This message is from: Starfire Farm <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
BDF Obelisk and I had the opportunity to train with Conrad Schumacher during this past week. It was with some trepidation that I signed up for this clinic, as Mr. Schumacher is recongized as a dressage trainer of world-class dressage competitors. I found this text regarding Mr. Schumacher on the internet: Mr. Schumacher personally has trained students to win 37 gold, silver or bronze medals earned in international competitions, including European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. He coached Sven and Gonnelien Rothenberger to their silver medal team finish and Sven to his individual bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He [was] named as the official trainer to the British team, and [was] selected by the USDF to train the American Advanced Young Riders through a series of annual clinics (1999).
Because of his credentials, I wasn't sure if he would enjoy coaching me on my "unconventional" horse, but having been encouraged to participate by my dressage friend and fellow trainer, Sandy Hotz, I thought I'd give it a try.
After watching our warm-up, Mr. Schumacher (as he likes to do) discussed with me my goals for this lesson. He complimented Obie, saying, "I like how he moves. I've seen these horses like this, and they don't have the same movement. He has really good movement (for his breed)." He also complimented his forward way of going. The first day's lesson consisted of working to get Obie rounder and deeper through his neck, and achieving more "sitting" and self-carriage through his work, especially in the walk/canter/walk transitions, using lots of voltes (small circles). The second day was more of the same, with Obie much lighter and rounder in the bridle and neck. We progressed from the voltes to shoulder-in/renvers transitions, deep half-passes and some half-steps (precursor to piaffe) with lots of voltes interspersed to achieve better lateral balance and "throughness," all the while focusing on a rounder, deeper connection through the reins. Mr. Schumacher gave us many compliments throughout our session, saying, "I like that!" and "Exactly!" (which are words that he uses when one is performing the movements correctly and well), including noting that Obie displayed talent for piaffe. At the end of our second session, he said, "I like your horse. He is a very willing horse and works very well." This I took as a very high compliment, especially taking into consideration the quality of horses and riders that Mr. Schumacher has worked with throughout the years. I have been told (and have seen in previous clinics) that he does not dole out compliments lightly.
Afterwards, I learned that my trepidation about participating in this clinic was not unwarranted. Prior to the beginning of the lessons, Sandy Hotz was reviewing the list of riders with Mr. Schumacher, so he would know who was riding. Some were new to him, and some were not. When she came to my name, she told him that I would be riding a Norwegian Fjord. He looked at her and said, "You don't like me any more, do you?" She told him to just wait, and reserve judgement until he had seen us. So, though I don't think that Obie won Mr. Schumacher over as a convert to the Fjord breed, he did show a world-class trainer that there are Fjord horses out there that can do a respectable job in higher level dressage. We hope to be able to work with Mr. Shumacher again in the future.
Beth -- Starfire Farm Beth Beymer and Sandy North http://www.starfirefarm.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
