2011 Australian Dressage Championships

November 2011

Not sure if I was going to be able to ride, I entered the Australian Championships way back in September, and did everything I could, from injections, nerve root blocs, kineaseology and acupuncture to name a few, to help me get back in the saddle. The date rolled around and my back was manageable (thanks to the amazing Dr Craig), so off we went to the fabulous Sydney International Equestrian Centre to contest the titles.
Col Tough - Champion Truck Driver	Alyssa Webb - Champion Co-Pilot
Qualifying the highest in Australia on Furst Tyme in the elementary level and 2nd highest in the novice level, was a definite highlight before the trip even started! I had qualified on Flavio for the medium and advanced (by a whisker) levels and Dante for the Prix St George and Intermediate 1 competitions. Dante was also selected for the Australian Prix St George Challenge, so he got to do the "George" twice, which proved to be invaluable indoor practise!
Nicole & Furst Tyme
Students Danielle Dowsett qualified for medium on her horse, Waitano - this being Danielle's 2nd time riding at the Nationals since her top 10 finish at the 2008 Championships. Another student, Shannan Goodwin, also had the Championships as a goal to qualify for - and qualify she did, for novice and elementary. No mean feat with a qualifying average of 69% needed to secure a ride!
Danielle & Waitano	Shannan & Aristede
Also with us was Jayden Brown, with Linda and Beau's exceptional 4 year old Hanovarian, San Andreas, who had qualified for the novice level; and his own horse, Furst Fredehric for the PSG, Challenge and Inter 1.
Jayden & San Andreas
Alyssa Webb and Kristen McAuslan were able to organise, (on rather short notice) to come as grooms, with Anna Hudson (and faithful Harriet!) to help Jayden. Shannan and her hubby, Kyle and horse, Astro, joined the gang, and between the 3 drivers in Beau, Col and Jayden, we all made the big trek south to SIEC.
Alyssa walking Furst Tyme	Kristen walking Dante
Stopping at the peaceful Coffs Harbour Showgrounds to give the horses a 40 minute rest on the 1st days journey, we were treated by the wonderful Rosie Webb who had prepared us our very own packed lunch bags, with delicious gourmet sandwiches (and a few treats!!!). From here, we pushed on another 3 hours to the Taree Showgrounds for the night, where once again, Rosie had prepared a scrumptious Italiano dinner for all of us! What can I say... Rosie is one awesome person and one awesome cook!
Shannan, Alyssa, Jayden & Kristen waiting for dinner to warm up at Taree	Kyle, Colin & Beau having a well earned rest in the truck at Taree
Beau walking Teddy at Coffs Harbour Showgrounds
Raining on arrival in Sydney made the big unload a little more difficult, but the excitement of the venue took away any negativity! The horses arrived safe and sound and they all had a 20-30 minute stretch under saddle, to help clear the airways and help any stiffness/tightness to dissipate. Wednesday night was the QLD team meeting and we were lucky to be in the hands of the super efficient Chef d'Equipe, Anita Barton. Furst Tyme (aka Finnegan) was selected as the QLD Team elementary horse - so what was a bit more pressure!
The Dressage QLD Team!
Thursday was "tuning" day and we all had lessons, washed, plaited and cleaned gear for the next day's competition. Thursday night was the Welcome Barbeque and annual Riders Forum, where the Riders Representative, Elizabeth Owens, collected riders feedback on issues pertaining to Australian dressage to take to the ADC. Always interesting!
Nicole & Dante during a training session
Friday Competition Day...   Furst Tyme was so much more grown up this time around, and while he broke a few times in his first test, he really gave me his attention and was only guilty of trying too hard. Placing 3rd and 4th in the Elementary tests and 3rd overall in Australia made Linda, Beau and I very proud of the little guy! Dante behaved impeccably in the PSG for a 66% and an 8th placing in a tough field. Shannan and Astro placed 7th in the 3D and came home from her first Nationals with a ribbon! No one could take the grin off her face! Linda and Beau took us all out to dinner to the fabulous El Pinato, where we had an incredible dinner and the famous Nutella Pizza! Yummo!!
Danielle, Kristen & QLD Chef d'Equip Anita at El Pinato.	Alyssa, Shannan & Nicole at El Pinato.
Saturday dawned HOT!   32 degrees in fact.... Danielle was drawn first to ride at 8:30 and ride she did! for an amazing 67.9% and the lead which she held all day! I was the closest behind her on Flavio with 67.3%! I cannot explain the pride I felt as Danielle took the position on the podium ahead of me! Flavio gave me an excellent ride in the 4B for a win - making him the 2011 Australian Medium Champion! Flavio was also awarded a National Performance Gold Medal for his scores over 70% at Medium level over the past year. Dante was drawn first in the Challenge and he gave me another honest ride for 66% and 4th place. Linda and Beau had us all for the VIP dinner where we had a delicious 3 course meal while watching the Grand Prix freestyles. A truly wonderful night.
Nicole winning the Austrlian Medium Championship Title	QLD State Coach Carlos with Beau, Nicole and Jayden at the VIP Dinner
Nicole & Flavio
Last Day of Competition was HOT again! and I had 5 rides to get through (and remember on pain killers that make me drowsy - gulp...) between 9:30 and 2:30. Furst Tyme was a trooper in his last 2 Novice rides, winning not only the 2C with 72% - but also the Rod Barkham Award for the Highest Score during the whole competition! Flavio didn't have the changes sorted today and it showed in the Advanced tests. Dante impressed me again with his coping ability of the indoor arena for a dissappointing 62% (it's a good thing we don't do dressage for the marks or the ribbons, but for the sheer joy of showing off our training and riding amongst the countries best combinations).
Beau picking up Furst Tyme's Rod Barkham award for the highest percentage	Nicole & Dante working beautifully in the indoor
Jayden placed 2nd and 3rd on San Andreas for the Australian Reserve Novice Championship title - of which Linda and Beau were thrilled! Sunday avo, we headed home with every horse a placegetter and four happy, if tired, riders! A blow out on the "Double D" truck just out of Newcastle was not the most welcome sound and 40mins later, we were back on the road for an overnight stop at Taree.
The Double D team having fun in Sydney
My eternal thanks to Dressage QLD for the support given to the riders. To my wonderful sponsors, Horseland - Gold Coast for my beautiful gear and equipment, and to Mitavite for helping me give the horses every chance to give me their best work. To Alyssa and Kristen - my saviours! Sunday was nuts! They walked horses, cleaned gear, mucked boxes, tacked up and down and washed too many times to count! We worked hard and had fun along the way! To my regular coach, Traci Manca, for her continual knowledge and support and to State Coach, Carlos deCleermaecker for his expert eye in the warm up. Thanks always to my incredible hubby who really is the wind beneath my wings, and of course to Linda and Beau for entrusting their beautiful horses to my care and training, and for totally spoiling all of us from ever travelling with anyone else! GO Double D Team!! Times to remember!

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Greystone Masterclass with Hubertus Hufendiek

October 2011

International coach and trainer Hubertus Hufendiek came to Australia for the first time just a few weeks ago, and gave a private clinic in Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast. Upon the amount of people who missed out on a clinic spot, Beau and Linda Dowsett and Nicole Tough decided to give up one of the private clinic days and share Hubertus with Dressage QLD in the form of a Masterclass so everyone would have the opportunity to learn from someone of his calibre.

Hubertus Hufendiek

Hubertus started his dressage training at the age of 14 with legendary German team rider Hubertus Schmidt, and one year later he won his first S class (Prix St George). At the age of 18 he had trained two horses up to S level and achieved the "Goldenes Reitabzeichen". In 2004 he finished his A-level and started to ride for the stable of Max-Theurer. He then returned to Hubertus Schmidt who offered him a job as his "Bereiter" and was the Head Rider at Schmidt's stable for four years. In recent years he has successfully competed in National and International Grand Prix competitions and is now selected in a newly formed group of the ten young German riders with the highest regarded potential for an international dressage career. He has been placed on 10 different Grand Prix horses in German National competitions. In 2008, Hubertus passed his German NF Bereiter Qualification with distinction and achieved his Pferdewirtschaftsmeister in 2010.

The Greystone Masterclass was very successful with 165 tickets sold. Congratulations to A level judge Matty Sormani for winning the $600 Greystone Farm Cart! Below are some  of the training tips the riders got from Hubertus.

Matty Sormani happily receiving her new Farm Cart!

Leasa Stephen

• The importance of warming up in an easy pace (doesn't have to be spectacular in the warm up). When they are properly warmed up and ready to work, then ask for more.

• When there is resistance to the contact in the collection, make a correction within the collection, don't let him out to a working frame to make the correction. When he accepts the contact in collection THEN let him out and give him a break.

• Reward when the horse works well – not when you get tired.

Danielle Dowsett

• He re-iterated the importance of not giving away the outside rein.

• Sit stiller and do less.... trust the horse to go by himself.

Danielle & Waitano in front of the spectators

Nicole Tough

• Importance of the quality of each pace. If we improve the quality of each pace, then every movement is also better.

• Whilst I wasn't giving the outside rein away, I was still yielding it to much in the corners and the half-passes.

• Don't ride so deep into the corners that it has a detrimental effect on the pace and the balance.

• A different approach to the canter pirouettes. Instead of thinking quicker, think slower. (This definitely requires a lot of practise!).

• We must have a very healthy forward thinking attitude in order to collect. We can only harness energy if it’s there to start with.

• Always shoulder-fore in canter.

• Stick to your lines like glue.

• True harmony and expression comes from strength and suppleness which takes time to build. There are no short cuts. Forced expression produces negative tension and puts the purity of paces in danger.

Nicole & Flavio during their session with Hubertus

Gary Lung

• Working with Hubertus has highlighted the importance of straightness and the value of the outside rein.  He showed me the differences with the flexion and bend at a whole new level. 

• I love the way he had the horse’s welfare at heart and his training was centred around this.

• Its not about riding the movements or tricks but about good old fashion basics.

• His eye, to how you’re riding your horse, was second to none and he was quick to give you tips and hints to assist you.

Amy Zeller

• The walk needs to be trained but protected - Hubertus recommended that in the walk, allow the horse to come 'over the bit' rather than behind the bit with the nose to the chest.  He said that by allowing the hand to follow the nose in a forward/back action in rhythm with the walk, this will encourage the horse to take the nose forward - and therefore take a longer stride. He said this will eliminate any chance of the horse becoming lateral or uneven.

• He also mentioned that when training the trot and the canter work - in a young horse - to push the horse more forward into a bigger stride when you feel the horse become unbalanced.  Then when the balance has been regained - bring the horse back again into the working pace that you desire and repeat when becomes unbalanced again, until eventually the amount of times the horse becomes unbalanced will get lesser and lesser.

Amy & Leadburn Sundance demonstrating how to work with the 3yo

We trust that everyone who attended the Greystone Masterclass with Hubertus had a great day and took a tip or two home with them also!

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2011 Festival of Dressage Demonstration Notes

The Progress of Canter from Preliminary to Advanced

August 2011

Some may be asking – "why canter?"

Generally speaking, because of the “speed” and the “crooked” factors, riders tend to make more mistakes and have more problems with canter. As a result of these speed factors, judges and coaches tend to see many canters lose their 3 beat quality, calling it many different things from “more jump” to “lacking clarity.”

Also of note - the canter is the gait that progresses at a slower rate. WHY? In a single session, riders spend more time trotting than walking or cantering.

It starts with the newly broken or really green horse – many a person has come to me for guidance with a young horse that they have spent weeks trotting and walking on – but no canter… Be aware of this. Don’t leave the canter out. You only get it further behind your trot work. Your goals may be less in canter than trot – but don’t leave it out.

The canter also tires the young horse more… so we spend less time in it. As horses get fitter and stronger, riders can spend more time in canter.

The Mechanics of Canter

To train the canter, the rider should know the mechanics of canter – 3 beats separated by a moment of suspension. Sequence begins with the outside hind, followed by the inside hind and the outside foreleg together, then the inside front leg – finished with a moment of suspension.

NB: A canter that “lacks jump or clarity” is showing a disturbance in the 2nd beat of canter ie: the diagonal pairs are landing separately instead of together.

The Stages of Canter

ALL training must be carried out systematically, as progress is only possible if the rider teaches the exercises progressively and as part of a plan.

At the 2011 QLD Festival of Dressage, fellow trainer, Jayden Brown and I, presented 3 horses to show the 5 stages of canter from Preliminary to Advanced.

Tammy Stephens demonstrated the Preliminary and Novice stages on her 4 year old Warmblood mare, Dicavalli Royal Dancer.

I demonstrated the elementary stage on Furst Tyme, a 5 year old hanovarian gelding.

And Jayden demonstrated the medium and advanced Stages on Furst Frederick, a 7 year old westphalian gelding.

Nicole, Tammy and Jayden

Stage 1 - Preliminary

Goal: Develop rhythm, suppleness, contact to gain confidence, balance and understanding

Exercises:

Pick up the transition to canter from a lengthened trot

Correct leads and maintain the canter

Follow the riders line incorporating 20 metre circles and long sides

Every stride the same as the one before

Don’t HOLD the canter back

Stage 2 - Novice

Goal: Consolidate rhythm, suppleness, contact; developing impulsion and straightness

Exercises:

Depart into canter on a single aid from working trot

More weight to the quarters

Lengthen and shorten the stride

Smaller circles

Shallow counter canter loops

NB: Frequent transitions between working trot and working canter can bring about lasting improvement in looseness, impulsion and straightness.

NB: The rider must be able to distinguish between flexion (poll) and bend (spine) and be able to control it. Riders need to understand the stiff side and the hollow side ie: “the natural crookedness of the horse.”

Preliminary Stage - Don’t HOLD the canter back

Stage 3 – Elementary

Goal: Maintain rhythm, suppleness and contact; consolidate impulsion and straightness, starting to develop collection (forward thrust and carrying capacity)

Exercises:

Counter canter

Lengthen and shorten the strides

Collect the canter – half halts should increase activity, not slow the canter down

Simple changes

Shoulder fore in canter (particularly useful for improving the canter and for preparing and finishing an exercise). Frequent practise in shoulder fore makes the horse more connected and through since stepping closer together behind encourages more weight to the haunches. The rider drives with the inside leg to the outside guarding rein – straightening the horse.

NB: The rider should not use the reins to make the horse take more weight to the haunches. Rein aids need to be applied tactfully and with the right intensity, in conjunction with the forward driving aids, and in tune with the horses rhythm. Our goal is that the horse shorten its stride without interfering with their ability to swing through. Don’t ride with a hand brake on. It is crucial during this stage, that restraining rein aids are avoided, as these restrict forward thrust and can interfere with the beat.

NB: Impulsion must carry through to collection… only if the correct correlation between correct contact, impulsion and straightness is met, can we hope to achieve collection. If this is not achieved, the pre-requisites for further training have not been met and problems will creep in with loss of rhythm, tension and incorrect contact.

If we do our homework at this stage – we increase impulsion and self-carriage, improve suppleness and the strength necessary for the medium/advanced work.

Elementary Stage - Collect the canter; half halts should increase activity, not slow the canter down

Stage 4 – Medium

Goal: Maintain rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion and straightness, consolidate collection

Exercises:

Travers on a circle and on the straight line

Shoulder-fore and renvers

Training canter-pirouette canter and forward again

Frequent medium/extended canter bursts to rejuvenate the canter

Half-pass

The flying change

NB: Flexion/bend/straightness should always be considered together. Excessive bend creates tension and can disturb the rhythm. Shoulder-fore is an essential preparation for further training. Bending exercises for straightening purposes with the goal of taking the weight evenly to both hind legs. Straightness results from the horses increased ability to bend the hip, stifle and hock joints in the work on both reins.

NB: Lateral movements serve as gymnastic exercises to perfect straightness and throughness. In travers/renvers, the inside hind leg has to carry more weight and bend more, hence perfect for developing the horses gymnastic ability. These are the prepatory exercises for half-pass and pirouettes.

NB: Collection depends on the development of impulsion and straightness.

Stage 5 – Advanced

Goal: Maintain and strengthen all elements of the Training Scale

Exercises:

Travers on smaller and smaller circles until they are working canter pirouettes

Building Flying changes to multiple changes on a straight line

Shoulder-fore and renvers

Frequent Medium/extended canter bursts to rejuvenate the canter

Steeper half-passes, shoulder fore, flying change

NB: The order of training within a session should always be from simple to more difficult. This ensures mental and physical preparation.

Conclusion

All we can do as a rider is:

• Strive to be better with as much help as we can
• Do what we can do, to the best of our ability with each horse you ride

Remember: Difficult horses can be good; and good horses can be difficult. There is no easy way, no easy horse, and no short cuts.

Horses have different personality types:

Some big movers; some not so big

Some energetic; some lazy

Some try too hard; some too little

Some are quick to learn; some are slow

Know your horse and design their workload to suit.

"Do what you can do, to the best of your ability with each horse you ride"

Avoid training on your own. Find a coach to help monitor your training, check your feeling and help you progress when the horse is ready. A coach/trainer can ensure that you make fewer mistakes. The less time spent coming back from a detour, the quicker you progress.

Happy riding!

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2011 Festival of Dressage Demonstration Notes

Every Horse is Capable of 65%

July 2011

Over the last 10 years, the dressage scores around Australia have increased. Through improved breeding, coaching, knowledge, closer ties with the northern hemisphere and access to more International trainers and judges, we are getting better… the way of thinking could be that riders need a super mover to achieve good scores…

However this is not the case… there is SO much more to dressage than just super movement.

By nature, the horse has a 4 beat walk, a 2 beat trot and a 3 beat canter.

The walk is a marching pace of 4 time; the trot is a 2 time pace with diagonal pairs landing, and separated by a moment of suspension; and the canter is a 3 time pace finishing with a moment of suspension.

In every dressage test, there is one single mark allocated solely to the quality of these paces. It is down the bottom of the test paper in the Collective Marks – here, a 6 is awarded to a horse with 3 correct, regular paces; a 7 is possible where the paces are regular and correct with clear lengthening within the pace; and an 8 and up is possible, where there are 3 above average paces.

Any rider who has a horse whose paces haven’t been restricted by injury, disease or incorrect training IS capable of scoring at least 65%.

Nicole with rider Erin Goetz during her demonstration at the 2011 MITAVITE QLD Festival of Dressage.

It is a case of pure maths.

Every movement is marked out of 10. Of this 10, a part of the mark is allocated to quality of pace – and this is where not every rider is on equal footing... as some horses do have a higher natural quality of pace.

However – here is my message;

There is a larger part of the mark allocated towards adherence to the training scale, and a certain part of the mark allocated to the accuracy and precision of the performed movement. These things are in every riders control. Maybe your horses paces can never earn you an 8, 9 or 10, BUT you can still get a 6 or 7 for every movement through correct training and accurate, precise riding.

If you achieve a 6 or a 7 for every movement, here is your 65% + test.

To explain the marks:

To score an 8 or higher for a movement, all the requirements of the training scale must be good; with movements performed absolutely accurately and on precise lines.

A 7 is awarded for movements where the requirements of the training scale are regarded as fairly good, and the movements are ridden fairly accurately, following correct lines.

A 6 is awarded where there are some weaknesses in the training scale or the movements are lacking accuracy and precision.

A 5 is awarded where there are clear weaknesses in the training scale, or some mistakes occur in the execution of the movement.

A 4 is awarded for serious weaknesses in the training scale, or some serious mistakes in the movement.

Etc.

As you can see – the marks are given against the requirements of the training scale – and this IS under EVERY riders control. It all comes down to the training. So what are these “requirements of the Training Scale”?

First we must ask, what is The Training Scale?

The object of dressage is to develop the horse into a willing athlete through correct harmonious education. This education is applied through a program of systematic physical education; and is called The Training Scale.

Nicole demonstrating what we are aiming for with engagement.

The Training Scale has been developed over centuries as a method to train horses harmoniously and keep horses sound – mentally and physically.

The aim of the Training Scale is to develop a horse that is through and willing to obey the riders aids without the slightest resistence, in all the movements, exercises and transitions.

What are the requirements of The Training Scale?

The 6 steps of the Training Scale in order of importance are:

1. Rhythm – The basis for every movement is rhythm... every step or stride the same as the one before

2. Suppleness – is your horse equally supple to both sides, with equal weight in the hand?

3. Contact – does your horse accept the contact through all the movements and transitions?

4. Impulsion – Does your horse push in the upward transitions and sit in the downward transitions? Does he want to go?

'Impulsion – Does your horse push in the upward transitions and sit in the downward transitions? Does he want to go?.' (Photo: Nicole & Furst Tyme at the 2011 Brenda Wittman Classic)

5. Straightness – Are your horses’ hind legs on the same track at his front legs?

6. Collection – Is your horse uphill? Off the forehand? In Self-carriage?

The Dressage Judge is looking to tick these boxes off in each and every movement that you ride.

My message to riders is - for maximum possibility of marks:

• don’t give away a mark through inaccuracy

• dedicate yourself to continually improving your riding and training

** On the day of the Festival, I was helped by demo riders Erin Goetz from the Lockyer Valley on her lovely mare, Fifi; and by Dorothy Wood from Burpengary on her very clever gelding, Mask. **

Some Training Tips…

Work through your problems – the key is repetition. Horses learn through repetition. You must repeat the exercise until the horse is strong and supple enough to learn to carry itself.

Transitions are crucial to training.They are the stepping stones to further development and play a huge role in submission, obedience and balance.

If you cannot trot up the centre line and halt square – this is a rider error. It is purely a question of discipline. Establishing square halts at every opportunity is good for young horses and doesn’t wear them out.

'Establishing square halts at every opportunity is good for young horses and doesn’t wear them out.' (Photo: Nicole & Furst Tyme at the 2011 Brenda Wittman Classic)

We must be able to feel how the horse is in our hands. Have they become strong? Are they heavier in one hand than the other? Is there a lack of response to your leg? Are they pushing against your leg? If so, do something about it… Don’t accept it.

Routine is vital.

Training at a level higher than your competititon level enables you and the horse to cope easier when out competing.

Finish every session how you want to start the next day. If you don’t like the feeling you have at the end – your not finished…

A coach/trainer on the ground as often as possible is VITAL. Their job includes monitoring the training scale, checking the riders feeling is on track and can tell when the horse is ready to take the next step. A rider training on their own can only practise bad habits.

And finally, a quote I found once that I try and remember when I’m in danger of thinking near enough is good enough…

“Amateurs practise til they get it right. Professionals practise til they can’t get it wrong.”

Conclusion...

There is no question that a naturally elastic horse, with the conformation to find the work easier, may be easier to train, and score high marks – however, this naturally talented horse could have an unwilling work ethic, or it could be being trained along incorrect lines with the rider taking short cuts, and thus not achieving high scores despite its natural ability... likewise you may have a horse with lesser natural ability with conformation not ideal for dressage, but with the heart of a lion who always gives you 100%.

A dressage competition is where you get to put your training to the test, get some feedback and return home with some homework.

So again – for maximum possibility of marks:

• don’t give away a mark through inaccuracy

• dedicate yourself to continually improving your riding and training

My thanks to Erin and Dorothy for assisting me on the day, and to my sponsors, Horseland – Gold Coast and Mitavite for your ongoing support.

Happy riding!

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Equitana 2010 - The Steffen Peters Experience

November 2010

After applying to ride in the Steffen Peters Masterclass clinic at Equitana, and being selected on the “shortlist”; good friends Jenny Gehrke, Jayden Brown and I decided it would be better to travel down together as opposed to 3 separate trucks making the journey with 3 lonely horses. When Linda and Bo Dowsett generously offered the luxurious Double D truck for the trip, it seemed we were all set to go.

The trip started on Saturday 13th November, with my hubby Colin, taking time off work to get us all a couple of states south. On board we had Jenny had her PSG mare Ivana, Jayden his advanced horse Freddie and I was taking Flavio for the young horse session.

Colin Tough - Truck Driver Extraordinaire

Day 1 - Having just met Freddie, Flavio decided that he seemed like a good horse to annoy and spent the first 4 hours of the trip committed to reaching Freddie over the divider. What can I say? The horse doesn’t give up easily... and he was quite tired by the time we got to our first break at the Coffs Harbour showgrounds. Changing the configuration so Flavio had no one next to him was the order of the day and the next leg to Taree was much more peaceful. Albeit, we were stopped for 25 minutes in traffic in 36 degree heat...

At Taree, the horses were ok, just hot and tired. After a good hour and a half break, Col was keen to push on to Shaun France’s place in Newcastle. Unfortuneately, Feddie got cast in his box. After setting him to right, Flavio decided to box walk all night - not unusual for him… A few board games of “Smart Ass” followed by a pre-prepared Italiano dinner (complete with Bruschetta!) from the queen of cooks, Rosie, ensured we all went to bed with content tummies.

Day 2 - After all the horses turned their noses up at breakfast, we pushed on through Sydney and past Horsely Park for our first scheduled break at a little town called, Gunning. Jayden and I cruised in the back of the truck watching Robin Hood on the Double D TV/DVD. It's a hard life…

Gunning was a restful stop where we found large, grassy yards for the horses, and the weather was much more pleasant today. The last leg of day 2 was towards the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre, where we again found large yards for the horses. All were a bit tucked up. Ivana just wanted to sleep, and Flavio, suffering from over tiredness just wanted to play with poor Freddie! By now, these two were fast friends, and from Ivana’s looks, well and truly immature! An Indian meal, complete with naan bread (again prepared by Rosie!), meant we went to bed again with full and happy tummies.

Day 3 - With only 4 hours to go into Werribee, you can feel it getting colder each kilometre south. Jen and Jayden cruise in the back of the truck watching The Best Movie of All Time - The Last of the Mohicans, with me as Col’s wingman up front.

Jenny & Jayden - Making the most of the luxury truck!

We arrive at Werribee at 11am, and it looks like a BIG show was held over the weekend in very wet conditions. Red mud, puddles (and lots of sheep!) everywhere. After organising bedding and more hay, we saddle up for a light ride. All 3 of us are thrilled as we have 3 sound and healthy horses. With a couple of board games, and the last of Rosie’s home cooked meals in our tummies, we shut out the world for a good nights sleep.

Day 4 - The horses are quite settled at Werribee - even Flavio gives it a thumbs up! Our rides today were focussed on fine tuning to get the horses primed for our BIG day with Steffen the next day. After our ride, we enjoyed a walk to Werribee Mansion where we took the tour back in time, and were awfully glad we did not live back then! Good friend and now a local of Melbourne, Nikki O’Brian, brought us some much needed grocery supplies and Jen cooked a yummy chicken salad for dinner.

Colin, Jenny & Jayden at the Werribee Mansion

Day 5 - After the horses routine morning walk, we packed up from Werribee and headed into the chaos called Equitana, at the Melbourne Showgrounds. The organisers have a HUGE job rolling in 300 horses and 300 exhibitors. Freddy and Flav are stabled next to each other, and Ivana is close but in the isle designated for the competition horses (as Jen is entered for the Prix St George as well as a hopeful for the Steffen Peters clinic).

The lessons with Steffen end up just being an assessment held in the only warm up arena. So we share the arena with other “shortlisted” dressage riders, as well as campdrafters, hackies and vaulters! Flavio, Freddie and Ivana all coped amazingly and we were able to show their training and their ability and thankfully, we all got through to the masterclass. We were very excited about the opportunity to work with Steffen in the days leading up to the Masterclass - as this was really what we came for.

Nicole working in a quiet spot of the warm up!

Day 6 and 7 - Alas, it was not to be... We hear the news that there is to be no work with Steffen before the Masterclass and we are disappointed. Making the best of the experience was the new aim, and we helped each other over the next few days, enjoying the Trade Sites and the experience of being amongst people who love horses.

There are no words to convey how proud of Flavio I was. Not only did he cope with the stabling conditions, but with sharing the work arena with jousters, reining, campdrafters, cart horses, mini horses, polocrosse players, and even carriage driven horses! Not to mention the bobcats, trucks and general madness of background Equitana! The horse IS a legend!

Day 8 - D Day marks the Masterclass and the day of our departure. As per custom, our early morning walk is essential for the horses ongoing sanity. From here to the preparation - plaiting, bandaging, cleaning and polishing. I was thrilled and very proud of Flavio during the Masterclass. Below are a few Steffen tips I came away with from the small amount of time I observed and was afforded:

• Keep the work creative

• Suppleness is the key

• Light contact paramount

• Let the horse do it on their own

• Don’t just get their attention; tell them what you want

• The spur only for emergency

• If they are behind the leg in the passage, they WILL be behind the leg in piaffe

• Don’t support the horse, It’s never ok for them to lean

• Practise perfect transitions only

• Don’t prevent a mistake, let them make it, then correct them

• If you prepare for the canter pirouette and they get behind the leg, go out, refresh the canter and try again. Don’t make the pirouette happen from a lazy canter

Nicole making the most of her time in the Masterclass with Steffen

After some valuable time with Mitavite, we pack up to start the big journey home.

From Melbourne back to Albury on Saturday night. From Albury, through Gunning, Horsely Park and an overnight stop at Taree; and from Taree through Coffs Harbour to home on the Monday. All in all, we have been away 10 days and 6 of them were on the truck!

Whilst the work with Steffen was not the highlight of the trip, it was a wonderful experience. I would like to thank Linda and Bo for the loan of their truck. It made the daunting task of being away from home that much more pleasant. To Jayden and Jen for their great company, to my hubby Col for his endless love and support. And to all my friends at home looking after the horses, and to my mum at home who looked after the doggies including my injured maltese, Molly, and ran my very busy son around to all his cricket training and games!

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2010 Australian National Dressage Championships

October 2010

There is no doubt about it, the weather is up to strange things… we went from a freezing 15 degrees on days 1 and 2 of the event, with winter woollies and not enough blankets, to a blazing 31 degrees, summer jarmies and no need for sheets let alone blankets!

Toni Venhaus and her amazing crew did it again – put on a flawless show in the 2010 Bates Australian Dressage Championships, run at the always stunning SIEC.

Bo and Linda’s horses truly gave me their all, so proud of them I was. From his first event in April as a just 4 year old, Furst Tyme coped so well with the huge atmosphere at SIEC, giving me two of his best tests for a 4^th and a 7^th placing in the Novice Championship.

Nicole & Furst Tyme

Linda Dowsett with Nicole & Furst Tyme

Flavio seems all grown up, taking the atmosphere in his huge stride with a 1^st and 4^th placing in the Elementary tests and the National Reserve Elementary Champion title; and a 2^nd and 3^rd placing in the Medium tests to become National Reserve Medium Champion as well.

Beau & Linda Dowsett with Nicole & Flavio

Nicole & Flavio

Dante was a delight and placed 3^rd and 4^th in the Advanced tests and taking out the National Reserve Advanced Champion title. Selected as one of 12 in the Australian Prix St George Challenge final was an added honour and Dante exceeded expectations scoring 66.7% and placing 2^nd behind Maree Tomkinson’s beautiful mare, Diamontina.

Nicole & Dante

My eternal thanks to Linda and Bo for the opportunity to train and campaign their beautiful horses, my weekly coach, Traci Manca, for her help and guidance, to my friends, Alyssa Webb and Shannan Goodwin who helped me clean gear, walk the horses, wash, plait, tack and untack the horses, and to my fabulous hubby for all his love and support – thankfully we didn’t have to change any tyres!

Beau & Linda Dowsett with Nicole

Nicole with her winnings!

To Dressage QLD, thankyou for your support in the provision of the chef d’equipe, Carole Lok, and the State Coach, Carlos de Cleermaecker. QLD took out the EA teams event – way to go QLD, way to go!

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2010 NSW State Dressage Championships

September 2010

We arrived in Tamworth on Wednesday September 6th for the NSW State Champs, ran by the very efficient Cathie Drury-Klein and her team, and were unlucky enough to have a blown tyre 30km outside of Tenterfield, aka, the middle of nowhere!

Upon arrival we heard the disappointing news that the AELEC’s (Australian Equine and Livestock Centre) best arena was unrideable due to mismanagement outside the organiser’s control. This meant that a new warm up arena had to be quickly made and the existing warm up arena quickly became the 4th competition arena.

AELEC Indoor

THEN on Thursday afternoon, it started raining…  and it didn’t stop…

Come Friday morning (the first day of competition), the organisers were faced with an unrideable 4th competition arena and the new warm up arena was also unrideable! Leaving the organisers and the riders with 3 out of 4 competition arenas and 1 out of 2 warm up arenas! YIKES! The organisers did everything they could to provide work areas, safety and still continue the event.

Needless to say, conditions were very hard on the riders and horses. Competitions were moved into the indoor at a moment’s notice and many competitions were re-scheduled to fit the program in.

Dressage QLD fully supported their 60 riders, providing a very generous KFC lunch for all the riders and supporters, and badges, courtesy of Emerleigh Embroidery were handed out to all. DQ provided QLD riders with a very efficient Chef d’Equipe in Carole Lok (the star!!), who literally ran her feet off keeping us all informed of the new competition times, reserve place offerings and re-scheduling. She also managed somehow to watch most of the 160 QLD test rides! DQ also provided the State Coach, Carlos de Cleermaecker, free to any QLDer wanting his excellent eye run over them in the warm up. Carlos ran himself ragged assisting QLD riders. We are very lucky in QLD to have such tremendous support from out State Dressage Authority. DQ have also said that both Carole and Carlos will be there at the Nationals to assist, so I hope many us make the trek south.

Fellow QLDers Jenny and Jayden

Nicole walking Dante and Flavio

There were many QLDers in the placings throughout the difficult weekend. At one stage, on the Dowsett’s lovely young horse, Furst Tyme, I had just a 15 metre circle to warm up on and the first time I we did the movements of the test was actually in the test itself! Due to the circumstances for “horse shy” horses, there simply was nowhere to warm up.

I was very happy with Linda and Bo’s horses. Flavio got a 72% in the 3C for a 1st, Dante got a 64% in the Prix St George for a 7th and a 67% in the 5B for a 2nd, Furst Tyme won the Reserve NSW State Preliminary Championship with a 3rd and a 1st, with a score of 80%. Look out Edward Gal! HA!!

My huge thanks to Linda and Bo for their continued faith in me, my hubby Col for his endless support (and fine tyre changing abilities!), and to my groom, Rhiannon McCathie who cleaned stables, tack and walked and washed horses for 4 days.

To DQ, thankyou for your support, to Carlos for your invaluable assistance, Traci Manca for your week to week tuition and to my sponsor, Mitavite, who ensured the horses all looked and went their best.

Jo Barbera's delicious dinner on the final night of competition before the Queenslander's headed home

Photos by: Jocelyn Hutton

2010 QLD Festival of Dressage

July 2010

What a Ride!

The QLD Festival of Dressage is now 4 years old, and well and truely all grown up!

Once again a SUPERB line up of presenters in the Motorline BMW Seminar Centre frequently had people crowding in to find out the latest on equine nutritional advice, training tips, career information, judge's viewpoint and other hot news in the sport of Dressage. Up in the Mitavite Indoor arena- the crowd was entertained, educated and enthralled by a demonstrations from some of QLD's leading trainers and riders- along with special guest Richard Weiss and State Coach, Carlos DeCleermaecker. In between these two presentation areas, featured the BEST trade Village precinct the Festival has ever seen- a huge thank you to all of this year's tradies for being an integral part of the product showcase that is the Festival!

The Awesome Foursome Quadrille Team, all students of Nicole's!

We had wonderful sponsors this year from our Naming Rights Sponsor Mitavite, to BMW Motorline, ELD, The Horse Magazine, Tekna as Trail Sponsor, Prydes Easifeed, EQUITANA, JDC Flooring and ACE Studbook. These sponsors, together with the incredible support of the 2010 Equitec Performance Products QLD State Dressage Squad, and the 2010 ELD State Young Rider Squad made the Festival the success that it was.

It is the enormous individual efforts of many people, solely motivated by their love of the sport, who continue to make this festival possible. I would like to thank an incredible team of people that is the organising committee:

Marketing and Public Relations manager – Keran Ainslie

Stallion Manager - Anita Scampton

Website designer – Kristen McAuslen

Seminar centre co-ordinator - Tony Caetano

Silent auction and raffle co-ordinator – Karen Spencer

Administration Manager – Jenny Rykoff

Artwork and branding manager – Gary Lung

Ticketing and Ringside manager - Jackie Hill

Financial manager – Carole Lok

Hire and Facilities co-ordinator – Brooke Cummings

Trade Village and fashion parade co-ordinator – Nicole Magoffin

Catering queen – Rosie Webb

This entire organising committee made the awesome job of putting this festival together a whole lot of fun!

To our special guests, Carlos, Tanya Matthews, Richard Weis, Melissa Widdis, and Jonah Oliver – thankyou for being a part of our show.

Which brings us - to our incredible voluntary helpers! You are all legends! Mandy, Chris, Sheryl, Deb, Linda, Alyssa, Lorraine, Jeanette, Tara, Jordan, Ave, Sam, Mal, Amanda, Matt, Alex, Lesley; our amazing Festival crew – Ken, Beau, Col, Mitch, and Rodney - Thankyou all SO much!

It was wonderful to see the spectrum of visitors through the gates- from the contingent from Far North QLD, a couple of South of the Border visitors, to the NZ visitor- we thank you for making the effort of coming to QLD's Festival of Dressage. Where ever you came from, whatever your age or experience or level of interest you have in dressage- we hope that you all had as much fun at the event as we had putting it together for you! Be inspired QLD dressage! This is YOUR FESTIVAL, and yes, planning is already underway for next year's event! Make sure you check out the website for all the photos and fill out the feedback form to help us put together another super program for 2011!

Visit www.qlddressagefest.com.au for more information.

Bring on 2011!

The Half-Halt
Nicole's demonstration notes from the 2010 QLD Festival of Dressage

June 2010

Half-halts are done from the early stages of training right up to Grand Prix and they can be done simultaneously, one after the other, until the rider has the desired response. Half-halts are essential if you want to achieve lightness and self-carriage.

The difficult thing about demonstrating half-halts is that a good half-halt should be invisible, however the effect of the half-halt is what is seen.

There are many different reasons why a rider employs a half-halt, and the rider needs to be clear about what response they are after, and not just do a half-halt for the sake of it, and without producing a response.

Nicole during her demonstration

I aim today to break the half-halt down to explain the varied different reasons why the rider would use one, as well as explaining the HOW factor.

What is the Half –Halt?

The half-halt is simply an aid, and like any aid, the rider should aim to produce a response.

We control the horse with aids- or signals. Our natural aids are our legs, reins, and seat. The half halt is a refined aid, combining all our natural aids.

How do we do a Half-Halt?

The rider aims to “fix” their seat, or weight aid. There are varied ways to say it:

I like to say close your leg, but don’t allow the horse to increase speed, by pushing your stomach muscles forward;

You can try it where your sitting:

Everyone sit up in a posture that a Physio would be proud of;

Now close your whole leg, and push your stomach forward like someone is pulling you forward from your belt

You are now employing your core strength; and this will have the affect of slowing the horse.

The half-halt is a moment, which the rider has to catch, and releasing it as the horse responds. Later on, when we want to prepare the horse for a movement or adjust the speed or collection we just need to employ this half-halt.

The success of the half-halt comes down to the rider’s own feel – and everyone is different, and at different stages in their riding. The tricky thing is, good timing is crucial to produce the desired response from a half-halt. Like everything practise makes perfect!

The half-halt must be repeated until it is accepted - As with any aid, if the horse does not respond, it is necessary to re-enforce the aid with a stronger one, until a response is offered. I like to say, that if you come with an aid, the next step should be affected by it: if its not, the rider should re-enforce the aid and endeavour to make the difference to the next step, and so on.

The half-halt must never be confused with a backward action of one or both reins – when a rein aid is applied in a backward action, the horse tightens its back, hindering the forward action of the hindleg and making the goal of the half-halt impossible.

There are 3 Degrees or stages of Half-halt, and I have 3 riders on horses of different ages here to demonstrate them;

Phase 1 - Stop/Start method (Shannan and Aristede)

From halt, we apply a leg aid to produce a forward response to walk; and from walk, we apply a restraining aid to produce a response of halt. Our goal, at this stage is to achieve all the downward transitions with half-halts, and no Backward rein aids.

Demonstrate – transitions halt- walk- halt

The first stage of half-halt is a combination of both of these aids. In other words – you almost stop, then go forwards again.

Demonstrate – trotting, almost walking, and then trotting again

Shannan Goodwin riding for Nicole

Young or green horses invariably lose balance. The rider feels this loss of balance when the horse either speeds up, or runs on, or it could be more subtle with the leaning on the bit, on both or one of the riders hands.

It is important that even from this early stage of training that we use the half-halt to develop self-carriage. With this most basic half-halt in place, we can now use it to maintain the desired speed and begin the development of self-carriage.

Demonstrate – some circles and figures of 8, where the horse may increase or decrease its speed and the corrections via half-halts to keep the horse in balance.

The goal of the first phase half-halt, is to improve the attention and balance of the horse.

Demonstrate a 3 loop serpentine – with no half-halts and then with half halts; and in canter, down the long side with no half-halts; then with a half-halt every 3 rd/4 th stride to maintain balance on the hindquarters.

As the horse understands the request, we can progress to the next phase:

Phase 2 – Changing Gears Method (Nicole and Flavio)

The next step is to use the half-halt to change gears within the pace, decreasing and increasing the stride.

The goal of this stage is to improve the connection and the collection. By shifting more weight onto the horses hind legs and engaging them, we improve his balance even more, attaining more lightness of the forehand and more self-carriage.

Demonstrate – in canter on the circle 4 strides lengthened canter, 4 strides collected and repeated; and transitions canter- walk – canter. “Collect the canter to walk speed” then walk.

With this improved balance, connection and collection, the rider can now use the half-halt to catch the effect of another aid.

Demonstrate leg yield with half-halts

Without a half-halt, an aid or a correction aid can be evaded. Ie: rider addresses one problem only to create another.

We can now use the half-halt before the execution of movements.

Demonstrate Shoulder-in, travers, medium trot with half-halts in preparation.

Nicole demonstrating the benefits of half halt in shoulder-in

Again, it is very important that whenever the horse seeks to come on the forehand by leaning on the riders hand, the rider uses the half-halt to correct the horses balance and asking them to work in self-carriage at all times.

As the horse understands these requests, we can progress to the next phase:

Phase 3 – Closing Up Method (Kristen and Bellissimo)

The next step is to use the half-halt to close the horse up, shifting more weight to the horses hindquarters creating more effective carrying power and a lighter forehand. This gives a more uphill way of going and allows those movements of the advanced levels and up to be truly beautiful and uplifting.

The goal of this stage is to increase activity, create energy – not hinder it.

Demonstrate in trot on a circle, closing the horse up from behind, increasing energy; and in preparation for half-passes, and increasing energy after the half-pass.

The horse is briefly enclosed between the weight, legs and rein aids with a half-halt which must be followed by a yielding rein aid.

Again when the legs, seat and reins work together in a half-halt to achieve higher degrees of collection with ease and lightness.

Demonstrate canter on a small circle, in preparation for canter pirouettes, then the canter pirouette – showing the use of small half-halts to keep the horse active and in balance and in the pirouette;

Also demonstrate flying changes

The ultimate half-halt is used in the Grand Prix when they piaffe.

I once read - “An amateur practises til they get it right; a professional practises til they can’t get it wrong.” How right this is….. I consider myself an amateur when it comes to the half-halt. Without my weekly supervision from my coach, my half-halt is still, after 20 years in the saddle, a lesson every week and many clinics with some of the world’s best trainers, in danger of getting a little backward with the hand, and I’m constantly reminding myself – don’t ride the horse backward, ride them with energy to the hand, but don’t let them run or lose balance to the forehand. It is an ongoing thing.

I hope I have clarified some of the mystery behind the half-halt and wish you all happy homework.

I would like to thank Shannan and Kristen very much for assisting me with my demonstration, Linda and Beau Dowsett for the ride on this beautiful horse, and my sponsor Mitavite for helping me to have him looking so good!

QLD All the Way!

December 2009

If you’ve never made the trek south for the Nationals, think seriously about it. If you don’t go to see how you fair in the country, or to ride at the simply amazing Olympic venue, then go for the unique experience of being part of a great team.

Almost all of the QLDers stuck by each other, helping each other out in times of stress and cheering each other on. The sportsmanship and comradie that most of the QLDers displayed was a sight to behold, and truly amazing to be a part of. We had team shirts generously provided by Dressage QLD and Equitec Performance Products and it was commented by a bystander “gee, you always know when a QLDer is on, because a flood of white shirts come to the arena”.

All up, we had 35 representative riders at this years National Dressage Championships. We were very lucky to have Carole Lok, QLD’s High Performance co-ordinator, there as Chef d-Equip and even though was she injured in the line of duty, I don’t think she missed a single test!

We were also very lucky to have our State Coach, Carlos de Cleermaecker, there for the competition to provide lessons to any rider wanting one, and assisting as many riders as he possibly could in the warm up areas. I wonder how many miles Carole and Carlos did over the week – with them both constantly checking their daily agenda’s, as organised by Carole, racing from one warm up to another. And the grin from ear to ear when they rode their tests with us! Carlos even managed to help his gorgeous wife, Melanie, with her tests – and she must have felt like an adopted QLDer because she got a bunch of us cheering for her as well!

QLD Riders in their Team Shirts

Carlos with Leasa Stephen & the amazing SIEC Stadium in the background

Beau and Linda Dowsett very generously shouted a barbeque for ALL the QLDers and their support crews on the Wednesday night team meeting, relieving us all from having to worry about organising dinner on the first night. The riders are deeply grateful to a very supportive Dressage QLD committee for our uniforms, travel subsidy, Chef d-Equipe and State Coach. There were many comments from the other states about the unification and team spirit as well as the superlative organisation of the QLDers.

Onto the competition, and starting with the Grand Prix! Emma Flavelle rode a personal best in the Grand Prix really showing everyone what her mare, Northern Meara, can do. Placing 4th, for a coveted ride in the Freestyle and what an energetic ride she had!

New father, Tor van den Berge, rode a blinder and won the Intermediate 11 on a very willing Fishermans Friend. Nicole Magoffin finished a commendable 8th on the ever reliable Jaybee Anzac.

Jessica Greelish had a great show winning the Intermediate 1 and the Intermediate Freestyle competitions. Alex Berns placed 4th in the Prix St George and 2nd in the Intermediate 1 on Kings Legend, previously owned by Cheryl Williams. Not bad for only having owned the horse for a month!

Jenny Gehrke and Gitane placed 3rd in the Prix St George and were the winners of the Australian Prix St George Challenge. Our other FEI riders, Kaz Roe, Jacqui Huppert and Claire Wallace were all happy with their tests.

Victoria Welch was busy in the Advanced Championship, with 2 horses in the field - Fairbanks Forever achieving a 4th and a 5th, and B.J Kaneto Casablanca placing 7th and 8th. Merrilea Charles was glad to have brought her young Advanced horse, Jazzaround, down to Sydney and learnt a lot for next time.

Tor van den Berge and Cheryl O’Brian’s stallion, Lauries As, was 3rd overall and the leading QLDer in the Medium Championship, behind Mary Hanna’s Shiraz Black and Kate Taylor Wheat’s World Star. Other QLDers, Elliot Patterson, Tammy Stephens, Jocelyn Hutton, Victoria Welch and myself were very happy with their horses.

QLDers enjoying a lovely BBQ dinner courtesy of Beau & Linda Dowsett

Emma Flavelle & Northern Meara

Tor and Lauries As, were Reserve National Elementary Champion with a 1st and a 2nd, with the lovely horse I ride for Linda and Beau Dowsett, coming 3rd and 4th for a 3rd overall. Matthew Dowsley and San Hose were the winners here. Gary Lung and GB Winchester placed 5th in both tests, Elliot Patterson and Leandro were 4th in one elementary test and Kate Wilson broke the top 10 on her lovely mare, Dallas. Other QLDers, Leasa Stephen, Karen Crommelin were glad to have made the trip.

Beau and Linda Dowsett’s horse, Flavio, was Reserve National Novice champion with a 2nd and a 3rd to Matthew Dowsley’s, San Jose. Victoria Welch and Brentanus were 2nd and 6th in the novice classes and Tracey Ellis and Remi Louis Armstrong achieved a 5th placing as well!

To top it all, QLD won the FEI teams award – with Tor van den Berge’s, Kaz Roe’s and Jenny Gehrke’s FEI tests, and QLD was 2nd in the EA teams as well – thanks again to Tor, Kaz and Victoria.

So not only were the QLDers great team mates, we didn’t go so badly either! A bit of bad luck is always a part of the journey. Kay and Sarah Sutherland’s horse Adloo Roberto caught a bout of travel sickness on the way down, but recovered well enough to make the trip back home. Danielle Dowsett’s horse, Remi Rockerfella, got cast in his box the night before departure and a paint donkey at the SIEC venue seriously ruffled the feathers of Traci Ellis’ beautiful gelding, Remi Louis Armstrong. You heard right – a paint donkey!!!

Thanks again to Dressage QLD, Equitec Performance Products, the Dowsett Family, Carole Lok and Carlos de Cleermaecker for helping make this years National Championships an adventure to remember.

Nicole Tough on Dante owned by Beau & Linda Dowsett

Kaz Roe & For Joy

FEI Regional Dressage Forum
Fielding, New Zealand

October 2009

Conducted by Dressage New Zealand, in conjunction with Massey University; the Regional FEI Dressage Forum had Steffen Peters and newly appointed FEI Director, Trond Asymr, from Norway, as its International guests.

An intrepid bunch of 16 QLDers and one Victorian made up the Australian contingent at this International forum – and what a trip it was!

I am a little speechless when it comes to Steffen Peters… WOW sums it up… every word that emerged from Steffen was unforgettable. I took 20 pages of notes that I am still trying to transfer onto the computer! Steffen is the consummate trainer and coach, and an absolutely brilliant communicator. He is 100% dedicated to the simplicity and beauty of dressage training, and gave the audience a clear insight into what it takes to be a world champion.

He conducted sessions in young horse training, developing the horse towards Prix St George, and a more specific look at training and judging flying changes, pirouettes and piaffe/passage. I can easily say that no one in the audience would have gone home the same judge and/or rider as the one that came.

Of Trond Asmyr, the newly appointed Director of FEI Dressage, all I can say is that our sport is in good hands. From Norway, Mr Asmyr, is part of the “Dressage Task Force” which was set up in November 2008, to address bad press following Hong Kong and the doping/medication cases. A very articulate man, Trond is a passionate lover of horses, with an excellent grasp on dressage training and judging.

He spoke of the importance of shortening the distance between the top and the developing countries, and often referred to the “Dressage family around the world.”

The goals of the Dressage Task Force include:

• Training, development, assessment and selection of judges
• Improvements in the Judging System
• Qualification for Olympics and WEG
• Involvement of stakeholders
• Quality of judges

He discussed the FEI judging Trial – which looked at 6 new ways of judging; including dropping the highest and lowest scores; having 6 judges around the arena and each judge assessing 1 aspect of the training scale throughout the test! He also mentioned the implementation of a supervisory panel at major world events and olympics, whereby a panel of 3 judges could watch a video replay and override a judging error if need be. Conclusions from the 6 tests have yet to be drawn.

Trond said, “The Olympics must be about getting the best horses and riders at the Games and widely spread around the world.” He said, “Today’s FEI Challenge – is to develop a program to bring the sport forward.” All I can say is that, this is the man for the job.

What was really interesting is that all the issues that we have in developing dressage within our State, are the same issues that our National Dressage committee have, and these are same issues that the International committee has as well!

Trond and Steffen had wonderful respect for each other, and enjoyed the challenge of sharing their knowledge with each other. They worked together brilliantly, so open and willing to truly discuss training and competition issues.

Below I offer just a smidgen of the notes that I took away from Steffen. Enjoy!

• When you are seeing a lovely grand prix test – you are seeing excellent training
• What I want is that I can go into the show arena, and my ride looks effortless
• Make the sensitivity to the leg your priority
• Training is not simply repeating – it is when the horse is resistant that we address it in a clear way.
• Horses are born with a certain rideability and self-carriage – then it is up to us to guide them
• Don’t be afraid of mistakes – every single mistake is a perfect training opportunity
• When a horse is accepting the aids, he is happy to go forward
• When you asked him forward, there was not enough reaction, and you didn’t correct; so you compromised - Never compromise on standards
• Don’t accept too much contact – the horse is tricking you into too much contact.
• Remind him to work; don’t support him every stride. The riders goal must be to get to the minimum aids required. We must reduce the aid wherever possible
• Create positive patterns every day – practise the perfect frame, with the poll controlled – the horse should always be in self-carriage
• Differentiate between what we want to show the judges and how we want to train
• Always go back to the longer lower neck
• We can do longer periods of low intensity work, but we have to do shorter duration of high intensity power work – 3-5 mins; with a walk period with contact – The breaks allow the muscles to gain oxygen
• Dressage horses need to be adjustable – easily forward and back
• If it is necessary to use the spur, it should be used as an emergency when the horse doesn’t respond
• If the horse needs energy in the collection, ride forward!
• Make it your best effort to connect your horse
• Make use of transitions within the pace, consistently forward and back trans
• Create the reason to let go of the rein. Letting go of the rein is a very important principle to understand
• Raise your expectations
• When you have the horse on the hind leg, the transitions will work
• When we ride each day, we should be in training mode, not in showing mode
• When the mouth becomes open, the judges think the riders have come too strong in the hand and they fixate on this and discount the rest of the picture. The mouth is not the problem – the fault lies in the basics. That’s why it is so important to fix the basics
• Test the energy, and when they answer, praise them
• He wants to do the movement his way – he has to respect your strength. The rider sets the rules – you must say, I know how strong you are BUT don’t use your strength against me. The horse can use their muscles to carry themselves OR they can use their muscles for little evasions. In training, create positive patterns and interrupt these evasions. Don’t accept them by doing nothing
• The correct connection must start with the young horse. The correct contact is the lightest possible but consistent contact - like you have a can of soda in each hand. I have yet to find someone who can explain to me why the horse should need more contact if they are in selfcarriage!
• You rolled for a moment like you were in a test at a show, in your training - don’t do that. When he is on the forehand, don’t be afraid to correct him. Sure – correct him within his comfort zone – but correct him. Some horses comfort zones are more narrow, but don’t avoid corrections
• I have no use of energy if I cannot control it
• For spooky horses - If the horse is paying attention, they are much less likely to find something life threatening…
• Always ask yourself, is my horse in self-carriage? Is he supple in both reins?

As I said – WOW! Every single word pure magic... and I have 20 pages of this!!! Now I just have to remember it all every moment I am in the saddle!

Back to the practise, but oh SO inspired!

Australian attendees with Steffen Peters & Trond Asmyr.

The amazing Indoor in which the forum was conducted, including big screen for easier viewing.

2009 State Squad Training Camp

January 2009

EI started a great trend in having a Training Camp for the State Squad without their horses. The 2008 camp proved extremely beneficial and this year saw the return of the State Squad to the wonderful Noosa North Shore Resort for the 2009 Training Camp without horses.

Staying in the "Beach Road" homes gave the riders a taste of how they could live if they weren't kept broke by horses! And the food was DELICIOUS!

Excellent sessions with the University of QLD 's Sports Psychologist, Jonah Oliver, proved invaluable again, and the Media Training session with the State Squad Publicity Officer, Keran Ainslie, opened the rider’s eyes to the world of mainstream media!

An informative seminar provided by FEI vet, Dr Janine Dwyer, on trot-up and swabbing protocols as well as providing all the drug updates in the sport, was especially important.

A discussion with leading Equine Nutritionist and the Australian Dressage Riders Rep, Elizabeth Owens, was very insightful and mutually beneficial. Riders also had a great session of Pilates and a ‘Team Challenge’ event, which only proved just how competitive riders are, even without their horses!

There was a chance for the Squad riders to meet with the QLD State selectors, Liz Coe, Clem Kelly and Phillipa Poulsen to discuss mutual goals and training issues, and was also a wonderful way to meet the 2009 State Squad sponsors, Calmwind and Equitec Performance Products, finding out more about their wonderful products.

Many members of the 2009 QLD State Squad thanked the QLD Festival of Dressage for making this camp a possibility.

The lovely Beach Road homes at Noosa North Shore Resort	The Dining Room where we ate the delicious food!
The 2009 State Squad during their Pilates session	Some of the 2009 QLD State Dressage Squad members with sponsor Ken Ford

Way to go Queensland , way to go!

December 2008

With Dressage Queensland firmly behind every rider, many could say that it was Queensland ’s turn to shine at the 2008 National Dressage Championships. Arriving in Sydney on “the coldest day in 15 years” was a bit of a shock, but all the Queensland horses took the ever changing temperature in their strides.

Jenny Gehrke & Nicole Magoffin enjoying the atmosphere

QLD Team Meeting

The Queensland contingent was headed by a dedicated Chef d’Equipe in Colin Zeller, who did his best to see every test and help the riders in any way he could. A great camaraderie was formed at the traditional Thursday Night Team meeting, where the Queensland Team members were announced:

The FEI team consisted of:

Intermediate 11 Paula Price and APH True Seville

Intermediate 1 Tor van Den Berge and Florette

Prix St George Jessica Greelish and Riverndell Parador

The EFA Team consisted of:

Elementary Tor Van den Berge and Karingal Anastasia

Medium Jenny Gehrke and Gitane

Advanced Jacqui Huppert and QEB Jingle Bell Swing

Tor Van Den Berge had the kind of competition riders can only dream of. On Karingal Anastasia, 1 st and 3 rd in the Elementary tests for the National Elementary Championship, 1 st and 1 st in the Medium tests for the National Medium Championship, 1 st on Florette, and 2 nd on Fishermans Friend in the National Intermediate 1 Championship, 1 st on Fish and 3 rd on Florette in the National Prix St George Championship and 1 st on Fish in the Australian Prix St George Challenge Final! What can I say? WOW!

Team Van Den Berge!

Jessica Greelish and Riverndell Parador

Jessica Greelish also had a dream comp on her imported horse, Riverndell Parador – winning both Advanced tests for the National Advanced Championship and placing 7 th in the Prix St George.

Paula Price and APH True Seville had another successful campaign, placing 2 nd in the CDN Grand Prix and 4 th in the Intermediate 11.

Jenny Gehrke, on board Jonanne Cotton’s imported mare Gitane, backed up her National Novice Championship from 2 years ago with a 2 nd and a 6 th in the Medium tests for the National Reserve Medium Championship, and a 2 nd and 7 the in the Advanced tests.

Gary Lung and GB Winchester continued their success for the year, with a 2 nd and a 5 th in the Novice tests for the National Reserve Novice Championship.

Gary Lung on GB Winchester

Team Zeller!

Other Queenslanders in the Novice division were Kate Wilson, Ruth White, Karen Crommelin and Tammy Stephens, who all did wonderful tests amongst tough competition. Other Queenslanders with top 10 placings were Jacqui Huppert in the 5.4, Nicole Magoffin in the Grand Prix Kur, Amy Zeller on Leadburn Rotstein in the 3.4, and Victoria Welch on BJ Kaneto Casablanca in the Medium 4.4.

Young Queensland riders making a debut in Sydney were Courtney Barbara, Elliot Patterson and Danielle Dowsett with a top 10 placing in the 2.4. All did themselves and their families proud having qualified for the Australian Championships, and riding their tests so well!

Kate Wilson & Jacqui Huppert

Danielle Dowsett on Remi Rockerfella

To qualify for this event is no easy feat. Riders who wish to compete, supply their best 3 scores at the level they want to ride. The organising committee then average these 3 scores, and the highest 30 scores across the whole country are successfully on the draw.

AND it wasn’t only the QLD riders who shone, Helen Anstee passed her A Level Judges accreditation and Tracey Rathjen and myself passed our B Level accreditation.

On behalf of the Queensland contingent, I would like to thank Dressage QLD for the travel subsidy to every rider and judge candidate, and for the wonderful Queensland shirts and caps. We looked quite the Team down there!

It is an expensive journey but one well worth making. Hope to see more Queenslanders there next year!

CHRISTOPH HESS REPORT

November 2008

Christoph Hess worked for the German Equestrian Federation’s training department since 1978 and is presently Director of Training and Education at the German Federation. He is an FEI “I” Judge for Dressage and Eventing and is actively involved internationally in the education of judges and trainers; has judged and provided commentary for the FEI Young Horse Championships, Stallion shows and the WEG in Aachen .

EFA National in conjunction with Dressage QLD, brought Christoph Hess to Caboolture on 19 th, 20 th and 21 st November.

The clinic was an open clinic with preference given to Squad riders, then coaches and judges. The idea of the clinic was to bring the riders, coaches and judges more onto the same page. Despite the unstable weather, the QLD Clinic had great numbers and a very enthusiastic crowd. It was wonderful to see so many riders, coaches and judges together sharing ideas and willing to open their minds to a real master.

For everyone who attended, it was a marvellous and refreshing clinic.

If I had to think of a motto for the clinic, it would be this: Underneath the rider, the horse should be a happy athlete, and one that wants to work.

Here are a few tips that I took away from the clinic:

On riding

On Developing the Paces

General Tips

On Contact

On Canter Pirouettes

On Passage

On Piaffe

On Thinking Forward

The riders who were lucky enough to get some spots were: Jenny Gehrke, Cheryl Willliams, Nicole Magoffin, Danielle Dowsett, Merrilea Charles, Sally Evans, Shannan and Alex Makauskas, Jessica Greelish, Kaz Roe and myself. All of us came away with much to think about and lots of homework.

A special thanks must go to Chair of Dressage QLD, Karen Herald and Chair of the Australian Dressage Council, Lesley Sullivan for all their hard work and organisation. And thankyou to Sharon Harvey for filming Friday’s Judge/Coach workshop and to Sonja Risa from the RASDEG group for her wonderful photography.  I Hope we will see Christoph back in QLD again one day!

Jenny Gehrke & Gitane working on half steps	Kaz Roe & For Joy having a ‘ Queensland break’
Cheryl Williams & Kings Legend	Nicole Tough & Flavio
Jenny Gehrke & APH Magma	Danielle Dowsett & Remi Rockerfella

International Dressage Forum

August 2008

"Dressage is the gymnastic development of the horse towards collection."

ON August 29th, a QLD contingent made up of Jenny Gehrke, Anita Scampton, Nicole Magoffin, Leasa Stephen, Paula Price, Leasa Murray and myself took off across the skies to the International Dressage Forum, run by the Equine Partnership of Excellence - Dressage New Zealand and Massey University.

With a brilliant panel of experts in Professor Rene Van Weeren (Netherlands), O Level Judge Cara Whitman (Canada) and master trainer, Hubertus Hufendiek (Germany), it was an extremely educational and inspiring trip!

Flying into “Windy Wellington“ was as interesting as promised, but what a beautiful country! A balmy 10 degrees, bright green hills and believe me, PLENTY of sheep!

Stepping into a purpose built equine and agricultural stadium (that felt like stepping into a refrigerator!) had us all rather envious of the New Zealand Governments support of Dressage!

I’m not sure if I can do justice to this forum, but here it goes with an edited version of my notes!

The first sessions were with Professor Rene Van Wereen, a leading Equine scientist and expert in Kinematics and Biomechanics. His sessions were called, The Kinematic Evaluation of the Gaits in Dressage Horses, and The Influence of the Head and Neck on Equine Biomechanics. WOW!

The Kinematic Analysis included the study of the Function of the Back, the Effect of the Saddle and Weight on Movement and the Effect of Differing Head and Neck positions on Movement.

The study confirmed that:

Conclusions

The sessions with O Level Judge Cara Whitman from Canada, were amazingly insightful and included, What International Judges are Looking For, Where it all Ends and a Review of the 2008 Olympic Games! Cara was a wonderful communicator and passionate about dressage. Here are some pearls of wisdom about training and judging from Cara Whitman:

On Training:

On Judging:

Hubertus Hufendiek – Masterclass

These two seperate sessions concentrated on the Development of Gait in Young Horses and Developing Collection. Hubertus was a great communicator and a great trainer and very protective of his riders. No one would mind being his guinea pig!

Here are some points from his sessions...

The rider has to have a plan for:

On the warm-up:

Other useful Tips:

On the Double bridle:

The Goal of Dressage:

Throughout the 2 days were many Panel Discussions. These were practical sessions with horses and all 3 experts to offer their expertise! These were very interesting discussions between the O Level Judge, expert dressage trainer and biomechanical expert!

On the paces:

Rene Van Wereen - Walk and canter are the natural paces of the horse and very inter-related. The trot is very different and the least natural, and the gait we can change the most.

Hubertus Hufendeik – It is very hard to improve the natural walk

Cara Whitman - The canter should have good air time, good activity of the hind leg and a reach of the hindleg to lift the wither

Rene Van Wereen - motion starts in the hind legs and then comes the swing in the back.
Cara Whitman - therefore the judges should not be rewarding the swing of the back WITHOUT good activity

Cara Whitman - The young horse should be rewarded for the natural articulation of the joints

Hubertus Hufendeik - The head and neck must bob in the walk – this is that natural nodding movement of the head and neck in walk. The rider must allow this for the horses natural balance

On thinking forward: (there are many quotes, from all 3 experts!!!)

Cara Whitman - The horse must have natural self-motivation – this is a pre-condition for collection

Hubertus Hufendeik - Horses MUST want to go forward, they must have a good work ethic

Cara Whitman - Always correct the motor first; Everything should be taught and corrected by going forward; EVERYTHING must be built from forward: The horse must want to go forward

On Rolkur

Hubertus Hufendeik - Rolkur is proven to be not physically harmful but it must come from the motor. In the rolkur position, the horses naturally slow down because of bio-mechanics and possibly reduced sight... maybe a good spot for spooky horses?

Cara Whitman - Rolkur is only an element of training. It is a technique, not a training method, and not to be used as a permanent position...

On being behind the verticle:

Hubertus Hufendeik - this is relative to the amount of propulsion coming from the hindleg. I prefer a little bit deep but going forward with an honest connection, than pulling with no self-carriage. The horse must not seek to balance itself on the riders hand. The ideal for sure is nose on the verticle, but this is not always possible in the moment. In training, neck lower but always with activity from the hindleg, with forward intention. BUT the neck must never be broken, and with no contact.

On the connection:

Cara Whitman - the horse should look like it is reaching for the bit, through a swinging back. Correct work comes from the base of the neck. An FEI horse should have a developed base of the neck.

On spooky horses:

Cara Whitman - Spooky horses are high blooded and less attentive, and need patient riders

Hubertus Hufendeik - never up the anti in impulsion if they are tense or inattentive

Cara Whitman - If the horse uses the flight insticnt – stop and stand still – take control back; ask the questions that the horse has to answer.

That’s it from me. I hope I have done this amazing forum justice. A safe, if turbulant, trip home had us all counting the hours before we could get back into the saddle!

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

August 2008

Courtesy of my awesome and generous friends, Linda and Beau Dowsett, I got to experience what the majority of Aussie dressage enthusiasts dream of doing – experience the world centre of dressage – Germany.

In one word…. WOW

An amazingly beautiful country steeped in history, delicious food and passionate about their horses!

Picked up at the Hamburg airport by aussie patriot Robert Schmerglatt, the son of very proud QLDer Linda Schmerglatt. Robert has lived in Germany for nearly 6 years and is an amazingly talented and gifted rider.

Robert was truly wonderful, driving us all around Northern Germany and showing us the amazing dressage barns, shows and sights. Robert rents his own boxes from his trainer, Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen.

We stayed in a little town called Verden, where the Spring Dressage Festival is being held and the World Young Horse Championships! Verden is known in Germany as “the Riders City .” Everywhere you go there are gold horse shoes engraved into the streets, statues and symbols of horses, not to mention the International Horse Museum ! Verden is a scenic riverside town of cobbled streets and thatched roofs, with ancient churches dating back to 1576!

Throughout Northern Germany , the indoor dressage arena replaces the backyard swimming pool and believe me, there are just as many!

We arrived into their 15 degree summer, and froze our butts off for the first 3 days – and then woke into a 35 degree full on summer for the rest of our trip! And the Germans are not so geared up for summer – no air conditioning!!! It was pretty much like visiting Melbourne – the city of 4 seasons in one day!

The Germans are very active people – many opting to ride their old fashioned push bikes to the shops and around town. They don’t wear helmets and there are literally hundreds of them! Most of them retired. The Germans are very proud of their gardens, fruit and veges, world famous sausages and are wonderful bread bakers! They also make delicious ice cream!

The restaurants were amazing and I have never eaten as good! The trick was knowing what you were ordering! Out came the translator book and 45 mins later, Linda and I thought we knew what we were ordering…

The sun was up til 10:30 each night, so we’d cruise back to our hotel around 10pm after a few wines and each night it was a struggle to find the cardboard key thing that is so popular at hotels nowadays!! What is wrong with normal keys?

I can say that it is absolutely terrifying on their autobahns (highways!) There is an OPEN speed limit and the Germans LOVE their cars! Imagine hundreds of BMW’s, Audi’s, Mercedes and Porches flying down the LEFT hand lane doing in excess of 200km per hour and you may have a small idea!!!!!!!! It is scarier than the flight over here! 

As for their horses…….. I am speechless. The majority of Germans are pedantic about having a tidy barn, and they present their horses plaited and immaculate. If my students thought I was fussy before my trip – just wait!

The dressage competitions are staggering and we could certainly learn a thing or two from the best in the world! Especially from their grading system! And talk about spectators! They get hundreds of non-horsey people at a small show! I will never forget the team Advanced competition to music! A quadrille of 4 riders on horses, riding to music. The choregraphy and music was breath taking. Up for grabs is $400 euro, which is roughly $600 aus, and you can certainly understand the crowd interest in this event. It sent shivers up my spine…

At this small show were trade stands, ice cream and sausage vendors, cheese and coffee carts and even fairy floss! As I said, the Germans love their dressage shows!

The arenas for the World Championships are simply ingenuous. Onto a grass surface goes hundreds of rubber mats and onto the rubber mats, goes the sand. Just enough for maximum spring.

If it were not for the terrifying plane journeys, I would love to travel more; but I REALLY hate flying. On our trip over, the plane went through a “random pocket of hot air” and literally dropped, just as our dinner was being served. I never saw my meal again! Wine, coffee and food was plastered to the ceiling of the plane and littered the isle’s, keeping the cabin crew busy for the next hour tidying everything back up! I thought my life was over before I got the chance to experience Germany , and was seriously peeved and terrified! I repeat – I hate flying...

I will never be able to thank Beau and Linda enough for this once in a lifetime opportunity – but I do thank them from the bottom of my soul.

The trip was well worth while. I had the time of my life with an awesome travelling companion in Linda. And not only did I get a chance to experience some awesome shows, I got to see another country and watch the Germans train. I also got to ride some awesome horses!

While I was there, Beau asked me to report back if I found any horses that were worth bringing home. There were 5 worth bringing home, 2 of which I could actually ride!

So Beau and Linda are the proud owners of some new horses! And Beau has given me the ride on one of them! UNBELIEVABLE - I am still pinching myself!

Dante	Flavio
Furst Tyme

I cannot tell you how very nervous i felt, about making the right decision on behalf of other people! It was quite nerve raking! But when I sat on the horses, I just knew - yes this is good and I can work with this one. I just hope I am right!!!!

Chuis, which is bye in German!