Michael Klimke and Ulf Moller Share Wisdom at 2017 British Dressage National Convention

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2017 British Dressage National Convention

Ulf Moller and Michael Klimke were the keynote speakers at the 2017 British Dressage National Convention held at Hartpury College on 25 - 26 November 2017. Speaking to a full house at Hartpury College the trainers shares their knowledge with an eager audience, explaining their methods by instructing a string of demo riders.

The crowds gathered at Hartpury to watch yhese two German trainers talk through their methods for developing horses from youngsters through to Grand Prix

Here are a few of the key points put forward by the top training duo from Germany:

- The corners are our friend not our enemy.
- Training means mistakes are allowed to happen… when you’re perfect you don’t need a trainer
- We must find a language to talk to the horse in, be effective with your aids.
- It is normal that one side is good and the other side is a bit difficult but to straighten you horse on both sides is very important.
- In training always ask the horse the questions, with bending for instance, I ask the horse to bend and then I ask the horse to stay there.
- A key word is balance. When the horse is in balance he can do the flying change, the lateral work and the advanced collected work.
- Don’t try to ride like someone, take what you learn and try it out at home. See what works for you to develop your own style.
- Every horse is an individual – we should follow what is good for them not make them whatever it is we want.
- A rider has a lot of influence over the young horse and so as the horse gets older the aids should get less and the instructions become more invisible. It still means that the horse has to follow the weight of all of the individual aids – the hands, seat, voice and legs – but the aids are a lot less.
- With a tense horse start in the stretching like a young horse… first comes relaxation then comes engagement.
- When you are in a 20 x 60 it’s a working place, don’t let the horse have a buck and a jog in the walk in the working place you can do that in a jumping arena.
- The basic jump in the canter is the platform from which you start all of the other work. Canter in the way you want for four weeks! It has to become normal for the horse.
- We need 100% at home so that you get 80% at the show. You have to know your horse’s limits and abilities.
- Ride with feel, you must be sure the horse is in front of your leg, you must feel if the horse is stronger on one side too.
- Ride effectively with your legs and make the horse feel good about himself. He has to be proud if he can do five steps he can do 15.
- Short periods of work are enough for the horse to learn.

Continuing from the first day, a few of the main ideas touched on the second day were:

- Dressage is working with small details, when you get a seven what can you do to get an eight? You have to work and play to find out what you can improve.
- It’s important that you give the horse confidence. You have to support him with both your legs and your seat.
- Sport means we must make a show and we must present, the judges are not judging feeling they can only see the five minute test and they only judge what they see.
- Ride the test at home so you can get the right warming up feeling for your horse. I (Michael Klimke) think that most tests are won in the warming up.
- Practice the same things at home as you do in your warm up, this will give the horse security. Don’t think or change anything.
- Always ask for more in training, over do things so it’s much easier to do it all in the tests.
- Go back to previous exercises if the horse is trying too hard or doesn’t understand and then move forward again.
- Warm up – working – stretching is a good routine to follow when you’re working your horse.
- After the horse works always stretch him long and don’t worry if he goes on the forehand. It’s important for the horse to go around and relax. When you feel the horse is stretching and relaxed you go home with a happy feeling and the horse goes to bed with a happy feeling.
- [On half halts/transitions] the principle of transitions is always the same, you bring the horse back and then you go forward. After working on the half halts always remember to go forward before you give the horse a break.
- If the rider thinks ‘I cannot do it’ then give the horse to an experienced rider to help him learn. We aren’t alone, ask for help from others. One rider is good in hand, one rider is good with changes – work together.
- Straightness is important. Because the horse’s hips are slightly wider than the shoulder we have to be careful keep the shoulder in front. Ride out of the corner with the shoulder slightly to the inside to develop the straightness and the thoroughness, use the corner to balance the horse and automatically you get control.
- [On corners] the corner is quarter of the volte, if you learn to ride your corner first then you can already ride part of the volte properly.
- Focus on giving young horses the time they need to develop.
- [On flying changes] it takes between one month and three months to teach the flying changes. Sometimes it takes even takes six months but every horse can do a flying change so some learn quicker but don’t think you can go wrong by trying.
- Ride with a correct seat because only out of a correct seat can you give the correct aids
- Don’t die in harmony and prettiness, when it comes to it and your horse needs support don’t be afraid to help him.
- It’s key for the mental state of the horse that he has variety and that the work is not boring, especially during the winter months try to do some jumping classes and cavaletti.

Text by British Dressage