USEF Western Dressage Tests
Seriously?
OK, so it as always my impression that Dressage was the progressive development of the horses strength and suppleness, which in turn helps him develop better impulsion and uphill balance, which will give him more confidence in both himself and his rider, promoting relaxation and ridability. Now, knowing enough about western riding to be dangerous, and knowing that they shy away from the development of impulsion looking for flat jogs and lopes without supsension, and they demand the kind of 'truckling subservience' in their horses that the USEF Judges committee has instructed us to shy away from, exactly what part of Western riding is "dressage"?
I really like my most of my western friends. This is nothing against them. But you won't see Audacity (my GP Morgan) in a western pleasure class anytime soon. While he is truly a 'pleasure' to ride, I don't think his passage is quite what they're looking for.
Sure we have certain movements etc that are similar, because, yes, let's face it, a horse IS still a horse. But the training involved is apples and oranges! While both a roll back and a pirouette are born from the same premise that the horse can 'spin', tell me which one looks more comfortable? (If one of us "DQ'S" grabs for the saddle horn you know she's in trouble!) Sliding stop at X? I think that would be given the comment "abrupt", and scored likely a 3. And I would love to see a Western horse do a springing expressive extended.....anything......
I'd really love to know, who sold out?
And while I truly feel that dressage training is for every horse (and I say that with a big smile for those of you who know the REAL me and the road I've traveled!) every horse with his head down is not being trained in dressage.
Best of luck USEF, and thanks once again for attempting to morph dressage into something that it isn't, for the sake of a few more show fees....
It would be like trying to play tennis on a ping pong table. You got rackets, balls, a net, and a court, but you'd look pretty funny using a tennis racket and tennis balls on a ping pong table....just sayin'.....
Rant over. Happy Friday!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
USDF FEI Trainers Symposium
Christoph Hess....what more can I say. I've never met a kinder more patient man, with such an incredible knowledge of classical principles. The Trainers Symposium was the first two days of my week long intensive educational experience with Christoph. It really set the tone for me to up my standards. He is so clear in his expectations. The basics must be perfect. He is not the type of trainer who will do the 'tricks' just to please the rider. But rather will spend the time perfecting stretching and throughness, until the tricks happen almost by themselves. With only one hand on the reins never-the-less.
While I don't think the blow by blow of each and every rider would be interesting and is probably posted all over the internet already, I will post several quotes from Christoph. But as far as the riders go, I will say my friend Sharon McCusker was LOVELY. She is very deserving of the kudos she got!
Anyway...the quotes...If there's something unclear, feel free to email me!!! But in the meantime....enjoy!!!
The key point of good riding is that the horse is 100 per cent in front of the leg.
Christoph frequently tells us to use the whip at the shoulder. It gets the horse up off the shoulder, and also helps him pay better attention to the inner leg. Having used this technique on now more than a few of my young ones (and not so young ones) I will say I've found it very helpful when properly applied!
The walk is an important mirror for good riding.
Christoph used a long rein stretching between the half pass left and right with great success.
The circle is the most important movement to train. The corner is a quarter of a circle, and trains the proper bend and shape. (Am darned glad Karl M pounded this into my head!)
It is important to have control of the tempo and the line.
Slowing down the tempo doesn't mean allowing the horse to be lazy. Slowing down the tempo means more time to swing through the body!
Ultimate the horse relaxes to a long rein, and then the rider can ride easily with one hand, patting him with the other.
Control the tempo with your body. (Not your reins!)
Acceptance of the inside leg means obedience.
The horse must be able to listen to the leg even without the spur. Riding too much off the spur makes the horse slow.
When the horse is in front of the leg, he is happier, straighter, and moves better.
The horse must learn to move forward by himself.
The horse is not as sensitive at the shoulder when you use the whip there, which is why he sometimes accepts it better than the hind leg.
If you use the whip at the hind leg, you must use it at the precise moment that it comes off the ground. (Again, thank you Karl for drilling this fact into me!!!)
Half seat allows the horse to find his own balance.
If you ride with too much forward energy all the time, the horse eventually loses balance and falls too much on the forehand.
Riding with one hand helps evaluate if the horse is trained the right way, so that you can start training the upper level movements.
You need collection for proper shoulder in and half pass. It's a gymnastic process, not trick riding!
We have to sometimes ask the horse difficult questions to see what he's ready for, but at the same time be careful not to ask to much.
You need a trot with good impulsion to half pass. You need more power, cadence, and uphill tendency as well.
Christoph frequently spoke about "swinging" your driving aids in the direction of the hands. It's a cool way too think about it in my eyes.
You must have your forward work under control before loosening the back with lateral work. The quality of the gaits must come first!
When the horse is running, it's best to slow him down with lateral work. (Eh Shorty?) You should NOT stop or slow a horse with your reins!
Contact is not only the part between the hand and the bit. It's the whole picture. From the front...to the back.
Dressage is gymnastic to help develop the paces.
NEVER blame the horse. The problem is the rider. (Cindi's editorial..... BIG SIGH!!!!)
To be a true horseman, you must know how to sit. To sit, you must be supple and balanced.
Pirouette is not about riding the circle. It's about riding the collection. (On the circle.)
Riders who sit in the saddle that are stiff ride without tension, and ride without feeling.
Energy is required for a steady connection.
The larger the strides, the more steady the contact.
Christoph was very adamant on "RESULT ORIENTED RIDING". I.e....ride with a purpose!
If the rider overuses the inside rein the horse will fall out of balance.
Christoph says he's only concerned with the horse being behind the vertical if the horse is out of balance.
When the ears are backwards the horse is not thinking positive (or forward).
99 percent of the problems between horse and rider are communication problems. The horse doesn't get it. (Ohhhh I never said that LOL!)
You have to RIDE the horse backwards with forwards energy.
If the horse double taps in passage, use the collected trot, add cadence, suspension, and elasticity. But don't confirm training the passage with double steps.
And finally....from day one.....DRESSAGE IS A JOY TO WATCH!!!!
Yeah it's alot. But there's a lot more.....
Stay tuned :-D
While I don't think the blow by blow of each and every rider would be interesting and is probably posted all over the internet already, I will post several quotes from Christoph. But as far as the riders go, I will say my friend Sharon McCusker was LOVELY. She is very deserving of the kudos she got!
Anyway...the quotes...If there's something unclear, feel free to email me!!! But in the meantime....enjoy!!!
The key point of good riding is that the horse is 100 per cent in front of the leg.
Christoph frequently tells us to use the whip at the shoulder. It gets the horse up off the shoulder, and also helps him pay better attention to the inner leg. Having used this technique on now more than a few of my young ones (and not so young ones) I will say I've found it very helpful when properly applied!
The walk is an important mirror for good riding.
Christoph used a long rein stretching between the half pass left and right with great success.
The circle is the most important movement to train. The corner is a quarter of a circle, and trains the proper bend and shape. (Am darned glad Karl M pounded this into my head!)
It is important to have control of the tempo and the line.
Slowing down the tempo doesn't mean allowing the horse to be lazy. Slowing down the tempo means more time to swing through the body!
Ultimate the horse relaxes to a long rein, and then the rider can ride easily with one hand, patting him with the other.
Control the tempo with your body. (Not your reins!)
Acceptance of the inside leg means obedience.
The horse must be able to listen to the leg even without the spur. Riding too much off the spur makes the horse slow.
When the horse is in front of the leg, he is happier, straighter, and moves better.
The horse must learn to move forward by himself.
The horse is not as sensitive at the shoulder when you use the whip there, which is why he sometimes accepts it better than the hind leg.
If you use the whip at the hind leg, you must use it at the precise moment that it comes off the ground. (Again, thank you Karl for drilling this fact into me!!!)
Half seat allows the horse to find his own balance.
If you ride with too much forward energy all the time, the horse eventually loses balance and falls too much on the forehand.
Riding with one hand helps evaluate if the horse is trained the right way, so that you can start training the upper level movements.
You need collection for proper shoulder in and half pass. It's a gymnastic process, not trick riding!
We have to sometimes ask the horse difficult questions to see what he's ready for, but at the same time be careful not to ask to much.
You need a trot with good impulsion to half pass. You need more power, cadence, and uphill tendency as well.
Christoph frequently spoke about "swinging" your driving aids in the direction of the hands. It's a cool way too think about it in my eyes.
You must have your forward work under control before loosening the back with lateral work. The quality of the gaits must come first!
When the horse is running, it's best to slow him down with lateral work. (Eh Shorty?) You should NOT stop or slow a horse with your reins!
Contact is not only the part between the hand and the bit. It's the whole picture. From the front...to the back.
Dressage is gymnastic to help develop the paces.
NEVER blame the horse. The problem is the rider. (Cindi's editorial..... BIG SIGH!!!!)
To be a true horseman, you must know how to sit. To sit, you must be supple and balanced.
Pirouette is not about riding the circle. It's about riding the collection. (On the circle.)
Riders who sit in the saddle that are stiff ride without tension, and ride without feeling.
Energy is required for a steady connection.
The larger the strides, the more steady the contact.
Christoph was very adamant on "RESULT ORIENTED RIDING". I.e....ride with a purpose!
If the rider overuses the inside rein the horse will fall out of balance.
Christoph says he's only concerned with the horse being behind the vertical if the horse is out of balance.
When the ears are backwards the horse is not thinking positive (or forward).
99 percent of the problems between horse and rider are communication problems. The horse doesn't get it. (Ohhhh I never said that LOL!)
You have to RIDE the horse backwards with forwards energy.
If the horse double taps in passage, use the collected trot, add cadence, suspension, and elasticity. But don't confirm training the passage with double steps.
And finally....from day one.....DRESSAGE IS A JOY TO WATCH!!!!
Yeah it's alot. But there's a lot more.....
Stay tuned :-D
Friday, December 30, 2011
Training Philosophy
Wow... 4995 reads on my little blog! That may not be a lot to some, but to me it's really touching that people actually look at this stuff. Hopefully it's been helpful to some and maybe even a little entertaining at times ;-)
So in an attempt to break the 5000 mark by New Years, here's something that's been on my mind.
Day in day out. Training is what I do. And when I'm not on the horse training it, I'm teaching, and thinking about how to help the rider better train the horse. And when I'm not doing either of those, I'm probably obsessing about one of my rides today, what I could have done better, where I should go next, or just enjoying how happy one great ride can make me feel.
In thinking about it, I think about the obstacles as well. Many can recognize that feeling when attempting an exercise for the first time or even the fifth, that "wow...this horse isn't ever going to get it......". You go home frustrated, and worry. Is he sound? Does he have some type of mental or physical deficiency? Am I doing it wrong? Does my saddle fit? I think I might need to go bitless....or the newest supplement...do you think the fat is high enough in his grain? Or maybe the trainer has to ride him through this....barefoot shoeing?....ACK!!!!
I can't tell you how many times I've been there, sitting in a pool of doubt. Wondering what "I'm" doing wrong, or I'm missing, or what's wrong with my precious horse. Recently I've been helping a friend go through a step like this too with his ones. A month ago, the horse would melt down at only two. It was frustrating for my friend, and I totally commiserate remembering going through the same frustrations once with Kriter. Today he got six beautiful straight and calm ones :-))) It just took the right exercises, a little more strength on the horses part, and a little better timing on the riders part. I fully expect any day now they'll be banging out 15. But it's a process for sure. And the prerequisite is patience.
Side note; Ruby on the other hand does everything right the first time of course. At least he thinks so! But we won't go there today. Bugger....
So the one thing I can share with you from my experience is that when having one of those days where you're trying something new, like a turn on the haunches, and your horse insists on swinging his haunches out rather than stepping around the circle, don't go juicing up the electromagnetic blanket, scheduling a nuke scan, and calling the psychic. Don't focus on the failure but what actually happened with respect to your horses basics. Step away from the emotions, analyze the situation in black and white, and think about which exercises that might help the horse develop better strength and understanding over the coming days to perform the movement you're looking for. Yep it's all about patience and time. And remember, these obstacles aren't failures, they're just another step in the development of what's hopefully a long and successful career for you and your partner.
On that note, best wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful year ahead, with many wonderful rides!
And thank you for reading me!
Cindi
So in an attempt to break the 5000 mark by New Years, here's something that's been on my mind.
Day in day out. Training is what I do. And when I'm not on the horse training it, I'm teaching, and thinking about how to help the rider better train the horse. And when I'm not doing either of those, I'm probably obsessing about one of my rides today, what I could have done better, where I should go next, or just enjoying how happy one great ride can make me feel.
In thinking about it, I think about the obstacles as well. Many can recognize that feeling when attempting an exercise for the first time or even the fifth, that "wow...this horse isn't ever going to get it......". You go home frustrated, and worry. Is he sound? Does he have some type of mental or physical deficiency? Am I doing it wrong? Does my saddle fit? I think I might need to go bitless....or the newest supplement...do you think the fat is high enough in his grain? Or maybe the trainer has to ride him through this....barefoot shoeing?....ACK!!!!
I can't tell you how many times I've been there, sitting in a pool of doubt. Wondering what "I'm" doing wrong, or I'm missing, or what's wrong with my precious horse. Recently I've been helping a friend go through a step like this too with his ones. A month ago, the horse would melt down at only two. It was frustrating for my friend, and I totally commiserate remembering going through the same frustrations once with Kriter. Today he got six beautiful straight and calm ones :-))) It just took the right exercises, a little more strength on the horses part, and a little better timing on the riders part. I fully expect any day now they'll be banging out 15. But it's a process for sure. And the prerequisite is patience.
Side note; Ruby on the other hand does everything right the first time of course. At least he thinks so! But we won't go there today. Bugger....
So the one thing I can share with you from my experience is that when having one of those days where you're trying something new, like a turn on the haunches, and your horse insists on swinging his haunches out rather than stepping around the circle, don't go juicing up the electromagnetic blanket, scheduling a nuke scan, and calling the psychic. Don't focus on the failure but what actually happened with respect to your horses basics. Step away from the emotions, analyze the situation in black and white, and think about which exercises that might help the horse develop better strength and understanding over the coming days to perform the movement you're looking for. Yep it's all about patience and time. And remember, these obstacles aren't failures, they're just another step in the development of what's hopefully a long and successful career for you and your partner.
On that note, best wishes for a happy, healthy, and successful year ahead, with many wonderful rides!
Cindi
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Gladstone Day 2
Fortunately the rains let up. There was much flooding in the area, but Gladstone escaped with just mud. We actually saw blue skies, and Brian O'Connor joked about canceling the show due to the shadows caused by the sun.
With the sun came the bees though. I don't think there was a person there who wasn't dodging them. People got stung. One or our friends even got bit on the inside of his cheek...We wore long sleeves and sweated. Heaven forbid you had sugar in your coffee. And apples were especially appealing...
I do apologize to the Junior, Young, and Pony riders as those were usually the times we were either training or not on the property. But am happy that they also had their moments to shine at this very special event.
The Grand Prix Special went as expected I think. Ravel and Steffen and Calecto V and Tina again performed head and shoulders above the rest with better and more powerful performances than before. The footing was better, and you could see both riders "go for it" as they knew they had their rides under their belts.
Then the long awaited PSG. It was a long day for us, as we started our training session early, and we wanted to see Steffen on Weltino's Magic, a Westfalen who was purchased from Munster Handorf, where we have also purchased many wonderful young horses. We were not disappointed. The top three horses, Weltino, Paragon, and Grandioso, clearly were in a class above the rest. Two other young upcomings who were worth watching were Warsteiner with Heather Mason and Big Tyme with Marisa Festerling. Marisa was having a great go at it, until unfortunate mistakes started to happen in all the last movements. But the power of this horse was complimented by a beautifully quiet rider. They are truly a pair to watch! The top three were definite "ins" for the Pan Ams, but who the fourth and fifth horses were still left a big question mark.
I do know there was some 'murmur' among spectators. It did not appear to any of them that Caesar patted or even acknowledged any of the efforts of Grandioso. It did upset a few....
I did get to do some shopping. And found some very new gloves with "bling". My only sadness was the fact that the fancy new helmet that I tried to order apparently does not come in my size.
Oh well. Life will go on :-)
Tomorrow is Erin's time to shine. Best get up early, as I want to be in tip top coaching form!
 |
| A wild looking river near the farm....swollen and angry from all the rains.... |
With the sun came the bees though. I don't think there was a person there who wasn't dodging them. People got stung. One or our friends even got bit on the inside of his cheek...We wore long sleeves and sweated. Heaven forbid you had sugar in your coffee. And apples were especially appealing...
 |
| Christine, Erin's mom, with her "bee hat" on so she could watch Erin's warmup without getting bit! |
The Grand Prix Special went as expected I think. Ravel and Steffen and Calecto V and Tina again performed head and shoulders above the rest with better and more powerful performances than before. The footing was better, and you could see both riders "go for it" as they knew they had their rides under their belts.
Then the long awaited PSG. It was a long day for us, as we started our training session early, and we wanted to see Steffen on Weltino's Magic, a Westfalen who was purchased from Munster Handorf, where we have also purchased many wonderful young horses. We were not disappointed. The top three horses, Weltino, Paragon, and Grandioso, clearly were in a class above the rest. Two other young upcomings who were worth watching were Warsteiner with Heather Mason and Big Tyme with Marisa Festerling. Marisa was having a great go at it, until unfortunate mistakes started to happen in all the last movements. But the power of this horse was complimented by a beautifully quiet rider. They are truly a pair to watch! The top three were definite "ins" for the Pan Ams, but who the fourth and fifth horses were still left a big question mark.
I do know there was some 'murmur' among spectators. It did not appear to any of them that Caesar patted or even acknowledged any of the efforts of Grandioso. It did upset a few....
I did get to do some shopping. And found some very new gloves with "bling". My only sadness was the fact that the fancy new helmet that I tried to order apparently does not come in my size.
Oh well. Life will go on :-)
Tomorrow is Erin's time to shine. Best get up early, as I want to be in tip top coaching form!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Gladstone thoughts - the jog and day 1!
I feel very fortunate to have been asked to coach one of our riders in the Brentina Cup National Championships this year, Erin Shea. Erin is truly a hard working and talented individual, who I look forward to seeing great things from in the future. She is supported by Sue McKeown, who has given her her lovely Grand Prix Horse Marshall to ride and train.
The weather was hardly cooperative for the jog. During the absolutely delish post jog wine and cheese party, there was much discussion among the competitors about the remants of a hurricane due to arrive that night. The footing, despite being packed quite hard, was already quite saturated and somewhat slick. Volunteers were called out in the rain from the party to help move the arena for the morning, so that the corners would be as fresh as possible. We all got rather damp.
One team wondered why on earth we couldn't 'cover the field', like they would do in many other professional sports? Volunteers were chiming in that they would call college football teams, or go to Wal-Mart, or do just about anything possible to try and keep the footing from getting overly wet. This IS the National Championships. These ARE the best horses in the country! Why on earth not?
But the "footing experts" simply went about there way. A couple of competitors were barked at in a rather surly manner, or so they felt. I'm not sure the footing experts truly appreciated our efforts or goodwill in any way, surely none of us appreciated the rain....
While in most instances, having first draw, especially first draw of the entire show, would have been deemed unfortunate. In this instance however, we knew the footing had been packed extremely hard, and while later in the draw things would break down to a slickery mush, the footing would be the best it would be. While Marshall still backed off a bit from the hard pounding of the extremely packed footing, combined with the slickery-ness of the top mush, the pair still put in a respectable ride, pulling fourth in a very competitive class. We were all very proud of Erin and Marty the rain couldn't take that away!
The Grand Prix was next. It poured during some rides. Steffen and Ravel made it almost looked easy, nearing the 80 per cent mark. Having seen the pair at the World Cup, perhaps some of their usual brilliance wasn't there, but Steffen was right in not asking for it in those conditions. The top two pairs in the Grand Prix, Steffen and Ravel and Calecto V and Tina, clearly stood out as "Top Class" among the rest despite the conditions.
The PSG however was canceled despite the fact that the skies had cleared. Who knows what would have happened if indeed we had protected the riding surfaces over night? Why must dressage remain in the dark ages....while I agree that we must maintain some semblance of respect to the traditions on which our sport is based in our rules, I am not sure that we must risk our top horses by sloshing them through mushy conditions, when we have other options available to us....
While in most instances, having first draw, especially first draw of the entire show, would have been deemed unfortunate. In this instance however, we knew the footing had been packed extremely hard, and while later in the draw things would break down to a slickery mush, the footing would be the best it would be. While Marshall still backed off a bit from the hard pounding of the extremely packed footing, combined with the slickery-ness of the top mush, the pair still put in a respectable ride, pulling fourth in a very competitive class. We were all very proud of Erin and Marty the rain couldn't take that away!
The Grand Prix was next. It poured during some rides. Steffen and Ravel made it almost looked easy, nearing the 80 per cent mark. Having seen the pair at the World Cup, perhaps some of their usual brilliance wasn't there, but Steffen was right in not asking for it in those conditions. The top two pairs in the Grand Prix, Steffen and Ravel and Calecto V and Tina, clearly stood out as "Top Class" among the rest despite the conditions.
The PSG however was canceled despite the fact that the skies had cleared. Who knows what would have happened if indeed we had protected the riding surfaces over night? Why must dressage remain in the dark ages....while I agree that we must maintain some semblance of respect to the traditions on which our sport is based in our rules, I am not sure that we must risk our top horses by sloshing them through mushy conditions, when we have other options available to us....
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Opportunity knocking
While coaching my most lovely assistant, Sue, while she was riding my most lovely young mare "Romanze" today (did I say most lovely?), I had one of those "aha" moments in my teaching that very perfectly described in one word a concept that seems hard for some people to grasp....
OPPORTUNITY...
Many times, when I watch people ride, they simply go around and round. They do the exact same trot, stride after stride. Same tempo. Same size. Same bend. Same connection. They ride figures, but it appears to be more of a pattern than an exercise. They themselves appear mesmerized with the rhythm of the stride. There's no variation, there's no progress, there's none of the "intimate conversation" that I love to watch between a horse and a rider. You could almost set your clock by their riding.
It's predictable. It's the same. In a sense, it's boring.
Regardless, Sue and Roro are pretty mesmerizing to watch. Roro's huge motor and big elastic gaits, and Sue's beautifully quiet soft manner, I could watch it all day! But there it was...
OPPORTUNITY.....
Here's the deal....we can all ride shapes and patterns. Most of us can do a transition where we want it to happen. We can even make the horse work in a reasonably attractive outline. But the real training and progress only happens during those momentary opportunities, when we "hear" the horse saying he's ready for the next step, and seize the moment. It's a pity when they're missed...
To look for them, try asking "questions" by making the horse trot bigger or smaller for a few strides. Ask him if he's supple by working position left or right for a bit. Offer him both reins and see how he stretches. Ride in some way just a hair out of the comfort zone. Try to create moments where you can nicely ask for things to be just a little bit better....and give the horse the opportunity to respond. Risk those occasions where it might get a little less than pretty for the other times that you might be very nicely surprised!
Yeah. Opportunities. Look for them, and use them, and then watch how your training progresses!
OPPORTUNITY...
Many times, when I watch people ride, they simply go around and round. They do the exact same trot, stride after stride. Same tempo. Same size. Same bend. Same connection. They ride figures, but it appears to be more of a pattern than an exercise. They themselves appear mesmerized with the rhythm of the stride. There's no variation, there's no progress, there's none of the "intimate conversation" that I love to watch between a horse and a rider. You could almost set your clock by their riding.
It's predictable. It's the same. In a sense, it's boring.
Regardless, Sue and Roro are pretty mesmerizing to watch. Roro's huge motor and big elastic gaits, and Sue's beautifully quiet soft manner, I could watch it all day! But there it was...
OPPORTUNITY.....
Here's the deal....we can all ride shapes and patterns. Most of us can do a transition where we want it to happen. We can even make the horse work in a reasonably attractive outline. But the real training and progress only happens during those momentary opportunities, when we "hear" the horse saying he's ready for the next step, and seize the moment. It's a pity when they're missed...
To look for them, try asking "questions" by making the horse trot bigger or smaller for a few strides. Ask him if he's supple by working position left or right for a bit. Offer him both reins and see how he stretches. Ride in some way just a hair out of the comfort zone. Try to create moments where you can nicely ask for things to be just a little bit better....and give the horse the opportunity to respond. Risk those occasions where it might get a little less than pretty for the other times that you might be very nicely surprised!
Yeah. Opportunities. Look for them, and use them, and then watch how your training progresses!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
USEF Young Horse Training at Riveredge with Scott Hassler
Sunrise at Riveredge
So for three days I had the opportunity to watch Scott teaching both his students and the other young horse trainers in this most lovely setting. I watched his wife, Susanne, ride beautiful stallion after beautiful stallion. She is such a lovely rider, as were all Scott's students! I met my babies granddaddy, "Harmony's Rousseau", and watched Susanne put him through his stunning paces. It was all so very interesting and educational. The highlight for me however was definitely my time with Ruby.
Scott has a very clear and systematic approach that was easy to follow and understand. Availability (something my students hear about frequently as well) is key. Much focus was given to acceptance of the aids. Once my horse was more through and relaxed in his back, the opportunity for some lovely collection arose, and Scott saw it and was right on it! Ruby showed Scott his breath taking big boy trot. He recognized Ruby's special talent for collection, calling my wonderful little guy a "Special gift". Everything we had been currently working on, Scott helped me take it a step further, and sent me away with a very clear picture of his program for the upcoming months, focusing on developing Ruby's strength and responses for better throughness, collection and expression. It was so incredibly helpful to have someone of his caliber give me feedback and focus. I can't wait to see where it goes over the upcoming months!
Thank you so much to the folks at Riveredge and the USEF for this wonderful opportunity for Ruby and myself! Look forward to visiting you all again!
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