(Wisconsin), Mickayla Frederick (Iowa), Kristin Counter- man (Virginia), Tillie Jones (Nebraska), Allison Nemeth (New Jersey), Bebe Davis (Florida), Natalie Pai (Virginia), Kerri- gan Gluch (Michigan), Allie Hopkins (Texas), Asia Rupert (Connecticut), Claire McNulty (Michigan), Lilly Simons (New York), Cassidy Gallman (California), Molly Paris (North Caro- lina), Anna Weniger (North Carolina), Nicholas Hansen (Penn- sylvania) and Lindsey Holleger (Georgia), and auditors Julia Barton (Kansas), Jessica Fan (Texas), Chloe Hatch (Florida), Bug Karls (Colorado), Jordan Lockwood (Tennessee) and Kylie McKereghan (Oregon). The clinic expanded on dressage fundamentals, remind- ing the participants of the comprehensive education they’d already received from their coaches at home on topics such as core strength and fitness, timing and understanding a horse’s hind legs, shoulder and overall connection. One example of Steffen Peter’s instruction was how he brings out the best the horse can offer: “It’s about the expression of the movements. If I say, ‘I can add expression to that movement by going straight after a few steps of, for example, the half pass by allowing the horse to be deeper, rounder or longer in his frame, whatever he needs for that expression,’ I will do that. Then I will find a better half pass.” Several of the young attendees acknowledged that, in
addition to receiving proficient coaching, parental support also bolstered their self-confidence. Here we share three of these young riders’ thoughts on their sessions.
Kristin Counterman Fifteen-year-old Kristin and KWPN gelding Three Times (by Jazz) were named Reserve National Champions at the 2015 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in the Fédéra- tion Equestre Internationale (FEI) Junior Division and fifth at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in the Junior Division Freestyle test. A U.S. Pony Club member with a C2 dressage specialty rating, they are moving up to the Young Rider division in 2016. At this year’s Horsemastership week, Kristin learned about adjustability. “That was a big thing in the canter pirou- ettes and all the collected canter work. I had been trying to improve the energy and adjustability in the pirouettes. I was aware that he knew what to do, but at the clinic I gained a better understanding of how to make sure that I’m the one who’s in control. I learned that I really have to keep the energy in the hind leg. The exercises I worked through with both Steffen [Peters] and George [Williams] really opened my eyes to how much more adjustability we need for the Young Rider level,” Kristin recounts. “When I prepared for the pirouette and then began the stride to turn, I needed to know I could get out of it at any
OPPOSITE PAGE: Kristin Counterman working with Steffen Peters as she rides her KWPN gelding Three Times. RIGHT: KWPN Uno and his rider Alexander Dawson receive help from Robert Dover.
Warmbloods Today 17
“This was our best clinic yet,” commented Robert Dover. “We have wonderful youth coming up the levels and I was blown away by their talent.”
stride, and make sure Three Times was listening to me, ready to do anything I ask of him. He tends to want to do the pirou- ettes on auto-pilot, so they would get slower and I was losing that adjustability. But now I know what to do within the pirouette and in the collected canter work in order to keep the energy.” At home she trains with coach and top rider Lauren Spri-
eser. The two met five years ago when Lauren was invited to coach the kids at Kristin’s pony club and the pair has been working together since. Living a little over an hour away from Lauren in Virginia, Kristin drives four days a week during the school year for lessons with Lauren and during the summer is a working student at Lauren’s farm for one or two weeks at a time. About a year ago, Kristin began to ride Three Times, who was kept at Lauren’s farm. The horse’s owner noticed the connection between the young rider and her horse and encouraged Kristin to try out for the NAJYRC, where they did very well. Highly impressed with the pair’s performance and bond, the horse’s owner figured out a way to make sure Three Times stayed with Kristin for a longer time through Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids Horse Donation Program. Kristin’s grati- tude is clear. “None of these amazing opportunities would be possible without Lauren, Caroline Stephens, the former owner of Three Times, Lendon Gray and my parents. I cannot thank them enough.” During the clinic, she says, many of Lauren’s lessons echoed in her mind. “There were a lot of things being done there that reinforced what I’ve been learning with Lauren at home. It’s really great to know we’re on the right track.”
Alexander Dawson Alexander, also 15, lives in Brighton, Wisconsin. He won the 2015 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals 14-18 riding Lynda Chesser’s KWPN Shamrock H (by Metall). He won the 2013
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