Dressage with Conrad Schumacher

Conrad Schumacher brings  a broad array of training skills, having trained over 3000 students throughout the world including the British Dressage Team for Sydney Olympics.  He has  helped  teams and individual riders win over 40 international medals at the Olympics and the European and World Equestrian Games.  At 62 years of age,  Conrad brings  years of experience to each of his lessons and as a true classical dressage horseman, an expert eye on how to solve all manner of horse and rider problems! 

Claire Almett of Equine Events was invited by Horsemart and agreed to submit herself and her horse Max to the great German Trainer's scrutiny over 2 lessons in the  2 day clinic and learnt some valuable lessons about getting correct the correct neck and frame  through specific working patterns and exercises.

Before the first lesson, Claire felt somewhat overawed by training with such a famous dressage personality.  I helped her warm up before she went in – she likened the whole experience to be being like Dorothy of the Wizard of Oz,  presenting the Witch's broomstick  (Max?) to the Wizard... terrifying!  Max, however, was oblivious to the grandeur of the occasion and trotted outside happily,  ears pricked forward and ready to rumble! 

Claire and Max were summoned at last to be presented to Herr Schumacher for inspection.  Conrad asked her about her horse's breeding and current competition level (novice) and her riding aspirations then he sent them out for a walk, trot and canter around the lovely 20x60 indoor arena which Mark and Sandy have at Aston Farms.  Max has 3 lovely, loose and relaxed paces and bounded around the ménage with energy and enthusiasm though perhaps lacking in the discipline that Conrad expects from his horses.  So the hard work began.

Conrad felt that the contact Claire had was not consistent and that Max was running away from her,  so his focused was on developing correct  engagement and connection through a series of exercises which he calls,  Working Patterns. He set 4 poles 5 foot lengths apart on the ground which he calls, Trotting Poles.  Claire was asked to trot quietly over the poles, keeping hands still with a constant contact to Max's mouth while maintaining a forward but relaxed rhythm.   This pattern was repeated several times on the left rein through a 20 meter circle.  The goal, Conrad comments, is for Claire to have more contact and connection on the outside rein through a relaxed but firm hand so the inside hand can give, retake and flex when required to keep Max soft in the pole and more consistent in the contact.

The next addition to the exercise was a turn on the forehand on the opposite end of the 20 meter circle from the poles which had Max responding at first with resistance to the contact. He hollowed a little in the downward transition and stepped away from Claire’s aid as she asked for the forehand turn. A few more attempts until Max understood and the results were wonderful – by using his hindquarters in the turn he had loosened the tension in his back and pole and the contact became more exact and secure.

Variations of this exercise continued with some canter transitions replacing the turn on the forehand then Claire and Max moved away from the poles and began some leg yielding exercises on the 20 meter circle.  Again, Conrad focused on Max's tendency to run away from Claire and by asking Max to leg yield on the circle, pushing his quarters outside therefore transferring more contact to the outside rein,  Max became more stable in the neck,  more balanced in the rhythm, with haunches active and self carriage improving.  “This”, Conrad pointed out to Claire and the audience, “is the beginning of collection, when your horse can carry more weight on the hind legs.  This is an important element of what you need to move onto a higher level, from Novice to Elementary and Medium Levels.”

The lesson was fascinating for everyone to watch and ended too quickly as far as Claire was concerned and she was grinning from ear to ear.  “He felt amazing at the end, so attentive and soft and willing”.

Conrad promised her that Tuesday would have even more dramatic results and that she would have to ride without stirrups throughout to improve her seat and leg aids.  Claire's smile quickly disappeared!

If you are interested in learning more about Conrad Schumacher's amazing dressage training techniques, join us on November 25 at Patchetts Equestrian Centre, see over leaf for details.