Dog Gallery
Rollkur is not acceptable in the warm up at international events. Feb 9
A round-table conference hosted by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) today (Tuesday 9 February) unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must lead to punishment under FEI rules.
They are also considering installing CCTV in warm-up areas at selected shows.
FEI president Princess Haya also accepted a 41,000-name petition against rollkur that was presented by veterinary representative Dr Gerd Heuschman.
SRS clinics in Michigan: Spanish Riding School instructor Bereiter Hertert Seiberl returns
to Lakeshore Performance Horses in Fenville, Michigan, January 14-16, 2010.
Also! Improve your horse's canter, in a 1.5 hour clinic on Saturday, Jan 16 and
at Blue Water Dressage Stables, Bridgeport, Mi on Jan 17-18.
Riders and Auditors welcome.
According to Jorie Jay, the organizer, "Mr. Seiberl "demands correct work but is very encouraging throughout the lesson, effective and clear communicator, kind and patient, and a beautiful rider. He has been at the Spanish Riding School for 16 years. He has private students and horses in training in Austria. Mr. Seiberl is one of only two Bereiters who perform the Long Rein work in SRS performances. Sounds great! And there is a heated arena as well as a heated observation room. For information and sign-up, start at this site: http://www.dressageclinics.org/
Looking for a November schooling show? Look at Lou-Don Farm's offering.
Looking for a local September dressage show and clinic?
Try the September 6 dressage show and Sue Hughes clinic in Coldwater. Sponsored by SportHorseNetWork.net
Contact show secretary: gearhartk@yahoo.com
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family, Greetings from Vechta. I have so much news this month that I am not sure I can put it all in one email. Let me start with MY HORSES ROCK!! And that goes for all of them. 
The first weekend in May found us at the Meppen CDN with Cadillac. I wanted to take him to one outdoor show before I started showing him internationally this spring so Meppen was a super place for a practice run. When I first came to Germany (fifteen years ago now!) I used to visit this show as a spectator and I can remember sitting on the benches throughout the whole Grand Prix and thinking, “Dammit. I want to DO this, not watch it.” In 2007, Cadillac won his first Grand Prix in Meppen. This year he won not only the Grand Prix, but also the Grand Prix Special with a score over 71%!
A bit of irony to share about that win—Cadillac as you all know by now is a BIG CHICKEN. Whenever he has to trot through the forest by my stable the entire episode is about brake/gas/brake until my kidneys hurt--unless he can follow another horse or someone riding a bicycle! And guess what we won for first prize in the Special, a bike! (See index page photo.) Now, my entire staff laughs at this because “fish out of water” is the term that will come to mind when you see me riding a bicycle. But the darn thing came in really handy at our next show, Munich, where the grounds are so huge that walking from one corner to the other takes at least 45 minutes.
So off we went to Munich with both Maximus and Cadillac to the CDI5*/CDI3*. Maximus of course has no fear and does not need assistance to do anything except put on his own bridle. He is finally back in fine form and was quite happy to show off his masterful aplomb in the arena last weekend. He placed 4th in the GPS of the CDI3* with a score over 68% and he felt like a million bucks. You can see a video of this ride at my You Tube channel. Just go to www.youtube.com and search “DanishHorses Munich”. You’ll find it. (There are a bunch of interesting videos on that channel now. If you find the practice run of my new Freestyle to Pink music, let me know what you think!)
Munich looked like a different show from Cadillac’s eyes--he was terribly distracted by every pony, coach, umbrella, scooter, tent and shadow. He needed his bicycle escort to get from the stabling to the dressage arena every day! My trusty groom, Meaghan Byrne, would appear just in time to get him past the worst of the alien attempts to take his life. You really need to see this. He sticks his nose on her back and just trots after the bicycle like his life depends on it! I keep warning her, “Meaghan, don’t look back, don’t stop!
Aliens aside, Cadillac has become an experienced show horse and he feels safe inside his little white fence. He was stellar in the CDI5*, placing second and beating a lot of more experienced pairs at the show. You can find videos of the Munich show at www.topdressage.tv and at www.clipmyhorse.org.
Speaking of videos, my website has finally been updated and I have some REALLY GOOD horses for sale right now. You can find clips at my website www.internationaldressage.com.
While you are there, new tab has been added to my website at the upper right: Sponsor Club. Check it out please. After many years of absolutely generous support, my sponsorship with the Janet Schneider Trust will be ending this year. So I’m looking for new backing with a new concept. I’d like to find a title sponsor for each of my horses which would cover most of my expenses for international competition. In the meantime, I know there are an awful lot of people out there who would like to contribute but can’t do it at that level of commitment. So the new Haddad Sponsoring Club (HSC) is based on the sponsoring techniques used in other sports. I can’t put stickers all over my horse, but I sure can mention businesses and private contributors on my website, my horse trucks and the stable curtains at shows. So if anyone has any interest at any level, please contact me or my sponsoring manager for a brochure.
My new email address is: catherine@internationaldressage.com.
New Mechanical Dressage Horse - 4 in the world from the Racewood Simulators
Catherine and Maximus JSS Catherine and Maximus JSS ondon freestyle on Maximus JSS, December 17 by Catherine Haddad. Here's a note from her:
Hi to all! Thanks for all the inquiries of late. I'm sorry that I can't write to everyone personally. Maximus and I are just back form London where I think we showed our return to very good form! The judges don't agree (yet) but they will soon enough!
Merry Christmas to everyone and please let this email suffice as a greeting card! I'm off to Mechelen with Cadillac on the 25th so Christmas looks a bit busy this year.
All the best and a wonderful holiday season! Catherine
PS. With our 10th place in London, we jumped into the To Ten for the Western European League! That won't last long since the Frankfurt qualifier starts tomorrow, but it's nice to be working our way up instead of down! Site: International Dressage
SRS Bereiter Herbert Seiberl will be returning to Michigan for two January 2009 dressage clinics. The clinics will be at two locations to shorten the traveling distances for auditors and riders hauling horses in to the clinic. Auditors welcome at both clinics! Daily auditing fee is $13.50 - $25.00/day; discounts given to pre-registered auditors, those auditing multiple days, groups of 3 or more, and under 18.
Clinic #1:
Premier Dressage - Battle Creek, Michigan
Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10, 2009
Note: This facility has a ***heated indoor arena.*** It is very comfortable to ride in and is kept at about 52 degrees.
Flier w/ additional info and registration is at http://dressageclinics.org/flierhspremier09.pdf
Clinic #2:
Blue Water Dressage stables, 5917 E Curtis Rd, 48722.
Sunday, January 11 & Monday, January 12
Heated observation room available.
Flier w/ additional info and registration is at http://dressageclinics.org/flierhsbluewater09.pdf
A few riding slots are available in both clinics; cost is $195 per lesson, and each rider receives a $20.00 Dover gift certificate. If you're interested in riding, please e me ASAP for further information. All levels accepted and welcome.
Herbert is a fabulous instructor - excellent English, effective and clear communicator, very kind and patient, and a beautiful rider. He has been at the Spanish Riding School for 15 years, and also has private students and horses in training in Austria who compete successfully in the show ring.
He demands correct work but is very encouraging throughout the lesson, and is wonderful with riders of all levels and both ammies and pros. He is just as good at starting changes and piaffe/passage and tweaking canter pirouettes as he is helping a lower level rider develop throughness and begin lateral work.
Reviews and pictures from previous clinics are at www.dressageclinics.org.
Here are reasonably priced Dressage Shows:
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN SPORT HORSE
POT OF GOLD Dressage Schooling Show in Coldwater
Sanctioned with MDC
GET YOUR ENTRIES IN BY 8/9
$15.00 ENTRY FEES, TROPHYS & ROSETTES
http://www.sporthorsenetwork.net/SMSHSHOWBILL.htm
Day Of Show Awards: $25.00 pay back in group classes, $25.00 pay back in a.m. & p.m. High Percent.
$8.00 entry fees for 4-H & Pony Club members with proof of membership.
From Lou-Don Farm, Galesburg - southwest Michigan:
This news from Sarah McPherson -
Hello Everyone! Hope the 2008 show season is treating you well thus far. There
is lots of great fun coming up at Lou-Don Farm. We have two dressage shows in our near
future - August 16 & 17 (Closing date Aug. 8) and September 20 & 21 (Closing date: Sept. 12). Both of these
dressage shows are MDC and GLASS-ED-sanctioned. Last year we had riders showing
from Walk/Trot thru Fourth Level, and a huge turnout for the Anything Goes
Muscial Freestyle - so there is something for everyone! Also in 2007 we were
voted the "Most Organized Show" by MDC and we hope to offer another smooth
riding weekend this year. 
We will be having some fun and festive
competitor & spectator parties at our upcoming dressage shows on Saturday
evening starting shortly after the conclusion of the show day. Cost is $7.00
per person - with great food and live music for entertainment.
We offer another relaxed and fun schooling shows on Sunday, August 10. This will be an enjoyable
day, no show clothes required and there will be lots of good learning
experiences. Please phone or e-mail your fun
show entries to Sarah by Friday, August 8th.
Please feel free to contact me either via cell phone (269-370-5949) or e-mail
(sarah_j_mcp@yahoo.com). See Lou-Don Farm
June 1, 2008 Catherine Haddad says, "You heard it here first. I've finally reached a decision regarding the pending Selection Trials in California. Maximus and I will not be attending. We will stay in Europe this summer and set our sights on World Cup qualification for 2009 in Las Vegas.
"In the meantime, I have several new horses coming into competition this year and I will try to introduce all of them to the international scene this summer. Look for Sir Sherlock (not new, but remodeled!), Frido, Lennox and Winyamaro on the results page of my website. I hope their first placings will be coming soon. Cadillac will also be back in action in a few months after a long training break this spring. So even though I'm not gearing up to qualify for the Olympics, my summer looks like a busy one.
"All the best to all of you. Namaste," Catherine
Catherine Haddad on Maximus JSS
Catherine's dressage map was drawn first here in Michigan. With growing skills as a rider, trainer and competitior, she was determined to be one of the best American dressage riders. This desire took her to Germany where her Michigan trainer Bodo Hangen introduced her to legendary Willi Schultheis. This was 1993 and Germany was the center of dresage as a proven, advanced art of performance and training. For Catherine, home today is mapped as a well-equipped, organized and professional stable in the heart of theOldenburg's equine industry. Now she trains with Schultheis' protege Rudolf Zeilinger.
Visit her site International Dressage and learn about the dressage world of Haddad and about the controversy surrounding U.S. representation at the Olympics.
In this photo (photo by www.ridehesten.com) Maximus and Catherine are at Wiesbaden in the Grand Prix. "The atmosphere there is incredible. I'm smiling because the music from the jumping arena is so loud that I felt like I was riding dressage in a disco."
About this personable chestnut, Catherine says, "Maximus has the heart and soul of a true warrior. He loves his work and would probably bridle himself every day if he could figure out how to do it. At 14, he's the fittest he has ever been. I have added aqua training to his schedule 3 times a week. This is in addition to his daily dressage work. He looks like an event horse with a neck! I find him lithe and elegant."
Go view Catherine's outstanding performance videos on her site. For great viewing look at last summer's Grand Prix ride in Falsterbo. "I had to warm up for 30 minutes in a downpour and then compete in the same. My saddle was soaked completely through and all the saddle soap had risen to the surface so it was like sitting on a greasy swing! I hardly dared move my legs in the one tempi changes because I didn't want to slip off the saddle. I almost lost it on a curve in the extended canter. But it was truly a lovely example of Maximus rising to the occason and giving his best. It was also our highest freestyle score."
Watch for more here on Michigan's Cathy Haddad in April.
Here are a few learning opportunities offered area riders by area dressage organizations:
From the Michiana Dressage Club, Inc, President Julie Bunnell notes:
"We start with Elizabeth Grainger’s Better Balance Workshop on March 29 at Chardon Valley Farm. Thank you to Pat Turck for donating her facility for this event. Liz is offering 30 minute or 45 minute sessions focusing on classical rider equitation and seat development. Sign up sheets are enclosed in the newsletter. Now is the time to get yours in so you can reserve your place. We follow Liz’s workshop with Ride & Review. Want to practice a dressage test prior to your first show? Well MDC can help. We have Laura Hooser “L” judging our Ride & Review clinic on May 3rd. Laura will discuss your test with you and also offer improvement advice in certain aspects of your test. Each rider has a 30 minute session in which to ride a test and receive instruction. Mary Johnson and the Equine Line is donating their facility for this event. Mary has an indoor arena, which can accommodate a large dressage ring, along with a separate indoor arena for warm up. So, the weather will not be a factor for this event. The month of May will wrap up with the Cavalletti Workshop hosted and instructed by Margaret Spencer. So mark your calendar for May 31. Margaret is a firm believer you can improve the horse you own. The cavalletti workshop will help the horse to develop an evenness of stride and a consistent rhythm and tempo. Margaret has experience as a dressage instructor (and competitor) and an eventing instructor. She has the patience to help horses that don’t understand ground poles, so everyone can benefit from this clinic. The Michiana Dressage Club will have a booth at the Hoosier Horse Fair in April." Michiana Dressage Club The group members offer dressage shows all summer.
Visit the ADA, the All Dressage Association of Michigan with clinics starting in May. May 3-4 will be a clinic with Alex Gerding. ADA. The ADA members offer dressage shows all summer. Find on it's site links to all the dressage tests through 4th level. Tests
Bettina Drummond Dressage Clinic, April 17-20 at MSU. Contact Lee Ann Kaiser 517-432-5927 or kaiserL2@msu.edu .
Tonya Grant Barber, USDF Gold and Silver Medalist rides the 15-year old Kevekko. Tonya's goal for this talented, seasoned Dutch stallion is Grand Prix in 2009.
Tonya, her mother Carol Grant and sister Mary Ann Grant run Equistride International , a top dressage facility based in both Fenton, Michigan and Wellington, Florida. They teach, train dressage and some jumping and they locate horses for clients. They especially admire the Spanish horses.
"We believe strongly in the Andalusian for amateurs, says Tonya. We promote this horse because it’s a safe horse to ride – the horse has a good mind, it’s ease of movements is incredible, it loves its work, it loves its special people. It’s a lot easier for many people to ride the Spanish horse than the European warmblood. That’s because it’s easy for the Andalusian to do the dressage."
Pat Pierucci, the dressage professional at Hampton Green Farm which raises and imports Andalusians here in Michigan and in Wellington, says they love to work. Do you agree?
"Oh yes, For example, the Grand Prix horse I had last year is the one our student Linda Cramer is showing 3rd level this year. He’s a real packer. A real gem. She’s owned him now for about 3 years. We found him in Spain. He’s an Andalusian who just enjoys his work and can help his rider along. Linda can’t always have the time to ride him but he goes out and does great work for her. Linda was champion at 3rd level at Taverse City this year."
I remember when your mother loaned Venablo, a client’s Andalusian stallion to the Canadian IPEC candidate Jennifer McKenzie. He went wonderfully for his rider. Your mother was confident he’d be good because he had a level-headed approach to work and he was very kind and careful.
"Venablo was so excited to be at a show. He had not been in competition for several years but he went down the centerline as if he’d been there last week. The rider had not ridden him much before competing him and yet Venablo adapted to his rider and the show surroundings immediately. He wanted to do his job. This is the character and training for which we search high and low.
When you have an older horse like Venablo that’s been successful and who still loves to compete, you can’t value him enough. Not only does he know a lot and the rider can focus on personal strengths and weaknesses during the ride, the horse loves to be in the show ring and he stays focused. We try hard to place the older, skilled horse. Sometimes people don’t appreciate the skills of age and think only that a younger horse can be re-sold sometime and maybe they can recoup some of their investment. But that’s really not the economical approach that works."
I know you also have Lusitanos. Lusitanos are different from Andalusians. They are mentally and physically brave because they were bred to fight in war and to help in the bullfighting arena. They were literally in the arena pushing the bull back against a wall, if need be. So they are mentally tough and physically strong.
"Yes, they are different mentally than the Andalusian. The Andalusians are a little more negotiable mentally. And the Lusitano movement is different than the Andalusian’s. We have a nice Lusitano stallion, Marjan De Destinado, owned by Daryl Lawrence-Friedl. I think he will be a special horse. He has a strong mind, which fits into the Lusitano approach to life. You’ve got to challenge his mind. The Lusitano stallion we have is suited to competitive dressage. Daryl is an amateur and we keep him in training until she can ride him. Marjan was with Michael Poulin and then the owner sent him to us. The owner lives in Michigan. Our rider Jamie Kruithoff was Champion on him at the Traverse City show this past summer."
It is said the the judging of Spanish horses goes against them. Do you agree?
"Well, he has to work hard for all his points. All the Spanish horses have that problem in America. But it’s getting better as people get to know the Spanish conformation and pay less attention to its differences from the European warm blood and more attention to its mental and attitudinal strengths. The horse were bred for many generations to do dressage movements and they love their work."
The Search for America’s Next Equestrian Star: Dressage begins Friday, October 19 at 9:00 a.m. EST on the Fox Reality Channel
.
J.J.Tate from Wisconsin is a finalist, " Doing the Robert Dover's search for the next equestrian star was life changing! I felt so honored to have been chosen out of so many people, and it was so motivating to be involved! It made me realize that my dream of riding in the Olympics doesn't have to remain just a dream but I'm capable of making it a reality! So I would do it again in a heartbeat!"
This unique show consists of five hour-long episodes that will air sequentially at the same time every Friday through November 16, the show’s finale.The show was conceived by six-time Olympian Robert Dover and Brave St. Productions, a New York-based production company. In a nationwide search, hundreds of people sent in audition tapes for the chance to be selected as one of the final six contestants. In the series, the final six undergo a series of challenges and competitions that result in eliminations. The result is The Apprentice meets American Idol. The grand prize winner has the opportunity to become Robert Dover’s Second Assistant and have the chance to train for an Olympics.
The show is a traditional mix of entertainment, reality, and competition that has been hugely popular across the network programming schedules and offers a “fly on the wall” view of the quest of the Olympic dream. The six lucky finalists are:
• Jessica (JJ) Tate, 27, Walworth, Wisconsin
• Lindy Bowerbank, 18, Thousand Oaks, California
• Philesha Chandler, 24, Wichita, Kansas
• Brendan Curtis, 20, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Rebecca Vick, 25, Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Jamil Kassum, 16, Scottsdale, Arizona
There's a site devoted to the series: http://www.americanequestrianstar.tv/index.html
From Ohio, Katherine Poulin-Neff is the youngest person on the Pan Am Dressage Team to win a gold medal. To read an interview with her from the 2010 Alltech FEI WEG website, go here
Barbara Butman in Freestyle Win, Horse Shows by the Bay, August 1-5. Barbara, adult amateur, rides her Falkland Dragonfly to 62.5 in USDF Muscial Freestyle
This is a lovely mover, a happy horse. His matching white socks behind give him an opportunity to show off his steady rhythm. The music was marvelously matched to his abilities. It was mostly classically-themed. For example, the music began in Russian peasant country. The walk was set to European peasant dance motifs. The canter work was American jazzed classical: the excitement of canter 1/2 pirouettes was enhanced by the addition of drums. The half-pass saw horns added. Then the tempis were charged by the brass. She got all the changes. Fun to watch! Barb Butman is based in Grass Lake, Mi. at Dragonfly Farm.
Judy Kelly on Rakker
, Dressage at Waterloo, July
Champion: FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Intermediate I at Waterloo Dressage 7/20-23. Her farm is Topline Dressage in Clarkston, Mi.
Judy has the highest hopes for Rakker - a Grand Prix performer. "We're on the right track. We're heading together towards it - smoother transitions, more precision, better engagement. I have a good feeling that he'll make it because he doesn't mind the hard work and he's showing talent for piaffe, passage and the 1's." Judy's a popular instructor and has about 25 students at home coaches about 8 a the shows.
Judy spends more time teaching than riding. Her students come first.
"I would have hoped that I've become accomplished enough that I can look at a horse and rider combination and set up a training program that best suits them physically and suits their needs. Everyone - horses and riders - have different goals and work ethics. I consciously am aware of that. I try to make it a team effort - the three of us - trainer, rider and horse." Judy teachers boarders and trailer-in students. 313-590-3804. See article by Tania Evans in Chronicle of the Horse Chronicle of the Horse
Competitors from Waterloo Dressage, July 20-23. Stop by the Grass Lake showground for Monday's Breed Show!
Hampton Green Farm, Michigan's finest home of the Pure Spanish Horse, hosts an open house, June 24, in Fruitport.
Last year Hampton Green Farm sold two weanling colts to German OIympian Martin Schaudt, a sign that the breeding program has achieved one of its main goals: to create young horses with three competitive gaits on the world stage of dressage. Michigan is the breeding base for the farm's mares and foals. At the Fruitport facility, they are free to be horses, turned out in herds in acres of pasture. Seven foals are expected this year, a number of which were sold in utero.
Michigan's Catherine Haddad rides for U.S. at the Las Vegas World Cup Dressage and brings home 7th place
She shipped her horse Maximus JSS from Germany to compete for America. In the 1980's she trained with Bodo Hangen in Michigan. Then she moved to Germany in 1993. In Germany she worked with Willi Schultheis, Hangen's former trainer.See story at International Dressage International Dressage
Maryal Barnett clinic: the 2007 rule changes
What led the Midwest Dressage Association to arrange for this clinic about the new 2007 USDF tests?
The MDA wanted to give everyone who is interested in dressage in our region an opportunity to see the new tests performed, to describe the history of the tests, to delineate what changes are in them, to help people see if they’re prepared to ride the new tests and to help them ride the tests better.
The McPhail Center is a great venue for this in the winter because it’s warm inside. There are a lot of nice barns out there, but they aren’t heated. It isn’t easy for horses to just come in and be exposed to big heaters in a normal barn and the McPhail Center is heated already. And there’s good parking for easy access even in bad weather.
How do you choose demonstration riders?
It wasn't just me, but a small committee. We tried to take people who are good demonstration riders. That’s a real skill. A good one is able to leave their ego at the doorway and lets you use them and their horse to demonstrate rather than them trying to do their very best all of the time.
Most of the demonstration riders for this clinic are people thatI have some experience with. They might not be my students but I’ve seen them ride and I know how they ride. Besides selecting riders who could perform the tests, we looked for riders who lived c lose enough so that if the February weather was horrible they still could get here.
Have you selected them all?
The list is still tentative. But we think we have these: for 4th level Dr. Robert van Wessan, for 2nd level we have Vanessa Voltman, for 1st level, we have Dr. Hilary Clayton, Training Level is Jesse Myers and for an alternate rider we have Dr. Barb Kintner. We still don’t have a 3rd level rider.
This looks like a medical group. Three out of five are veterinarians.
Yes, so it appears! We had to find qualified riders who were near the McPhail Center and MSU. Dr. Clayton will ride an Arab, representing the breeding program at MSU. The van Wessums, Robert and Vanessa, will ride warmbloods. Barb Kintner’s horse is an Arab.
Could you describe the changes they’ll perform for us at the clinic?
There are mostly small changes in the tests this time around. In 2003 there were major changes. This time they made the tests more friendly for the riders, the horses, the judges and for show management. Some tests have had small changes where they’ve been shortened or an awkward movement is smoother or there’s a little bit of changing in the scoring. For example, in 1st level, we score the transition from a free walk to the medium walk – there’s a separate score for that.
The most obvious change in the test is that the rider’s score now has a co-efficient of three rather than two. This accomplishes a lot. It encourages people to improve their riding ability.
One of the things seen across the board by all the judges is that we are breeding good horses in the United States. We have horses that can really do the tests, horses that have the conformation for the dressage and do the movements quite well, but often the riders’ abilities are not being developed to be able to bring out the best in the horses.
We see a lot of horses that are talented – or not so talented – but who are not getting as far as their talent would indicate they could get. We were seeing people buy really nice horses but then they don't show up in the ring anymore. So, we are trying, with this new co-efficient of three, to force riders to think about becoming both better riders and better athletes.
Can you give me an example of how this will work?
For example, we are allowing people to use the double bridle at 3rd level. By giving a co-efficient of three, if a person cannot handle the double bridle correctly they’ll get a lower score that, mathematically, is going to hurt the final score. You shouldn’t be using the double bridle unless you know how to use it correctly. So, we hope to ask as much of the riders as we’re asking of the horses. In the past, we’ve been generous with the rider’s scores but overall we think we’ve been too diplomatic. In the long run, we’ve hurt the horse by scoring this way. So if you’re riding well, you’re going to be rewarded well.
You’ve been a judge for many years and you are a very successful competitor, as well. What do you think is a judge’s main job?
The most important job we have as judges is to let people know in an honest way how well they are training their horse and how their riding is communicating instruction to the horse. Through that, we will protect the horse. Very often we see people blaming the horse when, sitting objectively at C, it’s not the horse’s fault. We can see the horse trying to understand the rider but there are too many conflicting aids being given.
I’ve heard it said that horses shouldn’t have to do the piaffe. They hate the piaffe.
I think horses might hate the way the piaffe has been represented. It’s in the teaching method.
In addition to the co-efficient for riders, are there any other big changes?
The other big change is the pirouette and the preparation for the pirouette. It used to be that you’d be riding on the rail and come up C and do a collected canter and then do a quarter pirouette and go into a halfpass. That’s been taken out. It was an awkward spot to do it and it was too demanding for a 4th level horse. So we’ve taken out the real pirouette and replaced it with a working pirouette in 4th 2. In 4,1 on a circle you do five or six strides of very collected canter before the quarter line which is the preparation for the pirouette. In 4,2 there is working, and in 4, 3 there’s a half pirouette.
I don’t understand. What’s a working pirouette?
If you think of the difference between a turn on the haunches and pirouette at the walk, in a turn on the haunches you make a bigger circle. In a working pirouette, what they’re saying is that “between x and v develop a very collected canter, do a half-pirouette right at approximately five meters diameter.” On the other hand, if a horse can do a real pirouette at that level, that’s perfectly acceptable and will score higher if it is a good quality.
So if the rider tries to do a real one but the horse doesn’t perform it, that affects the rider’s score?
Yes, because the rider has the option.
All the people who’ve put thought into making the tests – the trainers, judges, riders – have the goal of trying to lead the riders towards the best way to train the horse and bring it along through the levels. For example, in the pirouette, first you teach a horse to do very collected canter, almost on the spot, and that canter you also teach progressively. Then when the horse can do the collected canter you teach the working pirouette where you allow the horse to make a small circle rather than on the spot. The horse has to develop the balance and muscle to do this. That’s the philosophy under which the tests were written – give people an outline of development and training.
Do you expect this clinic to be instructive for all levels of riders?
The clinic is designed for all riders. I will show people through the demonstration riders how they can improve their score. The lower level riders will have the chance to see what their ultimate goal looks like. If a rider or trainer doesn’t see upper level riding, they have a much harder time knowing what they are doing as they train and why they are doing it. The whole system is like a house – you start at the foundation and build up. There is a Pyramid of Training and the tests are developed on that principal.
People are always interested in what are the new movements, and what changes and so forth. When I was coming up through the ranks, I would always go to one of these clinics that shows the new tests ridden because I wanted to see how the presenters looked at the changes. Each person has their own ideas, as well as the basic ones which come out of the tests themselves.
You’re based in Michigan. You are giving this clinic to Michigan riders. What do you see as their greatest needs?
I think Michigan riders, whether they’re training level or Grand Prix riders, have a lot of opportunity as far as showing. I would like to see more trainers and upper level riders go to more clinics and certifications. The USDF workshops, for example, would be very beneficial for helping our instructors become more logical in their thinking, become better riders and improve their practical horse management skills. These workshops offer training in theory, in correct methods and in establishing a correct and logical order of teaching things. It begins in the stable, knowing about the horse. In my area, I don’t believe that a lot of dressage trainers know enough about horse anatomy. This leads to over-training horses or teaching things to horses at the wrong time in their physical development.
I believe that other disciplines are moving more towards certification. Denny Emerson in eventing and George Morris in hunter jumper, for example, have been encouraging it.
I also think that you learn by seeing. Michigan people should go to Florida, California, Europe and just watch. This watching is very important. Also, they need to learn theory. They need to know more than just riding movements.
You are really passionate about this, about this need for trainers and teachers to know their stuff.
Being an FEI judge has allowed me to be in the company of really well educated trainers and teachers. People from other cultures and countries, people who speak several languages. But you have to go out and find these people, make the effort to put yourself into educational environments where people know more than you or where people bring new ideas to supplement your own. If you’re going to hang your shingle out and collect money for being an instructor, it’s only ethical that you educate yourself. People and horses are depending on you.
Ultimately, the most important thing is the welfare of the horse. This is the human’s responsibility, to be educated so as not to make mistakes with the horse. The leaders in our organizations especially need to keep abreast of new developments. They are examples and should set high standards of education through example. If you look around the areas of our country that have strong educational programs have strong leadership.
Maryal, I’ve been taking lessons from you off and on for 25 years. I find the lessons just as refreshing and helpful now as I did when I first came to you. What sort of time do you have for teaching these days?
I have completely booked my weekends this year. For example, I will often be judging. I have regular riding clinics that I teach monthly around the country. I’m involved in the USDF L Judges Training program and the USDF Instructor Certification Training program. Michigan is my state and I want to be focused here as well so I give clinics in Michigan such as this one on the new tests. Year round, I give lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at different barns within driving distance of my Lansing base. And I have my own regular students. I’m happy to talk to people about lessons. I can be reached by email at mabarn@aol.com.
