A little hint before:
I am aware of most of the persons concerned as well as most of my pupils being female. In spite of that I´ll generally speak of the rider, because of simplicity. Those who know me will be convinced of the fact that I like to cooperate with female riders and that because I estimate their often better ability and readiness to ride sensitively.
Everything I teach is based on the principles of training included in our classic German Riding Theory. During my riding life I experienced it as optimally suitable and friendly to horses, especially thanks to their reactions. That´s true for all riders and horses, no matter of their state of training and their ambitions concerning our Sport.
The central contents, you could even say the philosophy, of this riding theory are to train and educate rider and horse in a way that both of them can enjoy for as long as possible the common sporting activities. Good riding in this sense means to accomplish harmony between rider and horse. Both must learn to find a common equilibrium as a precondition for an increasing finer communication.
The rider´s balanced, relaxed seat is an elementary precondition. For that reason is an important part of my lessons to check, to improve and correct the rider´s seat.
This riding theory is friendly to the horse. That may be documented by the fact that a horse, honourably and seriously educated and trained according to these principles of training, has got best preconditions and chances to remain healthy for a longer time than a wild horse living in freedom; and this in spite of its service under the saddle and its work in connection with it.
A rider who had the chance to learn and develop according to our way of training can best do justice to his horse and have pleasure with it for a long time, no matter on which level he is active with his horse. Beside that he will be able to adjust and adapt quickly also to other horses.
Everything I teach is not really new. Though I often experience that at first some facts are not familiar to some riders, sometimes even unknown. Therefore it´s an advantage to watch other riders and listen to their lessons, especially when these have worked with me before already. But if you are quite open and fully go in for it you will get Aha-experiences soon. Horses always accept this kind of riding very quickly and thankfully. – Even if they were ridden differently for years. That is a proof that not anyone has thought up these principles and rules, but they were harkened from nature by watching the horses´ natural reactions and finding adequate conclusions.
All horses like best going correctly!
Everyone who tries to learn good and correct riding and to be in harmony with his horse so that the practice brings pleasure to both partners, no matter on which level, will notice soon that this is an undertaking of high demand. Therefore I always recommended to prospective and advanced riding-instructors never to tell their pupils, learning good riding to be easy. But who considers the difficulties, which he meets when riding, as a challenge to be accepted, can nearly not stand off it anymore and gets a profit for his daily life too. That is comparable with puzzling over a jigsaw of five- or ten-thousand parts. There are many interesting parallels herein, for example to educating children, but also to several situations in working life.
Everything is correct, that first goes easier, after that even easy!
I am aware of the difficulty to explain some more demanding, intricate facts and connexions optimally by words. It is only partly possible to impart those things. Thanks God we have got an ideal medium during riding lessons – the horse. It gives us always a positive, even thankful feedback.
During a three-days-clinic a theoretical lesson, a lecture with a power-point-presentation is obligatory. Here we can resolve uncertainties regarding special expressions and contents. Please, put lots of questions then!
Perhaps you want to prepare for the lessons with me theoretically: My book “Riding with Understanding and Feeling” as well as the German Guidelines Volume 1 and 2 can be very helpful.
Please pay attention to the Essentials here on my website!
Assumption of responsibility
Consideration of natural needs
Priority of health
Respecting each horse equally
The history of the horse belongs to the cultural possessions
Influence for personal development
Perfect harmony as highest aim
Paying attention on talents, motivation and capacity
Responsibility for the end of life