An “unusual freestyle” would be one where the music fits the horse so he/she appears to be “dancing”.
I’m currently brainstorming ideas for a first level freestyle, and while I think I’m going to go with something centered around “Girls just wanna have fun” I’m feeling pulled toward a diffferent theme…
Something along the lines of Elton John’s “The Bitch is Back” and Meredith Brooks’ “I’m a Bitch.” Anybody that knows my beasty would understand 
…and I’m assuming that there would be no lyrics so only people that recognized the tunes would know.
Which brings me to this question: Lyrics are bad, right? Not completely totally out of line, but I assumed I couldn’t just pop in Cindy Lauper and go with it.
A long time ago, I saw a freestyle done to the Little Mermaid soundtrack… not so unusual in itself, except that it was pouring rain during the ride and the arena was almost under water very fitting.
But…
Like Mike Matson stated, the best freestyle is a freestyle where the music fits the horse. Not only the BPM has to be correct, but also the music has to fit the horse and rider, (size, weight, impression of both the horse and rider have to be taken into consideration). Even more important is the choreography, the degree of difficulty and symmetrie of the test. And when and if you have all these things covered, you can start thinking about using unusual music. And furthermore what is unusual music ? When I read the answers in this topic I don’t see any unusual music, because most of it is already used manyyyyy times.
I just finished the new freestyle for Carl Hester and Dolendo and yes he uses very unusual music and has the guts and skills to do something besides the paved paths. Coby van Baalen and BCM O’Jay recently used gothic metal music which I call unusual. Isabelle Werth uses full opera music, which is unusual. But please don’t call music from Bond or Pirattes of the Caribean unusual music, because this music has turned grey already 2 years ago.
Theo
Last month we went down to N.C. for March Madness Dressage and a young rider was doing a freestyle to Michael Jackson. It was pretty cool, it had Billy Jean and some other M.J. songs.
When I was in Pony Club, there was a girl at the Champs on a really flashy med chestnut pony who did her freestyle to the chicken dance!! It matched the pony’s short steps perfectly. She cleaned up, I think with 79’s.
Too bad Smokey isn’t a mare, that could be our pas de deaux
Andreas Helgstrand and Matine. You can hear the commentators saying “The mare is possitively dancing”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
I don’t know how overly ‘weird’ the music is, but I do know that this performance was the first time my non-horsey boyfriend was interested in watching a horse go.
BF “You never told me horses could dance. That is SO cool!”
ME: “Well of course they can dear. Horses ARE cool!”
He’s also ridden to Pink Floyd and Guns n Roses as well.
Back when I was little and rode in 4H, there was a girl at the local 4H Fair who did a reining pattern to Baby Got Back. The girl was a bigger girl on a bigger horse. She had a great sense of humor. The ride was fantastic. It seemed as though her horse was actually shaking it’s bum with the song. However, many parents freaked at her choice of music. What prudes. Most of us laughed so hard. Her facial expressions, the amazing ride, the song. It was perfect.
[QUOTE=Ambrey;3153905]
Can you do part of it to “Baby got Back?”[/QUOTE]
I always like to pair my horse with silly music, but I’m not sure I’m young and hip enough to pull it off in a show. I’d probably choose Fall Out Boy (this ain’t a scene, it’s an arms race!) or Seether (fake it) and just take my bad scores in the name of fun 
Or maybe Foo Fighters (Pretender).
I’ve always been a rebel, though. Me with my hairy horse and unwillingness to let the trainer pull my pony’s mane.
Michael Etherly used some catchy remixed tango music here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4sivv7J4U
I think it might be Astor Piazolla but I may be wrong. It sure sounds familiar!
That tango is ever popular boarderline over used Bond.
[QUOTE=freestyle2music;3154178]
But please don’t call music from Bond or Pirattes of the Caribean unusual music, because this music has turned grey already 2 years ago.
Theo[/QUOTE]
Ditto on that comment.
recently at the Palm Beach Derby CDI /world cup qualifyer, the pirates of the carrabian showed up three times… gag me!
a really, really cute kur is Lars Petersons freestyle. I think his former wife made it for him.
http://www.dressageclinic.com/playeventvideo.php?vid=110&ext=wmv
My horse enjoys rocking out to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7HCR7BZXlE
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGDtYrIo9nQ
This would HAVE to make your horse’s walk sexier! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXvLsltu2A&feature=related
[QUOTE=Mini_Me;3154601]
Andreas Helgstrand and Matine. You can hear the commentators saying “The mare is possitively dancing”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
I don’t know how overly ‘weird’ the music is, but I do know that this performance was the first time my non-horsey boyfriend was interested in watching a horse go.
BF “You never told me horses could dance. That is SO cool!”
ME: “Well of course they can dear. Horses ARE cool!”
He’s also ridden to Pink Floyd and Guns n Roses as well.[/QUOTE]
Wow! I’d love to see that video… guns n roses!
When I said “unusual” I guess I meant more original, creative, and showing some personality. I don’t get to see too many live freestyles, but from what I have seen, it seems that it’s been stepping away from trotting around to classical music to becoming more like dancing to music. Perhaps I’m slow in seeing this though.
I love to see these videos! Thanks for sharing!
Well, obviously some of us haven’t been out enough to know just what has been done to death. Cut us some slack, eh?
When, and if, I am ready to do a freestyle, then I shall look into trying to find something that hasn’t been done before and that fits my mare.
My first stop will probably be Mike’s site to see what all he has listed that’s new.
Eileen
[QUOTE=murphyluv;3156000]
Wow!
I just found it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GsOTE2dGjE[/QUOTE]
I didn’t like it. I love Guns n Roses too. It was so disjointed. One minute Pink Floyd the next minute samba (or whatever that elevator tie-in music is). Nice ride and good for being different, but I think some kind of continuity in the music is important.
[QUOTE=murphyluv;3156000]
Wow!
I just found it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GsOTE2dGjE[/QUOTE]
Didn’t like this one that much… and I thought the freestyle with Matinee was much better.
Loved the Pirates one though! I’ll have to download some Pirates music for me to ride to.:yes:
