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