
Text by Sue Weakley, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Sue Stickle - DAD
Weather can take center stage in Devon, Pennsylvania, in late September, but on Thursday night the audience packing the stands in the Dixon Oval arena didn’t seem to mind the threatening, black clouds or the torrential downpour turning to steady rain. They were there to see the 2025 Masterclass with Ingrid Klimke.
Klimke's Signature Cavaletti Work
Klimke did not disappoint as three groups of two riders each improved their skills on a variety of horses under her watchful eye. The two three-day eventing riders, two dressage riders on small tour horses moving up the levels, and two horses working toward the Grand Prix tackled different skillsets—all with the use of Klimke’s signature cavaletti exercises. She uses them to help horses gain muscle, improve rhythm and supple joints thus proving her mantra that “every horse will benefit from working with cavaletti.”
First up, Isabelle Bosley riding 8-year old Oldenburg bred Conner (by Casiro x Concetto) and 5* eventer Hanna Sue Hollberg aboard 13-year old KWPN bred Hachi (by Cardento x Carthino Z) rode through several exercises to promote improved rhythm, focus and having the horse “on their seat.”
Afterward, Bosley said she appreciated Klimke’s guidance in suppling the horses while helping them remain relaxed while building their strength. Hollberg said she especially liked the exercise to teach young horses the flying change.
Athleticism
Next up were FEI dressage rider Jessica Jo (JJ) Tate riding 11-year old Hanoverian Denali (by Don Nobless x Scolari) and German-born Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin aboard 10-year old Danish bred Zaphir (by Zodiac x Quattro).
Tate said her takeaway from the Masterclass was that Klimke’s exercises created more athleticism in the horses and they brought out the best in the horses without stress or pressure. “I think it was a beautiful example of correct, positive riding.”``
Tools in the Box
Next in the ring were FEI dressage rider Lauren Chumley aboard 9-year old Lusitano Maestre (by Navalheiro x Rubi) and International Grand Prix dressage rider Shannon Stevens on Lider, whom she has been riding for only two weeks.
Their cavaletti exercises promoted good marching rhythm at the walk and collected walk. As they moved on to exercises aimed toward the horses moving toward the Grand Prix including canter zig-zags, lines of tempi changes, and piaffe and passage, Klimke directed them to use the exercises to allow the horses to ease into the movements before increasing difficulty.
Afterward, Stevens praised Klimke’s focus on the dressage training scale and the use of proper stretching at the beginning and end of the gymnastic riding session. Chumley thanked Klimke for adding tools to her training toolbox to help her horses improve and move up the levels.
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Related Links
Brett Parbery Masterclass at Devon 2024: On Mental Relaxation and the Modern Dressage Frame
Cathrine Dufour Masterclass in Devon: "The Magic of Inspiration"
Sabine Schut-Kery Masterclass: Forward Thinking and Simplifying the Movements