IT’S NOT A PYRAMID

In the dressage world Herbert Rehbein was considered the professional’s professional – a humble genius. He won the Hamburg Dressage Derby eight times and seven titles in the German Professionals Championships. He was voted 'Trainer of the Year' by the International Trainers Club in 1991 and in '94, and the German Federation conferred on him the title of 'Riding Master'. In 1977 and ‘78 I was lucky enough to spend two short periods at his training stables, Gronwoldhof, when Lucinda Green traveled there for training with, among others, her Badminton winner Be Fair.

DOUBLE DELIGHT

I was delighted to find that one of the retired equine residents at Gronwoldhof was Alwin Schockemöhle’s great Show Jumping World Champion Donald Rex. However I was even more delighted to watch an athletic 4 year working, who was the apple of Herbert’s eye…his name was Pik Bube. It was no surprise that he went on to become world famous, both as a multiple Grand Prix winner and as a Dressage stallion. His success further cemented the reputation of the Hannoverian Stud book, despite the fact that he was half Thoroughbred, as was Reiner Klimke’s greatest dressage horse, the ‘Westphalian’ Ahlerich.

Herbert Rehbein trained with Bubi Gunther, who together with Willie Schulteis and Joseph Neckermann were trained by the Father of modern German dressage Otto Lorke. They in turn trained Harry Boldt, Reiner Klimke and the majority of todays top trainers including Conrad Schumacher and Jean Bemelmans. What a dynasty! What they have collectively achieved means their words have huge significance.

THE NOTES ON A PIANO

Herbert Rehbein didn’t say much to me but his few words were all gems. In particular he said that most people misunderstand the ‘Scales of Training’, even in Germany! His point was that the scales are like the notes on a piano and all six of the scales have to eventually work together for top results and that none of the scales should be worked at individually.

I believe this is actually what Chris Irwin was saying in his last blog regarding the fifth in the scale, Straightness. However I regret that I take issue with Chris and with all the many others who present the scales as a pyramid. It is not presented as such in the manuals of the German National Equestrian Federation….instead it is a linear structure and with good reason. If it was to be presented as a pyramid the base of the pyramid would not be relaxation, as Chris suggests, but the first in the scale which is Rhythm. While at the top of the pyramid it would be the sixth in the scale, Collection. Thankfully we have moved on from the early aims of dressage, which did have collection as the ultimate aim, and resulted in disastrous and often cruel consequences for horses. No, our ultimate aim is to have a happy athlete doing a whole range of exercises within a range of both collected and extended paces.

A HAPPY ATHLETE

I get the expression ‘happy athlete’ from the FEI Rules for Dressage under Object and General Principles. They state: ‘The object of dressage is the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education. As a result, it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with the rider.’ This is what we are aiming at. It is so important that I believe we should all have this inscribed above the front door of our barns and stables.

LOSGELASSENHEIT CONFUSION

Unfortunately the dressage world is in thrall to the German scales despite significant problems in understanding and application. In particular three of the scales are interpreted in many different ways. The second in the scale, Losgelassenheit, is usually translated as Suppleness, with an emphasis on the physical, but literally it means loose, calm and cheerful, with an emphasis on the mental, which makes much more sense. Surely real suppleness is something we gradually develop over a long period of time using the beautiful progression of exercises. I have pages of contradictory quotes from top trainers about the meaning of losgelassenheit, which all confirm the confusion there is.

SCHWUNG IS NOT IMPULSION

The definition of Contact, the third in the scale is less contentious but it’s meaning has definitely shifted as more emphasis is now put on all the contacts rather than just the rein contact. However the definition of the fourth in the scale, Schwung, is really interesting and worthy of special thought. The majority in the English speaking world describe this as ‘impulsion’ but Herbert Rehbein said this was wrong. He said it was ‘spring.’ This is confirmed by the fact that it clearly states in the German manual that you cannot have schwung in walk, because there is no period of suspension. Yet we can obviously have impulsion in the walk.

This gets to the heart of the problem about describing the scales as a pyramid. The development of controlled propulsive force, or controlled impulsion, is in practice the main aim of the scales and it takes all the elements of the scale to do this. This is certainly different from most peoples understanding of the scales but it makes obvious logical sense.

NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS

What we must acknowledge is that the scales are not always perfect in concept or use. As Jean Bemelans said at the global dressage forum in 2007: “In Germany we have the classical training scale….if you have a perfect horse with a perfect character with no problems, then you can stay on the classical scale of riding, and step by step you come to the Grand Prix. But you can have problems, you can have a nervous horse, there are many problems, then you have to find out the right way to come to the end with that horse.” Conrad Schumacher went even further than this in September 2008: “As a trainer of trainers I want to help other trainers find the best way to help his or her students, and sometimes that means being less standard in their approach and more creative in their application of the Scales of Training and traditional training techniques to get the best result.”
Now that’s an open door!

LET’S KEEP THINKING AND TALKING

I am only too aware that this subject stirs the passions, however it is important not to get too ‘anal’ or emotional about this subject. None benefit if there is a breakdown of constructive discussion and research into these matters. A very bright local pony Club rider, having heard me talking about the scales of training, put it into wonderful perspective when looking at the flaking skin of a dressage coach that had seen too much sun and too little moisturiser. “Look” she said, “the scales of training!”

Next week I will suggest some really simple and effective answers to our need for a structure of training priorities…..for both dressage and jumping. In the meantime best wishes for happy days with a happy athlete. William www.WilliamMicklem.com