DTO is proud to present a series of videos by Catherine Haddad bringing us her training system to educate horses to the highest levels.  Join us to watch the first part in the 3 part series, highlighting the importance of the schoolmaster in teaching riders how to ride the upper movements including tempi changes and passage.

 

Part 1:  Catherine Haddad brings us a series of lessons on her training system, showing how to train a horse to the highest levels so they can teach the rider.  She begins with an eighteen year old schoolmaster and a beginner rider, but speaks how she starts all of the horses  out in their warm up the same, and why. The frame is adjusted to the appropriate frame for the horse. For this older horse that needs to warm up his back and loins she asks for the head and neck to be lower with the hind legs reaching under.   

Part 2:  A forward, rolling canter helps this older horse loosen up and they work on forward and back transitions using her seat and legs.  This young rider has the benefit of a schoolmaster to learn how to use her seat and leg aids.  In this training system the reins are used very little. Catherine gives an excellent explanation of following the movement of the horse with your body.  The rider shows a good connection and flexibility with the reins with a soft, following hand.

Part 3:  They go to the flying change, keeping the rhythm of the canter and giving the aids in the rhythm of the canter.  With this young beginner rider and this schoolmaster, they are able to school all the way to the ones giving the aids in rhythm.  When mistakes occur, Catherine teaches to set the horse up better and ask again rather than correct the mistake.  As they work on the transitions between the trot and passage, Catherine works on having her keep the forward and change the direction of the energy rather than collect. Catherine finishes by discussing collection and how this is used in passage.

 

 

 

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Part 1:   Shannon watches this horse warm up and suggests that they work on getting the joints to bend more even at the beginning of the ride.  They start with haunches in at the canter and go on to renvers in the trot, thinking about lifting his shoulder in this movement. They continue to challenge his stiffness in the hindquarters.  

     

Part 2:  They exaggerate the bend, schooling with his haunches far in at the canter, then a trot transition and renvers in the trot.  His balance improves with the work.  Shannon next helps from the ground to aid the horse in using his belly muscles.  They next work on the canter in a small circle around Shannon, asking him to use his belly better.  They wait on the single change until the rider can move the neck around.

   

Part 3:     The previous work has been rewarded with better self carriage in the trot.  In the walk they work on steep half passes with lots of bend to a canter transition.  They go to the canter half pass, again with a steep angle and a walk transition when changing directions.  There is improved lift in the shoulders.       

Part 4:  The previous work has been rewarded with better self carriage in the trot.  In the walk they work on steep half passes with lots of bend to a canter transition.  They go to the canter half pass, again with a steep angle and a walk transition when changing directions.  There is improved lift in the shoulders. 

 

Part 5:  Ms. Peters gives and excellent explanation of the body mechanics of riding the sitting trot to encourage the horse to lift in front of you. As the rider makes the adjustments, the trot becomes more powerful without rushing.

 

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