|
Klaus
Balkenhol Seminar
|
|
- Note: Klaus Balkenhol talks from
"stream of conscienceness" while teaching, with many
comments directed to the auditors. As a result, the comments made
during a ride do not necessarily apply to the particular rider. Often,
Klaus was addressing faults common to many riders at that level.
Day One
Opening Remarks: Horses must perform from joy and
not subservience. Elasticity and calmness require adequate muscle
strength. The horse must never be asked for more than he is able to
give.
Regular attention must be given to the horse’s
mouth. It is the part most influenced by the reins, and the most
sensitive part of the horse. The mouth and teeth must be checked for
sharp edges, bite problems, etc. Excess noseband pressure puts
pressure on the poll. If the noseband MUST be tight, then something
has gone wrong in the early training of the horse and work must go
back to the basics.
In the first 2 years under saddle, the horse should
be trained in a versatile manner which includes jumping and trail so
that the horse is prepared both mentally and physically for the
specialized work of dressage.
Tack must be checked regularly because the horse’s
body is changing due to muscling, fitness and growth.
- Young Horses
Jan Ebeling on Feliciano, a 6 y.o. Westfalian Stallion
Mette Rosencranz on Coco Belize, a 6 y.o. Swedish Stallion
- Lower Level Horses
Charlotte Bredahl on Lanka, a 7 y.o. Dutch Gelding
Jil Walton (Event Rider) on Del Mar, a 13 y.o. Swedish Gelding
It is better to ride 5
one-tempi changes well, than to continue on and ride 9 one-tempi
changes finishing poorly.
The rider’s mood is important. The rider should not ride if there is
undue stress or there are time constraints. It is better to just turn
the horse out into the paddock. The horse mirrors the rider’s mood.
- Mid Level Horses
Guenter Seidel on Metropolitan, a 6 y.o. Dutch Stallion
Jo Moran on Luxor, a 7 y.o. Dutch Gelding
- General Comments and Question
and Answer Session
Should you teach piaffe or passage first?
Do you prefer mares or geldings?
What suggestions can you make for a horse that
doesn’t want to stand still?
- Intermediaire I
Chelsey Sibley on Ijsselmeer, 10 y.o. Dutch Stallion
- 4th Level / PSG
Kathleen Raine on Lord Glendale, 7 y.o. Dutch Gelding
- PSG
Leslie Morse on Kingston, 9 y.o. Dutch Stallion
The easiest movements are
sometimes the most difficult.
- Intermediaire II
Debbie McDonald on Brentina
- Grand Prix
Steffen Peters on Grandeur
- Grand Prix Special
Christine Traurig on Etienne. Klaus, and the auditors,
were speechless as Christine rode her Olympic mount. They were truly
poetry in motion.
- Day Two
The rider must be sensitive to the horse’s state of mind, taking
care not to overtax him. Stress from work, an audience and applause
will likely make the horses behave differently today than yesterday.
- Day Two Reports on Same Pages as Day One
- Final Comments Questions:
The driving aids into the hands must maintain a consistent
connection in order for the horse to stay round. The horse must be
driven to the hand and accept the hand, with the neck position in
relation to the horse’s back.
Question: Do you prefer long-backed or short-backed horses?
Answer: Short-backed hgorses tend to be more stable and to be able
to carry more weight. However, their backs tend to be tighter and
have less schwung, and they may go wide behind in extensions.
Longer-backed horses travel more fluidly and can reach forward
without interfering, but are harder to collect and their backs take
longer to strengthen. Klaus himself prefers a longer-backed horse,
while the other riders were pretty much evenly divided. Klaus says
it really comes down to a matter of personal taste.
|
™