Classical Dressage
In my opinion classical dressage has the purpose to positively influence a horse's power, mobility, and coordination it is naturally provided with to enable it to carry the rider's additional weight without suffering any harm.
That is the reason why I believe, that every horse benefits from a proper dressage training independently of its specific breed, age or build. Certainly I will adapt my way of training to the individuality of every horse.
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| Even an Icelandic horse should be ridden in a stretched position. | Then it can not only swing... | ...but it can also perform a released and supple tölt. |
Especially when it comes to horses with physical handicaps or even damages, it is extremely important to develop an individual training concept to stabilize the weak body parts as good as possible instead of weakening them any further. For that sensitivity, intuition, and an expert eye are needed.
By now I'm training several students, whose horses suffer from physical damages to a greater or lesser extent - some were already given up by the vets. These horses in particular prove what can be attained by using the classical training methods.
In this context you always have to keep in mind what effects the exercises, horse and rider get to learn over the time, have for the horse's body. Every single exercise has its own value and brings a certain profit. So it is my job to recognize, which exercise supports a horse in just that moment to overcome its physical limits. Further I have to teach it in a way, which enables horse and rider to easily understand and perform it.
I always develop the training accordingly to the horse's special strengths and weaknesses (These can also depend on a horse's physical and mental state on a certain day).
This way the horse's psyche can develop positively as well during the training, and you can notice how a horse enjoys performing dressage while using its new body awareness.
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| Only correct ground work... | ...leads to real collection. |
