Wellington, FL--The second day of the Global Dressage Forum North America (GDFNA) was packed with lectures, demonstrations and interactive panel discussions presented by a "Who's who" of dressage clinicians, experts, judges, riders and competitors. The GDFNA, held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center January 28-29, was presented by DressageClinic.com and Wellington Classic Dressage.

 

Tuesday's clinicians included Stefan Stammer, Bo Jena, Ingrid Klimke, Dr. Hilary Clayton and Wolfram Wittig. Dressage superstars Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebling, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel, Christoph Hess, Stephen Clarke, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray and Sue Blinks were featured panelists.

Ingrid Klimke demonstrates training the young horse. Photo by Susan J. Stickle.

"I'm honored to be part of the first annual GDFNA and to welcome so many top international riders, trainers and panelists," said Noreen O'Sullivan, Managing Partner of Wellington Classic Dressage.

 

"This really gives us a unique opportunity to interact and learn from the best," she continued. "This is a chance for participants to have top experts in the field at their fingertips and available to ask questions. They can see them work with horses and riders and then engage in a panel discussion about their training theories and techniques."

 

Noreen O'Sullivan. Photo by Susan J. Stickle

The program began with Stefan Stammer, a physiotherapist and equine osteopath from Switzerland, who discussed biomechanics. He suggested the audience "think about what happens with movement, with weight, with levers and angles" when considering the horse's physiology.

 

A long-line demonstration followed with Bo Jena, one of the foremost experts in the field. Jena focused on relaxation and worked on transitions. "Small half-halts and the quick giving of the reins are very important for the horse-in long-lining too," he said. "The outside rein is the key." Panel members Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebeling and Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel discussed the demonstrations and praised Jena's expertise and calm assertiveness.

 

Ingrid Klimke continued the program and spoke about training the young horse. She emphasized essential attributes for riders: control, strength, quiet hands and elasticity to move in the rhythm of the horse. "If you are flexible, the horse is able to understand your aids," she explained.

 

Klimke then rode a 5-year-old Hanoverian stallion she met for the first time that afternoon. After taking up a soft, steady contact, she used changes of rein to make sure the young horse was supple on both sides. She confirmed that his reaction came from her seat first and explained she wants a sensitive horse that answers to her aids and that goal requires a sensitive rider as well. She believes in performing the basics for four to six years as building blocks for upper level work and emphasized using seat, then leg, then hands, when applying aids.

Ingrid Klimke. Photo by Susan J. Stickle.

 

"The horse is the best teacher, but you must really open your heart and feel," she said.

 

Dr. Hilary Clayton's lecture on maintaining soundness in dressage horses focused on damage to suspensory ligaments. "In our dressage horses, suspensory injuries are much more common," she said. She said that risk factors include conformation, lack of exercise early in life, age, poor shoeing, footing and the type of work.

 

Then, Noreen O'Sullivan, from Wellington Classic Dressage, and Andreas Stano, organizer of the GDFNA, presented the first GDFNA Lifetime Achievement Award to Olympic Gold Medalist Klaus Balkenhol, who Stano said has dedicated his life to dressage and dressage education. Balkenhol was also the U.S. Olympic team coach.

 

A video presentation included footage of his protégé, U.S. Olympian Debbie McDonald. "He's so sincere in how he loves the animals," she said. "I think, because of him, we were successful."

 

United States Dressage Federation President George William praised Balkenhol. "You are a true horseman," he said. "What you have done for riders is just outstanding and the impact it has had on this country is great."

 

Steffen Peters said that Balkenhol is an amazing ambassador for the fairness of the horse. "I feel honored that I get a chance to represent what we all think about you."

 

Klaus Balkenhol awarded the GDFNA Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Susan J. Stickle.

Peters acted as translator for Balkenhol, who said that he and his wife, Judith, call America their second home and that he learned a lot from being involved with the U.S. team. He praised the educational opportunities provided by the GDFNA. "We started this 20 years too late," he said in German, as translated by Peters.

 

Finally, Wolfram Wittig discussed the development of the dressage horse. "In the warm-up, the most important thing for me is rhythm," he said. He continued that it is important to relax the horse, moving forward but not hurried. "Shoulder-in, for me, is one of the most important movements," he said.

 

The first GDFNA ended with closing speeches and promises to make it an annual event.

 

"I believe that we are in a pivotal point in dressage in the United States and the North Americas," O'Sullivan said. "To be able to bring the world's top educators, riders and trainers into one venue to share their ideas is such a unique opportunity. It certainly puts Wellington and Palm Beach on the map for the sport of dressage."

 

"With cooperation, communication and understanding, we can make great strides in advancing the sport of dressage," she concluded.
Global Dressage Forum North America

 

 

First Day Program

 The Global Dressage Forum North America (GDFNA) launched the first day of the premier educational dressage experience in at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach County, presented by Wellington Classic Dressage and DressageClinic.com. 

Andreas Stano, Executive Director and Founder of the GDFNA andDressageClinic.com, welcomed top international professionals from the U.K., Germany, Holland, Denmark and Canada, as well as spectators from as far away as Canada, Europe and New Zealand.

 

The program began with George Williams, president of the United States Dressage Federation, outlining the issues facing dressage in the U.S. today. "We need to protect dressage for the future," Williams said, "and we must make it sustainable."

 

He emphasized the importance of supporting the highest level of the sport and the key aspect

Andreas Stano  Photo by Susan Stickle

education plays in the future.

 

Ashley Holzer, speaking on behalf of Dressage Canada, discussed the importance of athletes' continued involvement in all aspects of the sport, especially rule changes. Holzer said that Canada formed a council of athletes to consider the future of the sport of dressage. "We have a unique opportunity coming up," she said. "Toronto is the host of the Pan Am Games in 2015 (and hoping to host WEG in 2018). There is a great influx of government support and, hopefully, corporate support. I hope you'll see Canada on the podium."

 

The first lecturer of the afternoon was Dr. Juan Samper, author of the breeding resource "Equine Breeding Management and Artificial Insemination" that Stano described as "a bible for equine reproduction." Samper is involved in developing a new technology that will allow breeders to choose the sex of a foal and said the testing of the technology is yielding very good results. "It will be available to everyone in a year or so," he said.

 

Samper summarized the challenges in breeding dressage mares, touching on recent developments in breeding. "We breed the best to the best and hope for the best, and that's what breeding is really all about," he said.

 

The feature presentation of the afternoon was a discussion and training demonstration with United States dressage legend Steffen Peters, whom Stano described as "one of the most in-demand celebrities in the world."

 

Ashley Holzer  Photo by Susan Stickle

Peters said he was excited with the results of Friday's Grand Prix CDI5* at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, particularly with the strong performances of U.S. horses Legolas 92, ridden by Peters, and Paragon, ridden by Heather Blitz. "When was the last time that we had two horses from the United States that scored 74% and 75%?" he said. "For me, this was huge."

 

He also mentioned the USEF Dressage Developing Program and Debbie McDonald's role as Developing Coach as essential steps toward developing a pipeline of high-level riders.

 

After the clinic, a distinguished panel of international judges and competitors gave feedback on Peters' instruction. Panel members Christoph Hess, Stephen Clarke, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks, and George Williams praised Peters' training techniques and highlighted key concepts.

 

Peters stressed developing horses' minds as well as their strength. ""I find it so important not just to engage the hindquarters but to engage the horse's brain," he said.

 

He also emphasized working with each horse as an individual. "We have to find the most productive frame for each horse to find the most consistent and light connection," he explained. "It's always about the connection. It's never not about the connection."

 

Then, Dr. Grant Moon, a six-time world champion farrier, spoke about the shoeing of competitive dressage horses. "The horse is our ultimate client," he said, adding that the farrier's job is to prevent injury and maximize the performance. He said that trimming is 90 percent of horseshoeing.

Steffen Peters kicks off the teaching portion of the clinic. Photo by Susan Stickle

Dressage legend Arthur Kottas demonstrated work in hand for the dressage horse. After explaining proper turn-out, he showed rein-back, half-steps and piaffe. Kottas was calm and soothing while stressing trust for both the horse and rider. Afterward, panel members Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebeling, and Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel commented on the demonstration and asked Kottas questions about his techniques and theories.

 

Rudolf Zeilinger, coach of the Danish Olympic Team, spoke about the development of dressage horses. "There are a lot of things you can train in the young years, without pressure," he said. He continued to say that if things are not going well in the training of a young horse, that often if you go back a step, things will improve and you can move forward in the training. He also stressed that when schooling movements, they should be practiced at different speeds and in different directions to keep the horse fresh.

Christoph Hess, Stephen Clarke, Wim Ernes and Gary Rockwell lead the  first GDFNA distinguished panel. Photo by Susan Stickle

Presented by:

DressageClinic.com and Wellington Classic Dressage

Andreas Stano, Executive Director, DressageClinic.com and Global Dressage Forum North

America

Noreen O'Sullivan, President, Wellington Classic Dressage

 

Sponsors:

Schleese Saddlery

Thin Line Products LLC
Website: www.GlobalDressageForumNA.com  

 

    

Educators:

Clinicians: Ingrid Klimke, Steffen Peters, Wolfram Wittig and Rudolf Zeilinger, Arthur Kottas and Bo Jena will present and demonstrate theories, philosophies and methods on the training and development of dressage horses and riders.

 

Lecturers: Dr. Hilary Clayton-maintaining soundness in the dressage horse; Dr. Grant Moon-shoeing the competitive dressage horse; Dr. Ina Gosmeier-natural medicine and acupuncture for the sport horse; Dr. Juan Samper-the art and science of breeding a dressage horse.

 

Panelists: Christoph Hess, Stephen Clark, Wim Ernes, Gary Rockwell, Lendon Gray, Sue Blinks, Anne Gribbons, Kathy Connelly, Betsy Steiner, Leslie Reid, Jan Ebeling and Felicitas von Neumann Cosel.

 

Education Partners:

Dressageclinic.com members, members of USDF and Dressage Canada and select associations (including New England Dressage Association, Wisconsin Dressage & Combined Training Association, Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association, Illinois Dressage & Combined Training Association, Gold Coast Dressage Association) will provide their members with a 15 percent discount. See websites for details.

 

Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel,Kathy Connolly, Betsy Steiner and Leslie Reid, panelists at the Global Dressage Forum North America. Photo by Susan J. Stickle.