Hans Peter Minderhoud and 5 year old ZiZi Top have a few shaky moments in a dressage test -- posted on COTH. The rider's handling of the situation is something worth studying! The use of reward, the outside rein, the reassurance, the avoidance of confrontation while encouraging forwardness. I love the way the horse's eye stays soft -- the rider does nothing to exacerbate the situation...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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Unlike what I did in the arena during my lesson today. *sigh*. Near the end, in the downward canter-trot transition she was totally resisting and flinging her head up in the air and ignoring my inside leg (REALLY pissses me off when she does that!). So I hauled her head around, kicked her a couple of times to emphasize LEG, threw her into a canter and asked for the transition again. My trainer did not approve (I think) by the way she started to say something like "Make sure your actions are approraite to the aid you are trying to use....".
ReplyDeleteIn my defense my brain was TOTALLY fried from the earlier part of the lesson (shoulder-ins, first time EVER) and I could have had a smidge more patience. *sigh* oh well. I'll do better next time. Saying I love you to a horse is never having to say I'm sorry right? (yes I borrowed this phrase from ti, whose fit racehorse book I'm currently reviewing).
What a tactful ride. I'm glad they let him try the entire test. Very clever to avoid the end of the arena at "C" like that.
ReplyDeleteThe horse is lovely, actually. And I like the fact that he goes forward after the spooks...something my boy will only do very reluctantly.
All the near perfect rides we see at Grand Prix show so much less about good riding than this video shows.
Thanks for sharing this. It made my day to see such good riding and such a nice horse.
Fascinating. So good for the horse.
ReplyDeleteOf course I can't know what the rider was feeling, but it sure looked like a calm and classy response. Loved the rider's seat.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing...what a beautiful ride, kudos to the rider for quietly persisting and encouraging,not losing temper and helping his horse with gain confidence...LOVE it
ReplyDeleteI really didn't like the btv headset after the spooking, nor the extreme busyness of the rider's legs, but ... I do admire his ability to sit through all that sideways action and I loved the loopy outside rein while the horse was spooking.
ReplyDeleteHappens to the best of them. Which just demonstrates what a close and unique bond equestrians have.
ReplyDeleteWOW. I am so impressed by this. So much more than any normal test. Never once did that horse get a kick or a jerk in the mouth. He was obviously afraid in a busy environment but not stubborn or unwilling and the rider just was quietly THERE and softly encouraging the young thing to work through it. That there is good riding.
ReplyDeleteWhat was setting off the horse - was it the red flowers?
ReplyDeleteIt's inspiring to see such a calm reaction... Although I never like to see the slap/pat on the neck that seems to be so common in dressage.
Such calm! But I'd respect him more if he didn't train in rollkur.
ReplyDelete(http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=4009 - Eighth picture down.)
Don't get me wrong, I like his correction in this video, and I like his horses, but I won't support riders who use this method.
Kudos to Hans for not only not punishing his horse at the initial spook, but for staying steady and true for him throughout. ZiZi looks to be incredibly willing (in spite of his fear). It never ceases to amaze me how many people punish their horses for being afraid of something which only increases the fear (sort of like spanking a little kid for having a nightmare when all they need is some love and reassurance). Nice post!
ReplyDeleteGreat ride in this vid. Very sensitively ridden through. If only we were all able to work through things like this. It needs a rapore and empathy and this rider showed both in abundance.
ReplyDelete!!Great!! riding.
ReplyDeleteI thought he found a very good balance in between calming the horse down, yet still insisting that he keep going forward and listening to his aids.
He seemed extremely relaxed and confident.
VERY IMPRESSIVE. I'm teary eyed. Wonderful to watch. The best way to get over it is to complete the test too. Otherwise the horse will be on to a trick. I second Jean's comment: made my day to see such a nice horse and good horsemanship.
ReplyDeleteMel -- I boy do I hear ya. I wish I could sit inside a good rider and feel what it's supposed to feel like.
ReplyDeleteBreathe -- I think it was the judges stand but am not sure. I LOVE the slap pat but isn't it usually done with the inside rein? At any rate I thought it looked "right"
Yes indeed, the always forward motion was extremely impressive. I watched a Ken McNab show where he worked with a fat grey mare who would not cross water. He did essentially the same thing with this horse (except obviously it was trail riding 101 but all of this starts in the very beginning.) He was patient, persistent and encouraging, never jerked a rein or smacked the horse, but the horse's only option was to move forward. She could stand still and sniff the obstacle or move forward. Retreat was not an option. After 10 minutes of this patient persuasion, she walked across the dreaded blue tarp and within a few minutes she was tackling everything.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same principle of persuasion and a sign of great horsemanship. So many of us forget and do the impatient thing.
It is nice to see that sometimes even the professionals can have a rough test. He did a great job with his young horse! His encouraging riding will hopefully help this nice horse overcome his fears.
ReplyDeleteThank horse even spooks gracefully and with beautiful fluid movement.... ugh!
ReplyDeleteI like how he adopted the attitude of "any direction is fine as long as you move forward" and just let the horse explore the space instead of forcing a huge incident out of it.
ReplyDeleteAlso kudos to the stewards for letting him sort things out instead of just yanking them!