USDF Region 1
Pendragon, Gabriel and Me
A year ago I applied for a training Grant being offered through the Dressage Foundation. I was thrilled when notified that I was the Region 1 Dressage Foundation Grant recipient. My partner in Dressage is Pendragon, a 14 year old Hanoverian whom I bought as an immature 4 year old just imported from Germany. Since moving up to Second Level, our scores and comments indicated that Peppie needed to develop more push from behind and show steadier self-carriage. At a recent clinic with Gabriel, I was able to feel Peppie carry himself forward to a soft contact. I felt that if I could train with Gabriel Armando on a regular basis that our performance would improve. The Dressage Foundation Grant gave me this opportunity. We began training in March after Gabriel and several of his students returned from competitions on the Florida circuit.
Our destination was the attractive Black River Farm in Ringoes, New Jersey. There are several barns on the property and an Olympic size indoor arena as well as large outdoor arenas. Many of Gabriel's students greeted me when I arrived with Peppie. They asked about my Dressage background and were curious to know why I had chosen to train with Gabriel. It was evident that these people were not only his students but also his friends. They appeared proud that I had chosen their instructor as the beneficiary of the Dressage Foundation Grant.
The cool wind added to Peppie's eagerness to get to work as we pranced our way into the huge Dressage arena. My thoughts ranged from, "Oh boy, I hope we don't embarrass ourselves in front of all these people" to "what if Gabriel thinks I'm not good enough to be his student." Gabriel was on horseback but took time to greet us and told us to begin with walking and stretching. After sometime at walk, Gabriel invited me to speak with him. I was very nervous but his quiet manner and smile put me at ease. I was asked to explain my goals, how often I ride and if I do my own training, and what problems I felt were keeping us from achieving these goals. Gabriel's next comments were a delightful surprise. He said he was honored that I chosen him as my Foundation Grant instructor. He expressed his realization that the Grant would limit our lessons and he wished for us to accomplish as much as possible from this time together. He said he would not waste my time by taking things slowly like in a clinic and that he would want for me not to waste his time either. He went on to explain that his students know they are expected to follow through on instructions and to show improvement with each lesson.
Our lesson began with a forward posting trot. Right away Gabriel pointed out that I needed to allow more stretch by using longer reins with elastic elbows and lighter hands. He continued to say that the horse must be able to relax his back and stretch his topline in warm-up. He pointed out that Peppie avoids reaching forward to the bit by holding his neck stiff and keeping his jaw tight. Gabriel also said that Peppie's lower neck has gotten too thick because of the way he holds himself. He advised that I must change my perception of how Peppie should carry himself towards the contact. We continued with stretching exercises on a circle. I was told to use inside leg to keep Peppie off his shoulder while bending him deep to the inside. The outside rein was allowed to be slack to encourage the bend. I could feel Peppie bring his back up and reach towards the bit. Tracking left proved to be more difficult. Peppie resists stretching his outside right side. I was instructed to occasionally ask for counter bending and then lightly ask for left bending. This process would equalize the muscles on both sides and cause Peppie to reach down and forward with his neck. Gabriel interjected that it would be helpful for Peppie if I would post the trot for most of each session. He also said that when I run into difficulty with a movement I should go into a forward posting trot to reestablish the soft connection. We moved on to canter work. I was asked to go out to the rail and demonstrate a medium canter. Gabriel said, " that is not a medium canter, I want to see more canter, let him go". With a few taps of the whip I moved Peppie up to a big canter down the long side. Gabriel advised that I must insist on this much forward at home or else it would result in not enough difference between our mediums and collected in the show arena. I mentioned my concern about Peppie picking his head up when I ask for a very forward canter. I explained that I've been trying to maintain a steady contact so have not asked for such a big response. Gabriel instructed that I must first get the GO; make him responsive to the request to move out. Then during the forward canter I must work the reins back and forth to relax his neck and have him seek the bit. We gave this a try and it proved to be difficult. The process of encouraging the stretch in a forward canter meant that I must keep him on the track with my seat and legs. Gabriel pointed out that this exercise would also help Peppie develop the proper neck muscles and increase his awareness of my commands.
The next issue was Peppie's reluctance to cross over his hind legs during lateral movements. Peppie escapes the crossover by bulging with his shoulders to the outside. The first problem Gabriel said is that I do not have enough forward trot. On the ground, Gabriel demonstrated how the horse must cross over its legs while keeping its shoulders parallel. He explained that I must control the shoulders with my outside leg and half halts with the outside rein. He suggested holding my whip on Peppie's outside shoulder to better control his habit of escaping with the shoulder. We did a leg yield again with not much improvement. At this junction, he had us stop work and talked about my role as a trainer. Gabriel was adamant that my horse has much ability but I have not been demandin enough to achieve the proper results. I need to expect more from him not just settle for what he wants to give me. He said I let the exercises pass over me and nothing happens, as a result Peppie has learned to ignore my requests. He explained that I must always get a response even if it is the wrong one. It is Peppie's responsibility to give me 100% of his attention. Gabriel continued to say that my commands have to be firmer and I need to know what response I want from my horse. He pointed out that sometimes it looks like I am begging Peppie to do something instead of telling him. Even though these words stung at the time I realized that my instructor was right. His straightforward, honest approach is why Gabriel's students exhibit such loyalty and why they succeed in the show arena.
Next few sessions consisted of some work on the requirements and movements in the Second Level tests. Our execution of shoulder-in and haunches-in was adequate but Gabriel said to improve my scores I would need more expression and more positioning. He had me bring Peppie facing vertical to the wall and ask him to move off my leg sideways. Peppie was resistant so Gabriel took a whip and tapped his hind legs each time I asked for the sideways. Peppie got the message quickly. We were then able to produce a shoulder-in and Travers with better positioning and forward. We moved on to evaluating canter-walk transitions. The goal was to increase Peppie's self-carriage in the downward phase. I was instructed to use stronger seat to keep the impulsion and then half halt to encourage Peppie to bring his hind legs under himself during the transition. It became clear that my timing of these aids needed to be quicker. Gabriel counted out the pattern, one was the aid to have Peppie sit deeper on his haunches, two was the half halt to have him become aware of the transition, three was the downward to walk. It was made clear that I must keep the forward motion into the walk. We practiced this several times in different spots so Peppie would not anticipate the transition. The down transitions were cleaner and I could tell Peppie was working hard and was tuned to my aids.
Nothing seemed to escape Gabriel's attention. He recognized another of Peppie's maneuvers to avoid the work. At times Peppie will get strong and pull me off my seat in order to evade collection. I was told to correct this by asking for more GO and to keep working him towards a soft deeper contact. It would take hard work and concentration to reproduce at home what I learned from these lessons but I was determined to give it my best effort.
Memorial weekend I was housed with the Armando group at the Horse Park of New Jersey for the three-day event. It was our first show for the season. I felt confident that Peppie was traveling in a better frame with softer contact. I had a private lesson with Gabriel on Friday evening. He was pleased with our improved downward transitions and Peppie's increased self-carriage. But he said the Travers and shoulder-in still need more angle and bend. We would need to continue developing these movements at home. Over the weekend I discovered another admirable side of Gabriel. As an instructor, he displayed a dedication to his students that I've never before witnessed. His sincere desire for our success was evident as he schooled us before each ride and in his comments afterwards.
Our show results reflected improvement in many areas and we placed Fifth in our Second Two test. But more important I've gained confidence in my ability to train Peppie. During schooling at home I've noticed positive changes in Peppie's performance. He becomes rounder over his topline quicker and remains soft in the contact, exhibiting increased stability in self-carriage. The trot work has improved suspension and expression. The lateral exercises display respect and attention to my aids. I know that what I've learned from Gabriel is correct and I plan to continue training with him. I am positive that in the show arena our scores will continue to improve. The comments should reflect the changes in Peppie's development. Diligently training Peppie in this manner will also be beneficial to his health and continued soundness. I can look forward to many years of usefulness and fun from my equine partner.
My thanks to the Dressage Foundation for allowing me to have this special opportunity to train with a remarkably talented and dedicated instructor.
Beth Ann Adams