|
|
|
|
|
Isabell, dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt, began the day by announcing that the clinic would focus on the basics of dressage, because a solid foundation is required for all upper level work. With energy, and a pleasant and approachable nature, she proceeded to demonstrate that the key to success is to have the horse moving forward and to keep a consistent contact in the outside rein no matter what the horse's current level of performance. Isabell also demonstrated a dedication to teaching, cutting short her break and lunch and running over at the end of the day, in order to complete the work with the horse and rider pairs she was teaching. Every ride, regardless of level, began with work at the walk, which Isabell considers the most important part of the horse's foundation.
Day 1, Training Level
Lenore Abbate, Scottsdale, AZ on Icarus, 4 year old Trakehner gelding sired by Enrico Caruso.
The walk should not be forgotten, even though it may be boring both to watch and to ride. It receives a double coefficient in the tests, and is also a good warm-up to prepare for the rest of the work. The horse should be asked to take long strides in a steady, equal rhythm. He should be forward, but not running, with good ground covering steps. The outside rein should be used to prevent the shoulder from drifting to the outside, and there should be some weight in the hands, while the rider allows the hands to "breathe" with the horse.
ALWAYS, the rider must keep a consistent contact in the reins, and must keep the horse moving forward. The outside rein should neither be floating nor tight. We are looking for engagement and overstride behind, while the contact is soft and consistent as possible, but as strong as necessary.
Trot transitions should be done with the leg long and with the heels down. The rider must seek a long, swinging rhythm so that the horse can come forward over the back. Riding extensions and collections within the gait increase the engagement behind. Down transitions to walk should be ridden forward, with the rider taking care to keep contact steady. The rider must always pay attention to the contact in the outside rein.
When asking for a trot transition from the walk, the horse must be asked to stay in a round frame. If the horse wants to "fade" into the down transition, send him immediately forward again. EVERY STEP MUST BE FORWARD!
Canter transitions should also be ridden with contact and roundness, with the horse being asked to "jump" forwards. The horse should not come up in the neck or invert during transitions. The rein contact must be kept in the transitions. Look for self-carriage with forward impulsion and rhythm.
Day 1, First Level
Anya Bershad, Santa Fe, NM
riding Inzinga, a 10 y.o. Dutch Warmblood mare
The walk must be round and through before moving to trot work--make sure there is no drift over the shoulder, and maintain bend on the circle. Then
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ask for a trot that is loose and swing, with the horse chewing softly on the bit. Bringing the horse back in the trot with half halts is good preparatory work for piaffe, but care must be taken that the horse does not lose rhythm. The horse must still swing when he comes back.
In shoulder-in, prepare for the bend with a circle. Use the inside leg to maintain rhythm, going straight for a few strides before starting again if the horse begins to lose rhythm. Allow/maintain the swing, and keep the horse round.
Use halts to increase suppleness. Allow the horse to chew the bit before moving off again, using the leg to encourage chewing if necessary.
Ceinwen Rhys-Evans, Cave Creek, AZ
riding Merlin, a 5 y.o. Hanoverian geldingsired by Matcho X.
Ride transitions between trot and halt, using primarily the leg and back to go into halt. This will encourage engagement. The halt comes from behind because of the rider's leg and seat aids. The hands should be independent. Use a little whip before the halt if necessary in order to get engagement from behind. Correct halts required impulsion from behind. If the halt is not square or the horse is out behind, ask for a single step backwards (ask very quietly and softly--this is not a punishment). If the horse dies into halt, don't accept the halt--ask immediately for forward again. When the horse gives a good try, let him stop and chew before moving off again.
Transitions between walk and trot should be done with the horse staying round in his neck. The FIRST step of trot must come through from behind. The horse must say "yes" whenever the leg is used by moving forward and increasing engagement. Do not permit lazy transitions or inversion.
Shoulder-in should always be ridden forward from behind. The forward aids must be stronger than the reins. Intersperse halts to reinforce roundness and suppleness. Expect the halt to be immediate, and not a winding down. Do not allow the horse to step backwards (unless you have asked for it).
Day 2, Training and First Levels
Anya Bershad, Santa Fe, NM
riding Inzinga Use the outside rein to prevent drift over the shoulder. Keep the bend to the inside. Ask the horse to take the bit forward. Keep the hands low and the contact constant. Use half halts and near-halts ("little stops") followed immediately by asking the horse to go forward again to increase suppleness. Do not allow the horse's head to come up.
Ride transitions frequently within and between gaits, with frequent changes of rein, to make the horse loose and keep him focused on the rider. Keep a close, constant, consistent contact. The hand should "breathe" with the mouth of the horse. The hands must be quiet and independent from the seat.
With complete halts, wait until the horse relaxes and chews before moving on again. The horse should swing in the trot--the rider must let him swing by going with the movement. The rider must be careful with the reins, keeping a constant soft contact with the outside rein. Inconsistent contact
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
causes the horse to become hollow at times, and the head to come up.
The correct bend is not possible in the absence of the outside rein. The contact should ALWAYS be constant, especially during transitions.
The horse must be allowed to jump in the canter. The rider must let the horse go. The rider's heels should stay deep.
Ceinwen Rhys-Evans, Cave Creek, AZ on Merlin Ride with quiet hands, bringing the horse forward with the inside leg, and using the inside rein briefly to ask for flexion, and the outside rein along with the seat to ask for half halts so that the horse will soften and chew. Ask the horse to take his nose forward. Riding the horse forward does not mean riding him faster--let him swing. Ride "little stops" in the trot, and do not let the head come up. Do not allow the horse to run against the hand.
The step backward after the halt is to make the horse supple. It should only be one step, and not a punishment. Allow him to chew before asking for a step backwards. Practice halting several times around the circle, petting and praising the horse after each. Ride the circle on both reins. Focus on suppleness and attentiveness.
When riding the circle, keep the hands low. Expect a swinging trot, and do not allow the horse to run. Keep the contact and ask the horse to stretch. Transition to canter keeping this frame. Go forward with the hands only to extent that he goes forward with his mouth so that contact remains constant and consistent. Always think "shoulder in" with the transition to canter, so that you don't let the shoulder drift out.
Editor's Note: In the following months the remaining levels will be reviewed.
Reprinted with permission of Dressage un Ltd. ©
|
|
|
|
|
|
