and training. A lot of work and cost is ridiculous.

Awesome job Mike!

This is great!!

Oh Mike, I hardly knew ye. What fun! We had 4 horses over many years. but no dressagee horsys. May I suggest, if you want to experience different aspects of riding. We had a Missouri Fox Trotter, a cutting horse, a very fast "remount" horse, & a well bred, Grulla mare. You must ride a gaited horse, go flat out on a safe runner, & most of all, get on a cutting horse. If you do nothing else, try a cutting horse. I have deep respect for dressage, ( read the story of Grenat), but there is more to experience.Good Luck.

This was so enjoyable to watch and Mike makes me laugh.