The Education of Toti
and the fundamentals of their biomechanics and behav- ior remain unchanged. Gustav Steinbrecht (1808–1885) is a classical
German master. He developed the foundational prin- ciples of German dressage training. His writings were very much appreciated by Nuno Oliveira, who relied on his treatise (The Gymnasium of the Horse) regarding the development of the young horse’s gaits. Steinbrecht,
inspired by la Guérinière, is the author who helped dressage transition from the baroque emphasis (lateral flexibility and extreme sitting collection) to the modern interest in medium and extended gaits in a more hori- zontal balance. Here is some of his most important advice. What to do: “Ride your horse forward and make him
straight.” (Impulsion in a correct lateral balance). How to do it: “
...all [training exer-
cises] follow one another in such a way that the preceding exercise always constitutes a secure basis for the next one. Violations of this rule will always exert payment later on; not only by a triple loss of time but very frequently by resis- tances, which for a long time if not forever interfere with the relation- ship between horse and rider.” We follow Steinbrecht’s advice
Left counter shoulder-in (Toti going right) that demonstrates the opening of the shoulders and the complete uprightness of the body. Cedar is leading him with the right rein while the left rein is maintaining the angle. Cedar and Toti are stepping together.
today: he repeatedly insisted that training consists of teaching the horse how to push himself from the back legs (“schwung”) from nearly no power up to the maxi- mum and back (but never to noth- ing). We apply this theory to Toti’s work. Like many Warmbloods of the modern type, he is strong, with a very big step, a lot of natural suspension and a degree of lateral stiffness (compared, for instance, with the Iberian horses we breed). This style of movement can be the base for problems when combined with the excitement of riding in new or public places.
Right counter shoulder-in (Toti going left) taken a fraction of a second later than the one to the left. This shows the opening of the left shoulder and the crossing of the right hind leg. The bandages in different colors show the nearly synchronized timing of the diagonal pairs. This form of the walk prepares collection and produces the full swinging of the back. The reins are barely acting but Toti knows what he has to do.
38 September/October 2016
The What and How for Toti Toti needs to learn how to modu- late his tempo as well as his effort. Modern German riders call it “the quick hind leg.” The best way to achieve that goal is to follow la Guérinière/Steinbrecht/Olivei- ra’s model of lateral work at very pronounced angles, because of its effectiveness in suppling the joints of the horse in all directions, alter- nating with forward work on one track. By reducing stiffness and increasing obedience to the aids,
Photos by Kim Taylor and Shelley Giacomini
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68