I’ve desired to ride like Stephen Peters or Edward Gal, but now my goal is ride and look like Charlotte Dujardin. What incredible harmony between she and her horse!
Charlotte hosted her first symposium in the US in March 2014. I didn’t get to attend, but the following bullet points were taken down by someone who did! I’m paying full attention, Susan Peacock!
- Dressage is about the development of the horse.
- The job of the rider is to get the horse equal in both reins.
- Bad transitions at home make for bad transitions at shows.
- Work without the whip, when you can.
- The first impression is the halt, so there is no excuse not to practice it. Halt square for everything, even when you dismount at end of ride.
- Keep our leg on- it’s tough, but you need to get the control.
- Passage work done is rising trot helps the stuck horse go forward.
- In piaffe, always be in control of the steps-number and how forward your horse is going.
- Remember to have a forward-thinking hand.
- The discipline you have as a dressage rider is related to what scores you want to receive.
- Your horse has to be in front of your leg.