relaxed and still once he reacted. He stressed that the rider must create a reaction. He also talked about down- ward transitions, saying that they must happen as instantly as possible, depend- ing on the horse’s
excerpts and tidbits of wisdom from the riding lessons. Even- tually USDF will have snippets of video from the conference posted on their E-Trak Learning site at
usdf.org/e-trak/ and video coverage is available by subscription from Dressage-
Clinic.com. First out in the arena each day was Annie Morris and
the six-year-old elastic bay gelding Julia’s Magic. Annie is a USDF gold medalist and a USDF certified instructor through Fourth Level. Stephen started by evaluating the horse’s conformation and gaits. As he watched the horse go in his working paces, he emphasized the importance of a true four-beat forward walk, a regular two-beat trot with some over stride and a rhythmical three-beat balanced canter followed by a small moment of suspension—all correct in this case for the horse’s stage of training. Stephen also mentioned the proper natural outline of the young horse’s frame and his good temperament. He felt the horse was well started. He worked with the pair on checking, developing and
increasing reactions by examining their transitions. He shared that it is the little gear changes between and within the paces that keeps everything fresh and alive in a horse’s training. “Transitions, transitions, transitions are the name of the game. Transitions from one pace to another and transi- tions within all of the paces are very important,” he said. He instructed Annie to create “electric reactions” in asking for the transitions, then to reward her mount by sitting
state of balance. “When the rider produces a downward transition by momentarily strength- ening their position to influence the horse’s hind leg and then closing the hand on the forward contact, then the horse must learn to take the weight to the hind legs and come down a gear. If the horse doesn’t do this and it drags on through the transition, there will never be a half halt. So
this is the rider’s golden opportunity to create correct reac- tion from the driving aids and the controlling aids,” Stephen explained. Highlights from the second session of the day with Lisa
Pierson and the powerful light bay Baryshnikov were working on submission, helping the horse to relieve tightness in his neck so that his poll was the highest point, and making sure that he would halt obediently. Stephen had the pair work on half halts on a circle. “The brakes must work and the rider must know that they work, so that they can keep going and not hold back. The accelerator must also work,” he explained. By the second day of the clinic Lisa, a USDF silver medal-
ist, L program graduate and USDF certified instructor, had Baryshnikov more relaxed and lighter in his way of going.
Opposite page: Annie Morris and Julia’s Magic, a six-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Don Juan, worked on their canter with Stephen Clarke. Left top: Lisa Pierson on Baryshnikov, a 14-year-old Hackney gelding by Forewood Commander, warm- ing up before her ride with Stephen. Left bottom: Young rider (Helen) Claire McNulty on Reel Adventure, a 14-year-old Hanove- rian by Rotspon, borrowed this horse for the clinic. Right top: Shelly Francis and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by DeNiro, Danilo, were complimented for their excellent work at the Grand Prix. Right bottom: Californian D’Re Stergios on her eight-year- old Hanoverian mare Sarumba by Sir Donnerhall I worked a lot on strengthening her half-passes.
Warmbloods Today 23
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