The Gifted Fund

Marianne Rutherford

USDF Region 3

The Gifted Fund

My training plan, for this week of training, was to become an effective rider at Fourth Level Test 3/Prix St. Georges. I also have a long term goal of being a successful FEI level rider. The five days of training was to include 2 mounted lessons daily focusing on longitudinal suppleness and collection necessary for the canter pirouette and tempi changes. Each day would also include classroom time linking theory to riding through the Training Scale Pyramid and critiquing video clips of my rides and others.

The first day dawned and both Locero and I were ready. Jean had decided that the morning lesson would consist of riding through sequential parts of Fourth Level Test 3 and Prix St. Georges. After warming up, we began with a collected canter to a halt (the first movement in both tests) and no not just one. We continued to work through the first several parts of each test which included collected, medium and extended trot and shoulder-in. Two exercises which helped both Locero and me were: A). Medium trot to a single volte into collected trot then an Extended trot to a single volte back to collected trot. This helped me feel the transition back to collection and encouraged Locero to have more impulsion. Jean had us do these transitions in various places so that Locero would not begin to anticipate. B. Another exercise that we did to encourage collection with impulsion was trot shoulder-in to a halt (still shoulder-in) back to a trot shoulder-in. We would then change rein and repeat the same exercise.

Next, it was time for my theory lesson.. After reviewing and critiquing my lesson, we looked at the training scale and rider's position scale. It was obvious to me that my lack of relaxation and flexibility was having an adverse effect on my horses freedom and suppleness. To illustrate, Jean had me walk like a horse (yes, on all four "legs") in shoulder in however my rider was tense and not asking me to bend. Well, I could feel why my shoulder-in was only a neck-in!! A light-bulb moment….my horse is only capable of doing if I ask correctly. The time we spent daily looking and talking about the details of my riding enabled me to focus on both my strengths and weaknesses as a rider.

My second ride included serpentines, three and four loop, with exaggerated changes in bend at both the walk and trot. The idea was for me to be aware of exactly which bend I was asking for. Another exercise that made me focus on exactly what I was asking: while walking on a 20 meter circle I would ask for a turn on the forehand to change direction. I focused on making sure that my inside leg was forward, heel down and ever so slightly bumping against Locero's side (in exactly the correct place) As I relaxed and became more flexible, so did my horse. I began to feel just how much my body language influenced Locero's suppleness and impulsion.

As each day progressed, we made our way through the two tests. My horse and I started to become real dance partners. There was only an occasional stepping on toes! The five days were incredibly enlightening. By the end of our last lesson, I knew that my goal could become reality. I now felt equipped to work to a higher standard between weekly lessons.

As we worked through many different exercises; I found each had a common thread. That thread was executing each part with precision and relaxation. At Fourth Level and beyond it is no longer enough to half-halt before a turn or beginning a figure; it is not enough to fix a misguided step. The rider must ride with the complete figure in mind (half-pass, shoulder-in, pirouettes, etc.) and be focused on each foot fall of the horse. Each stride means thinking: am I sitting straight, am I relaxed and giving (or half-halting), is my horse straight, is he stepping under, is he on my aids and ready to do what ever I ask? I must be able to be totally focused and at the same time totally supple. My horse emulates my ability.

In a perfect world, I would continue to ride with an instructor on a daily basis! I am a middle school teacher; so, that is not reality for me. I do feel that I am better equipped to keep myself on track between weekly lessons. I am very thankful to the Dressage Foundation for affording me this incredible opportunity. I know that I now hold my riding to a much higher standard; therefore, I am progressing at a more consistent rate.