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| Photo by Sara Fogan Olympian Jan Ebeling taught several dressage clinics during the 2010 Equine Affaire in Pomona, California. |
In 2010, I had
an opportunity to watch several dressage clinics that were conducted by one of
my favorite competitors, Olympian Jan Ebeling. The workshop was held during the
Equine Affaire in Pomona, California, during which time he worked with several
riders and their horses to fine-tune their communication and technique with
their equine partners. In addition to teaching the participants and auditors
how to execute a movement, he also demonstrated how to achieve each of the
elements on the Training Scale while riding his Grand Prix Oldenburg/Thoroughbred
mare, Sandrina. Here are some highlights of what I learned and observed during these
clinics.
Building on a training scale, how to improve horse in using the
training scale. Blue-print used in training is in chronological order: balance,
rhythm, relaxation, develop contact, accept connection to the hand. Steady
reins. Always give the impression that the horse has to want to go forward.
Rhythm, relaxation, contact, suspension, balance, collection.
Carrying more weight behind is as important as neck frame. Poll should always
be the highest point.
Spend 10-15 minutes warming up to avoid injury. Allow the horse to
stretch forward and downward.
Forward is good, natural thing for a horse. Use forward energy to
make the horse use its body correctly. Never punish the horse for that; use and
try to control forward impulsion. Try to NOT yank the horse, back it up. Let
him go forward.
Look for relaxation. Gradually bend the horse in rhythm. Find the
tempo for the horse to give a steady contact/connection.
Rhythm, relaxation, contact. Alternate big and small transitions.
Work on these goals every day.
Listen to your horse to feel what it’s ready to do. Training scale
gives you a guideline as to what it’s comfortable with/ready to do.
Impulsion: when the horse gets more advanced. Then straightness:
push hind into the front.
Piaffe, passage and canter pirouette uses the highest level of
collection.
You must always follow the basic exercises. Rhythm is the basic
element.
Ride the quality of the gait.
Quality of the canter is rhythm and how much jump/elevation into
the air he has.
The walk should have a clear, four-beat gait.
Forward and sideways=half-pass. Lateral bend in the body, looks in
the direction he’s tracking. Steady bend, frame and rhythm.
How to determine the correct tempo? The horse will determine it.
Too fast, and the back won’t swing. Slow down if necessary.
Both sides should be even.
Allow top-line to lower to get back to relax mentally and
physically. Search forward for the bit.
Time: don’t ever
get pressed for time. Hurrying it never helps.
The highest level has three or four flying changes in the tempi.
If the horse makes a mistake or gets distressed, make the horse
just repeat the exercise.
Ground cover is very important in the canter, to get more
“jump”/elevation in the gait.
Pirouette: larger with
haunches-in for suppleness and submission. A larger pirouette helps the horse
to gain confidence, relaxation, rhythm.
Impulsion, straightness,
collection: we always want the horse to carry.
Medium and collected canter
position is always the same.
We always want it to look like
we’re doing nothing when we ride dressage.
Eyes up, hands down.
Look at the process of
developing the horse in dressage.
When the horse slows down, the
hind feet get more animated (?) even if slower…. Light connection, head
elevated.
“Quiet hands, keep horse in
frame, or the judges will kill you.” (JE)
Rhythm, relaxation, contact.
Develop the extended trot
gradually.
It takes discipline to stick with
the training scale.
Pirouette canter is the highest
degree of collection. Pick up reins, length of walk shorter.
Use the training scale to see if
there’s balance in the horse. If you missed something, go back!
The essence of training is
compensation. Get through to the horse to keep mental attitude positive. Rhythm
doesn’t change.
Even when collected, think of
energy!
Pirouette coefficient is 10x2.
When a horse can do a pirouette
with a loose rein, you know you’re riding with you’re seat.
Medium canter keeps the horse
just in front of the vertical. In tempi, keep the rhythm even. Ground coverage!
Don’t be afraid to make a
mistake. Just don’t keep making the mistakes. Let the horse show you where he
needs more work.
Horses need their breaks when
they get tired. They can’t stay relaxed, keep rhythm and do the work when
they’re tired.
Take your time!
Develop collection for passage by
doing extensions.
When a horse is willing, you can
see how well-trained he is. Nothing is forced, everything looks easy.
Not every horse is a huge mover;
they can still be well-trained and happy.
Understand how progress in
training happens: Rhythm. Relaxation. Contact… then, Impulsion. Straightness. Collection.
Some horses get claustrophobic in
piaffe. The trainer has to realize where the horse works best.
Sara
R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern
California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation
Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2014
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