Friends and Members, 

 

It is my pleasure to be able to bring you the opportunity to virtually attend, "The Dressage Convention, 2013".  I have personally completed watching and  as always, I am eager to share what I found within. 

 

My 5 Favorite Tips: 

 

1. Playing with the gears of the horse, ways to use your body to get different things from your horse.  See the exercise and discussion within. 

 

2. Collection: It's about taking more weight on the hind legs, not slowing down. Simply

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changing our core balance and posture a bit can be the aid. See the exercise and discussion within. 

 

3. Your inside leg is a pillar, not a pushing agent. See the exercise and discussion within. 

 

4. Carl gives my favorite explanation and picture of the half halt. 

 

5. How to relax and slow down the Iberian horse to get the tempo you want. See the exercises and discussion within. 

 

 

                         

 

 

Day 1 Part 1: 

• Where training Methods Meet: Carl and Richard open the forum, discussing that this is the melding of competitive versus classical dressage. In actuality they strive to get the point across that it is all training for the same purpose. Sylvia Loch, known for her classicism, author of 8 books and multiple training videos, helps bridge the gap. Sylvia works with a rider focusing specifically on her core, showing how it should look giving examples of good and bad. They what can happen when you hold your hands together versus apart. She works with the rider on what to do when she feels like she wants to lean back. Appropriate use of the inside leg is worked upon. Sylvia gives the rider many visual explanations of how to properly use the leg to be correctly effective. Lastly they work with the concept of "showing your horse the way", how to train new things into their brain.  

• Secrets of Training The Iberian Horse: Miguel Ralao of Portugal works with a 6 year old PRE on how to develop the basics. He discusses what they are naturally good at and how you need to think a bit differently in training them so you can develop a correct foundation. Once that correct foundation is established, the training through the levels, becomes quite fast, again, due to some of the natural abilities of this type of horse. He discusses a breed characteristic, rushing and/or quickness and how to both use it and counter-act it and why you want to do that.  

 

Day 1 Part 2: 

• Carl Hester, works with Charlotte Dujardin, riding a 5 year old, focusing on how to use the half halt, the beginnings of developing expression and proper stretching. You can see wonderful examples of perfect transitions and Carl Hester, discusses why some transitions, all though correct and obedient, are a 6 versus a 10. Next, Richard Davison, works with Gareth Hughes, on the importance of release of the asking aid and the concept of reward in the horse's mind. They then move into how to develop a fancy trot and passage. Richard has Gareth work on practicing different gears. Gareth, with absolute subtlety, is told to use his body differently to ask for something different, such as more cadence and lift from the horse beneath him. Lastly, Carl and Charlotte, work with the 11 year old Valegro, winner of 5 gold medals. Their focus is on, "What do you do with and established Grand Prix horse?". They discuss Valegro's daily life and routine and his general management. They work very simple but important things during his "down" time and they give a few exercises they find key to keep his mind and body where they would like it to be.  

 

Day 2 Part 1:

• Rules of The Game of Collection; Sylvia Loch works with a 7 yr. old, PRE and rider, spending time educating the rider on proper body position that signals to the horse, collection is being asked for. They aim to gain relaxation and harmony, two cruxes of riding. Miguel Ralao then works with a rider with her Lusitano Sport Horse, focused on Making the Most of Iberian Talent. Tempo is again, of focus and Miguel works on what to do when you lose the tempo.  Next they work on how to get rid of over collection, typical to experience when working with the Iberian breeds and they utilize a lovely exercise, simple but pure, to assist in gaining the rhythm, regularity and relaxation. 

 

Day 2 Part 2: 

• Aiming for a 10, with Carl Hester and Richard Davison: Carl Hester starts off with Charlotte Dujardin riding a 7 year old. They show us this big, loose mover where they aim to develop quickness utilizing many transitions. Use of the whip in training is a focus piece and discussion prevails. One can see the difference of whip versus no whip and easily understand their thought process. In this session, they end with showing what you need to create good flying changes. Next Richard Davison works with Gareth Hughes on bettering the Grand Prix movements. Specific work is done to get the horse to take more weight on the hind legs and how to develop a better half pass. They show a few key exercises to use to achieve these items. Lastly, Carl works with Charlotte on Valegro on bettering the Grand Prix. Specifics include, bettering the quality of the change, how to improve the 1 and 2 tempi changes and improving the canter pirouette and piaffe. They conclude things with showing us an excellent example of what an international collected trot should look like and an example that will easily be burned into your brain, demonstrating what genuine push with the hind leg, looks like. 

 

   Read More About The Dressage Convention

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