Klimke/Hassler Clinic:
An Inspirational Day of Training with Michael Klimke and Scott Hassler
August 5, 2008
With yet more warm summer days still ahead of us in Chesapeake City, we would love to share with you scenes from our very successful second public event. On June 21st, at the Riveredge West Training Center, Hassler Dressage welcomed over one hundred friends and auditors for An Inspirational Day of Training with Michael Klimke and Scott Hassler.
The clinic was among the first of its kind to bring together two internationally renowned trainers, working together to bring out the best in each horse and rider. Friends for over eighteen years, Michael and Scott shared with the auditors the importance of professionals sharing knowledge and helping each other. They encouraged the free exchange of ideas and friendly support in what can all too often be a solitary sport.
The day featured a fantastic array of talented horses and riders, representing several countries and ages. With Michael's unwavering dedication to the classical training principles, and Scott's powerful and creative ideas on how to bring out the best in horse and rider, the two professionals offered auditors and riders insight and education into various training scenarios. Michael and Scott inspired in their pursuit of excellence in each horse and rider, always with the horses' well being in mind.
Auditors watched the horses working correctly- from the developing four year old to the successful, coming Grand Prix horse. Michael showed the progressive steps of the classical training principles in action and how these develop the horse into a beautiful athlete. Scott clearly follows these principles as well, while offering riders his own genius into the needs of the horse and rider, knowing exactly what each pair needs in each moment. Horses and riders progressed in each session with increasing confidence and harmonious expression under the tutelage of these two world class trainers.
We hope you enjoy these scenes from a very successful day!
Scott welcomes auditors to the clinic for a full day of learning for everyone.
Teresa Butta and the powerful Froelich demonstrate a beautiful stretching trot in the all important warm up phase of their work. The big six year old demonstrates much cadence and energy with suppleness. Michael said that bigger horses need much more time to develop and praised Teresa in her patient work with this very talented horse.
Brooke Doss riding Highlife Farm's Sandro Welt. The four year old Sandro Hit son shows the forward, active canter that was emphasized throughout the day. Especially for young horses, Michael stressed the importance of helping to create this energetic, uphill canter, and in general, the canter should be ridden more forward than the trot.
A treat to see 2007 100 Day Test Winner, Wamberto. The Rousseau son shows a special canter and the light, easy energy that compliments Susanne's riding so well. Here they show a top quality canter in forward and back transitions which will help develop increased strength and adjustability in the five year old horse.
JJ Tate and the five year old stallion Rosall. Together, they demonstrate the active, big presence trot which was achieved after the piaffe work. Michael starts the horses playing with half steps at around five years old, first just introducing the idea of a simple reaction. Scott agreed, and shared the importance of not going for full piaffe, just playing and encouraging confidence in the beginning. The horse must learn to trust and the trainer must understand the time it takes for the horse to develop strength.
Afterwards, a happy horse and rider!
Everyone enjoying lunch and discussing the rides under the favoured shady spot!
An unexpected treat! After lunch, Lendon Gray presents one of her talented students, thirteen year old Rachel Chowanec on Highlife's Bodyguard. This was only Rachel's second time on Bodyguard and in front of the big crowd, she was all cool nerves. She showed textbook good riding with already a fantastic seat. She showed just what the gifted pony can do.
Michael and Scott had nothing to improve on- what could be better? Lendon shared that Rachel does all kinds of riding, not just dressage and that to develop more talented riders in this country, we just have to believe that our young kids can ride this well! Very inspiring!
At six years old, Davidoff Hit is impressive under his rider Susanne Hassler. Demonstrating superb and thorough training, this young stallion is confident in all his lateral work and has a true gift for collection as was seen in his in-hand work. Scott shared that even with such natural gifts, it is so important never to rush a horse or try to get results too soon. Susanne has taken care to give this sensitive stallion confidence in his work and show career and it shows!
A seven year old horse on the way, is how Michael described the well muscled and impressive Dutch gelding Jeff the Chef W. Under rider Silva Martin, the horse showed much activity and very good training. The lateral work was supple and sweeping, the trot big and cadenced, the canter uphill and expressive. Michael acknowledge that the canter work becomes increasingly difficult at this stage for the horse as it requires a great deal of strength. The quality of the gaits must be supported first and foremost.
Meagan Davis and Cachet show much promise. The Young Rider provides an opportunity for Michael to discuss the importance of the equitation work all riders must do. A correct seat- that one is always working on improving - is the foundation for all good riding. With Cachet, Meagan shows she is on the way.
The elegant gray mare Clairvoya and Lauren Sprieser are harmonious. Here, they show the piaffe work, with Michael assisting from the ground, which will help strengthen the collected work and improve the activity behind.
Finishing as the last pair, the young Micaela Mabragana and the Swedish gelding Granada wowed everyone. The correctness of the training and riding was absolute. The horse, almost to Grand Prix performed everything in a snaffle bridle, with lightness and power. Here we saw elegance, harmony of riding and a happy horse.
As part of the education of the day, both Michael and Scott answered questions from the audience throughout the clinic. It was a tremendous opportunity to ask these trainers questions ranging from how to develop a good seat to how to develop piaffe and passage!
We thank everyone who came to share and participate in this clinic and hope you will return again for future events!
We are proud to offer new friends and old an opportunity to learn from two of the world's finest trainers: If you would like to enjoy this day of learning with Michael and Scott, you can order a 3-dvd set of the clinic. To do so please visit our Products page. Creating community and educating and inspiring Amateurs to Olympians alike is our goal at Hassler Dressage.
We look forward to sharing more with you!
