WIT 2016: The Adequan/USDF FEI Level Traners Conference

Jessica Jo Tate and Kynynmont Gunsmoke's Gideon

Every season, the WIT participants volunteer at the USDF FEI Level Trainer’s Conference. The FEI Level Trainer’s Conference takes place in Loxahatchee, Florida every January. A group of instructors from across the country congregate to train and watch lessons. This year, we had the privilege to watch this year’s group of riders. There were many good horses and riders. This year, the conference was run by Johann Hinnemann. Johann is a top German dressage trainer.

Johann Hinnemann had a common theme of stressing the importance of suppleness and thoroughness in every lesson. He also worked on the quality of the half pass with all of the riders. When referring to the half pass zig-zags, Johann said “the change of bend is what you really need to practice, you can’t have a good half-pass without good preparation.” In addition, he focused on the placement of the tempi changes.  For example, if you are doing a line of four tempis, your third change should be over X.

Ayden Uhlir and Sjapoer

Finally, it was interesting how Johann never referred to anything as a movement. He referred to it as an exercise. I liked his teaching style very much. Johann focused more on the training aspect rather than the test riding aspect. Each exercise had a purpose. For example, shoulder-in is a straightening and balancing exercise. He also worked more on improving the gate. He said “always prepare the basic gate before moving onto the more difficult exercises in that gate.”

Here are some other notes from the clinic:

• A good extended trot should push more at the end then it did in the beginning.
• The only way to fix a change that is late behind is to develop the canter with more engagement in the hind legs.
• Do not pick a fight with a stallion.
• The placement of the changes in a sequence is very important.
• The horse must stay attentive and awake in the walk.
• Suppleness is the key to success (physical and mental).
• Suppleness plus obedience will equal submission.
• A horse is straight if it is following the line it’s on.
• To keep the haunches from leading in the half pass, start the half pass on a diagonal line for a step then add the haunches.
• You should be able to do any downward or upward transition straight on the centerline.
• You want to feel like you are doing your half pass in a medium trot. Keep the collection with the same amount the expression.
• Try riding a half pass without bend to improve forward crossing. The next step is to slowly add the bend back.
• Use forward and back transitions within the gate to increase responsiveness to the aids, activity in the hind legs, and expression in the front.
• Ride without stirrups for  fifteen minutes a day. Include posting.
• Dropping your stirrups can sometime naturally fix the rider's position.
• Suppleness and relaxation bring the horse to a state of letting-go-ness.
• Continuing to breath is essential in any discipline of our sport.
• The number/sequence is not what is important in changes. It is the absolute control of the center in between the changes.
• Use the whip on the shoulders to give the horse a forward desire, instead of more of a punishment on the hind end creating a rhythm mistake.   

Mica Mabragana and Tyara