Icelandics, gaited riding and Losgelassenheit

I saw an interesting article in German about a gaited dressage kuer in Iceland:
Vorhand frisst Losgelassenheit (published in the Iceland Review On Line Magazine)

There are several interesting points:

• The title of the article "Vorhand frisst Losgelassenheit" implies that the high forehand action so prized in Icelandic horses works against, indeed kills, a horse's ability to be light and responsive. 
• The fact that many competition horses are ridden with high head and tight reins is mentioned. A competition rider is quoted as saying that any training that does NOT ask for action and speed will be counterproductive to competition, implying that any other form of riding will ruin a horse as a sports prospect. This view appears not uncommon. Dressage training is often referred to as "Kringelreiten", which is a slightly negative way of saying riding in circles.
• Despite this, the dressage competition is gaining in popularity, though it is considered by many to be a "women's event".
• The author expresses the view that the riding and horses on display have improved since the competition began some years ago, now focussing on better riding rather than just speed. 
• The article mentions an Icelanding trainer whose DVDs I have seen myself, and who struck me as being very classical in his approach. He also had the nicest seat and most diplomatic hands of all the riders in that video.
• The author suggests that a horse made supple through correct exercises and ridden in Losgelassenheit (light in the bridle, responsive, calm), better Toelt can be achieved. The common way of asking for speed and action by way of restricting the horse and using strong seat, leg and rein aids is much less suited for producing good toelters who are also responsive and useful for other disciplines.

Coincidentally, we watched an Icelandic video yesterday, and many of the points mentioned about competition horses and the type of riding used were clear to see. But we also saw a more enlightened trainer at work, who used dressage to make his gaited horses more beautiful and happy.

Trisha Wren Connected Riding clinic at Dereel

We were lucky to have Trisha over for another clinic in November, this time at Yvonne's place. While the weather was somewhat unkind, being unseasonally cold and wet, we managed ok and all had a great time.

Unlike last time, we mainly had local participants this time. But same as for the last clinic, we loaned some of our horses out, and Samba and Carlotta were on duty. I took Flamenca this time, while Yvonne worked with her new mare Bjoska NS.

Following the clinic, I had the opportunity to have a private session with Trisha. I asked her for some help in how to adjust some of my seat and balance aids, so that the cues I use to ask for gait can be more subtle and more in line with the Connected Riding posture. Yvonne took some video clips.

Trisha making postural adjustments - Yvonne

stud promotion!

Champagne Watchout - gaited dressage etc

Here is a video clip of the adorable TWH stallion Champagne Watchout showing dressage with a gaited flavour:




The other interesting thing about this horse is that he was shown flat shod at the 1999 TWH National Celebration. This caused a lot of controversy and made Champagne Watchout quite (in-)famous.

This video clip shows him next to the big lick horses during the competition. What a striking comparison between what a TWH should be and what excesses the show scene has produced:

classical gaited riding

I've been meaning for some time to write something about training and riding gaited horses, and whether it is possible to reconcile that with classical riding.

I've been too busy with university and work to give it too much thought until recently. I've started to gather some thoughts on the subject now and have a lot of related, but unordered thoughts on the matter which I want to include in the post. But when I started writing down some of these, I came to the conclusion that I will need to do a little bit more research first. I hate to "shoot from the hip" and then find out that I expressed myself badly, quoted wrongly or made any other errors.

I've had a fair bit of time off from reading horse books. I went through a stage of disillusionment and general discontent with my own riding on the one hand, and with what I see out there, being peddled as "all the answers" , "the quick fix" and "the latest & greatest". Although I didn't manage to spend much time working with horses or riding for fun for the last year, I have someone regained the fire in my belly to learn, to do, to teach, to write...

Consequently, I have horses in work again, with more planned for the coming months. I have new personal goals in terms of learning, riding and writing. Riding is fun. It's a good feeling.

 

Flamenca (photo by Yvonne Lehey)

So please bear with me, the gaited horses and classical riding piece is in the pipeline!

gaited gene

There has been much speculation about a gene or genes which cause lateral and ambling gaits in horses. Recently, a study was done in Sweden and a paper published. The interesting thing is that their research, based on horses and mice, showed that a single gene is responsible.

If find that amazing. Certainly, there was never a doubt in my mind that "gaitedness" is genetic, but I always expected it to be a complex matter, with several genes involved, and maybe enhanced by certain types of conformation.

Anyway, I'm sure that this is just the beginning of more of such interesting discoveries.