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European
Dressage News
Dressage
Forum for Europe's top dressage trainers
 The
first ever Global Dressage Forum, which took place this
week in Hooge Mierde, Holland, attracted delegates from
around the world.
The audience
were attracted by the opportunity to listen to some
of the greatest authorities and some of the most controversial
figures in international dressage over the two days.
Organised
by the Bartels family, Joep Bartels chaired proceedings
and set the tone that could lead to big changes in dressage
as he said: "The thinking behind this forum is the will
to understand each other and not be a kind of war."
The Dalai
Lama's well known words were quoted and captured the
approach that developed out of the two days that we
should look for similarities not differences within
training techniques.
Theory sessions
and demonstrations were taken by exponents of the conflicting
training methods of "deep and low" (Sjef Janssen) and
the "long and low" (Johann Hinnemann), as well as representatives
of the Andalusian school (Rafael Soto), who some believe
are over-marked in competitive dressage.
Although
there were potential ingredients here for conflict,
delegates agreed that we all learnt much about alternative
approaches and reached a greater understanding of their
benefits. Eric Lette, the former chairman of the FEI,
summed this up well: "It is not what is done, but how;
bad riding kills the horse whether he is deep or high."
The sessions
The sessions began with Dutch national coach Jorgen
Koschel demonstrating work in hand, and like most German
trainers, he emphasised the "training scales" of rhythm,
submission/relaxations, contact, impulsion, straightness
and collection.
 Sjef
Janssen took the next session, but called in the physiotherapist
Solange Schrijer to put the scientific case for working
deep, round, low and behind the vertical. Sjef gave
a wonderful demonstration with the 18-year-old Bonfire
and Anky van Grunsven to demonstrate how they varied
the positioning from very deep and low to high and up
to bring out the talents of their Olympic champion.
Kyra Kyrklund
focused on juniors and young riders and the importance
of getting them balanced and aware of their weight distribution
before they develop bad habits that are so difficult
to break.
Eric Lette
gave an excellent demonstration on training the trot,
making constant reference to the called the scales of
training, which he called "education".
Rafael Soto
from the Jerez School held the audience captive with
his account of how the Andalusians progressed from"high
school" exponents to realistic competitors over just
a few years. He said they learnt from many people,
were humble about their naivety concerning the basics
and said the competitions were one step beyond the classical
dressage of the school.
Johann Hinnemann focused on the training of the canter
and impressed with his sound knowledge of the German
school combined with his wealth of experience as a high-class
horseman.
All those lucky enough to attend left the forum with
much more open minds, as well as knowledge.
Source: Horse
and Hound
Images: Dirk
Caremans - Copyrighted!!
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