Flexible thinking and solid basics help build success!

It is strange having a grand Prix horse here at the farm.  People want to ride him and that often gives me pause.  You see he has a job and loves his job - but he has very specific aids that are needed for him to understand what the rider wants from him.  If I let a rider ride him that is not able to balance him properly, then it is very confusing for the horse and not a whole lot of fun for the rider.  More than not a whole lot of fun - it can be dangerous if the rider accidently gives random aids one after the other.  I once tried to help a man ride him years ago and the horse was trying desperately to figure out what he wanted, passage, tempis, or what - it was very hard to watch.  I was also concerned for the safety of the man.

So if I have a committed student who wants to ride this horse I have an internal check list that has to be met for the benefit of both the horse and rider.  I do make every attempt to help that person get to the point of clear aids and a clear understanding of balance.  Sometimes riders think that the aid refinement I am working on with them with a basic horse has nothing to do with the Grand Prix horse.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Aid refinement on a basic horse is your key to being able to sit on him as you will be able to be clear with him and balance him out.  Only then - can you feel his flying changes - his pirouettes - his piaffe - his passage. . .

If you can ride your basic lower level horse with clear aids and good balance, you will be able to sit on the grand prix horse and feel where you are going next.  If not - then you need to keep working on the basics.  All levels of dressage are fun and the thread that ties them together is the same.

I look forward to sharing him and his knowledge this year with some of my students who are clear enough in their aids to balance him out so they can feel movements they are interested in learning. 

Schoolmasters are such gems!