Anky and Salinero

Isabell and Satchmo

Steffen and Ravel

Watching the Masters with the Fireside crew

February 4-6 was the Dressage Masters at WEF.  It was very exciting to watch the top riders in the world compete.  Steffen had great rides and his horse just keeps getting better and better.  Anky was the only rider to have a “clean” freestyle, but was not my favorite of the night.  Isabell Werth was inspiring to watch and Satchmo is unbelievable in person, what a horse!  We were very excited to recieve a “thumbs up” from the top three riders, yay!

Kyra

JJ Tate riding for Kyra

Kyra Kyrklund Symposium

Gretchen invited me to join her and her friends to watch the Dressage Masters Symposium with Kyra Kyrklund.  She wanted many riders to fix their elbow position.  The elbow must be at a 90 degree angle and to help the rider acheive this they can use a strap attached to the stirrup leathers to help “hold” their elbow in the correct possition.  She also had many riders hold their whip horizantally through both hands.  This help the riders become aware of unsteady hands and helped them balance their hands properly.  She rode many corner exercises with the horses to help control the horses shoulders so the hind end could line up to the front legs.  She said that the knee angle of the rider should point to the horses mouth, and you should use the horses’ down step to influence the movement, and you need to sit on the hind wheel.

January 30-31 we had our first Conrad Schumacher clinic.  The first day was beautiful and we had a few auditors watching our training sessions.  The day started off for me with Pip.  Pip started out a little sticky and we couldn’t seem to find the rhythm in the trot.  Conrad quickly helped us out with our warming up and had us ride more forward and back transitions in the canter in order to help free Pip up.  This is what he needed.  He was much better in the trot work and gave me a great feeling at the end.  The second horse of mine to go was Anakin.  Anakin worked very well and we did some walk cavelletti work to help the walk march more forward and in front of the leg.  He had a few great medium trots and some wonderful canter walk transitions!  Next up to go in my group was Nicole and Oxford.  Conrad had them work on a lot of loosening up work so neither her or the horse would lock against each other.  The second day was a wash out.  There was much rain, and even talk of calling it a day in the morning.  However the rain let up and we were able to work a few horses.  Stewart Underhill was able to work most of his horses and I only worked Oxford.  Conrad was able to give me some great training tips on how to work Oxford so he would become easier to ride for Nicole.  Since the clinic Oxford has gotten much better and it is up to this next Conrad clinic to see if I did my homework successfully!

I went to watch the Grand Prix for the Kur on Friday after working the horses.  As I was waiting for the class to start I saw Silverwood owner Lisa Froehlig on Wolfie warming up for their class the following day.  The Grand Prix had many promising pairs, but many of the horses were affected by the atmosphere and showed much tension.  I hope to see these horses relax as the season progresses.  Ashley Holtzer was a real highlight, the only rider to break 70%.   The next day I returned with Stewart and Kelly to watch the Kur.  Ashley Holter and Pop Art were the clear winners, and had a very exciting freestyle.  I loved the canter on the spot to piaffe!

Lisa and Wolfie

Reflection

Half Steps with Henk

Mirror

Lesson with Henk van Bergen

Canter Pirouette

On Wednesday, January 20th, I recieved a text from JJ Tate, letting me know there was an opening in the Henk van Bergen clinic being held at Jennifer Baumerts place.  I jumped at the opprotunity, and was able to trailer (5 min down the rode!) on Thursday for a lesson with Henk.  I explained to Henk that we had just arrived to Florida from Wisconsin, and Pip had only been ridden once since arriving.  Henk said that was not a problem, and we must only work within the horses ability.  He said that he would watch me warm up and ride my normal way and only speak up if there was a problem.  We could not fix anything in a day, but he could give me some tips and tell me what I need to work on.  We made it through the warm up and then he stopped and asked me who my trainer was.  I told him the most consistent trainer I have had was Conrad Schumacher, and he replied, ”I thought that warm-up looked familiar!”  I went through my trot routine of shoulder-ins, voltes, and renver, then into more collected trot to passage.  This is where Henk stepped in.  Pip likes to raise his neck when starting the more collected movements, and to try to avoid this problem he made me more aware of the connection before the transition.  Make sure the horse is where you want him before you ask for the transition, and then ask for it.  If you come to a issue where they stiffen again, stay in the movement until you are able to supple them, and then go out of it.  We did some passage piaffe transitions and were able to get the piaffe more active and on the spot.  Henk was pleased with the regularity of the transitions in and out.  Yay!  Then we went on to the canter pirouette work, and worked on the same issues, keeping the horse more supple and relaxed in the ultra collected work.  Pip was never stresses and we were able to get a lot out of him.  He was a very kind, and encouraging instructor.  Thanks to Stewart Underhill for taking great photos!

2010 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference

After going to bed at 4:30 in the morning, I decided to wake up at 8:00am and go watch the Trainers Conference.  I missed the first ride, but was able to see the others.  Henk van Bergen was the clinician.  His ideas were very classical and very horse-friendly.  He would say make your corrections forward, and don’t destroy the rhythm.  He was good at describing feel, one example would be: how do you tell someone to close the horse up “a little bit?”  What is “a little bit?”  If you put your finger in the door, and then close the door “a little bit” then you know how much is a “little bit.”  It was refreshing to start the Florida trip watching quality horses and riders.

Getting ready to leave Silverwood

Pip, Anakin and Oxford, ready to go!

Silverwood Farm, January 17 2010

On Sunday, January 17, 2010, we loaded up the trailers and left for Florida.  It was a two day trek, with an overnight stop in Chattanooga, TN.  Horses arrived late Monday night (or early Tuesday morning), and were quickly settled into their new digs.  All horses arrived safely, and with no problems!

Florida Arena

amandajohnsondressage.com will keep you updated with our adventures in Florida!  We are leaving Sunday, January 17th!  So, check back often for updates, photos and video!