Dressage From The Heart

Nick Peronace is largely a self taught dressage rider. He trained with hunter jumpers and event riders as a child, then he became a working student for USET Olympic Long Listed Rider Lorinda Lende. By age 17 he had trained his first horse to the highest education level possible. Some riders become a master towards the end of their life. Nick was a master by 19. By that point he not only trained his Appaloosa named Chevy to perform all required movements of Grand Prix Dressage, but master of the Haute-Ecole also. By age 21 he had several other's schooling Prix St Georges, and would also ride 14 or more horses a day. He was a freelance trainer and working on breeding farms. His training roster was very compelling!

Every horse Nick works with, is left with his hallmark lightness. Students watch in amazement as he creates a better looking horse with each exquisite moment, like a Sculptor sculpting his masterpiece. It has been said that the most stiff, hard mouthed horse, becomes light and easy after a short period of training using Nick's system. Young horses also advance quickly and correctly under him. It's not uncommon to see a young horse just put into work, schooling Piaffe in hand. Many people cannot understand this, and without asking questions, label it as "incorrect". Yet in a relatively short period the horse is light and relaxed like an old school master.

Very few riders today, possess the softness we see in Nick's riding. This becomes even more obvious at the highest levels where medals and scores take precedence over lightness and a correctly moving horse. What we tend to see in the show ring are hollow horses in fake collection, riders with overly short reins and overly aggressive aids. Nick himself has spoken out against such standards in the show ring, and also the politics involved. He never liked competing much, but when he finally came out of his shell, he fell victim to a hate campaign, and the conspiracy that followed corrupted the judges. To some, this accusation sounds crazy and stupid, but unfortunately Nick himself has proven it to be true. 

It hasn't been easy for Nick Peronace. The Chronicle Of The Horse lies and keeps up malicious comments said about him on their message boards. They are set at defaming his reputation and his abilities. The awful comments said (of course said anonymously) are from people who have never even worked with him. Rider's should be embracing Nick and picking his brain at clinics to learn his training system. Mr.Peronace has even graciously offered to give a free clinic, and welcoming the critics, yet no one would take him up on the offer. The consistent sharing of misinformation has damaged him forever. The dressage community is missing the chance to work with a living master, much like they did when the horse papers published hateful articles about Baucher and Nuno Oliveira. It is unfortunate that we realize the brilliant minds we had, only once they have passed away.

Mr.Peronace might not be well known or mainstream, but he does have a following. To the people who he has helped, the true fans will never leave him. This article and blog is not written by Nick Peronace, but a devoted fan, follower and friend, who chooses to remain anonymous based on the harassment and destructive behavior others have experienced when they testified to Nick's amazing training abilities. He has requested that I not write this, but I insist that the truth must come out!

At my repeated insistence, Nick has agreed to post training videos and is recreating his wonderful Facebook dressage page! He has also gained the attention of a reputable online video blog, and shall be posting training videos through them as well. As time goes on, hopefully more people become aware of this living master and his incredible abilities. 

Though make no mistake, Nick Peronace feels dressage is his song to God. It's human to feel upset over criticism, but it is his passion that drives him, and will continue to drive him with or without an audience. He doesn't chase ribbons. He doesn't care about scores. He never did and he never will. Even his most hateful critic will agree to that. Dressage is an incredibly intimate and personal experience to Mr.Peronace. He doesn't need our approval.

In the closing of this blog entry, I leave you with a picture that I have edited and taken from Mr. Peronace's Facebook. It shows the uncanny similarities between the two masters. It is easy to see the influence of Nuno Oliveira in Nick's riding. A lesson from Nick will have you exercising Baucher techniques, which Nuno was also influenced. You will also experience what a correctly moving horse actually feels like. And if you are consistent and you are patient, Nick will allow you to taste the delicacy known as true equestrian art.