Apart from Bent Branderup's texts there are several superb descriptions of Academic Art of Riding to read; I have linked to some of which I recommend. But "dressage for the sake of the horse and not the horse for the sake of dressage" seems to me as an excellent conclusion.
A clear goal is that the horse is taught to carry itself and the rider when moving as easy and freely as if it had played on its own on the greens. Calmly and methodical the horse is worked to become strong and supple in body and mind, at first from ground and gradually also from the back.
To me Academic Art of Riding is not the least a position on how to communicate with and even relate to your horse. The better I become in understanding what the horses tell me the more I have been forced to actually deal with myself and try to develop personally in order to become a better horseman. Incredibly humbling, educational and extremely fun!
A lot of people around me have asked about the fact that we don't compete. But there is no point in competing in art - an it seems so uninteresting to try to match other riders when each horse and rider follows their individual development. Instead of competion a curiosity is created around how other riders handle their challenges.
But most important; Academic Art of Riding is pure joy!
