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A RECORD audience of more than 1,300 devotees turned out for one of the most admired dressage riders and trainers in the world at the KBIS British Equestrian Insurance National Convention at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre.
Hubertus Schmidt, the reigning German National Men’s Dressage Champion and Olympic team gold medallist show jumped up to advanced level before turning to dressage. He has trained some 30 horses up to grand prix level and is famed for skills and methods.
Throughout the National Convention, Hubertus reiterated his main philosophies. This includes the warm-up, which lasts about 10-15 minutes, regardless of the level the horse is working at. His aim is to have a relaxed and supple horse working in his natural rhythm.
Said Hubertus: “I want the warm-up to take as little time as possible but as long as I need. At a show, it might take longer to achieve, but I keep it as short as possible so as not to tire the horse.”
Hubertus stressed the importance of the horse ‘following the bit’ whenever the rider gives the rein and this led to working on correct flexion and bending.
“As every horse is crooked by nature, this is something you have to work on from the beginning. The left side of the jaw has to flex as well as the right side. Without flexion there is no bending,” Hubertus added.
Another rule is to always start with easy exercises and progress to more difficult ones, such as doing shoulder-in before going on to practise the half-pass. Said Hubertus: “My ultimate goal is to make things look as easy as possible. This means making the horse sensitive to the lightest aids. If the horse doesn’t react to a gentle leg aid, use the spur and then the whip.” But he stressed the importance of giving the gentlest of aids the next time.
To find out more about the National Convention visit www.britishdressage.co.uk.
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