2025 USDF FEI-Level Trainers Conference | Hannah Irons and Ein Traum Day 1
Dressage General
•
44m
On Day 1 of the 2025 USDF Trainers’ Conference, Christine Traurig helps USDF bronze and silver medalist Hannah Irons transition her Westphalian gelding Ein Traum’s training from a 4- to 5-year-old. With young horses, Traurig stressed the importance of developing and cultivating suppleness and adjustability and encouraged her to get “E.T.” more supple throughout his body with circle work. She also helped Irons introduce him to brief moments of collection through lots of transition work.
Christine Traurig, Chef d’Equipe of the U.S. Dressage Team, was born and raised in Germany, on a farm where her father bred horses. It was there that her passion and skill for riding young horses developed. At the age of 12, she started riding at the National Riding School at Hoya with the legendary trainer Otto Meyer. In 1998, Christine began training with Johann Hinnemann and in 2000 she competed at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, on the bronze-medal-winning U.S. team. Dedicated to classical dressage training and horsemanship to produce skill and excellence in horse and rider, Christine works to help today’s Young Riders and horses develop a commitment to basics.
Up Next in Dressage General
-
Ashley Donadt: Ride Mindful Corners
Ashley Donadt explains how riding every corner mindfully can translate to higher test scores in competition. Her simple exercise offers training benefits such as improving your horse’s balance and focus, getting him tuned in to your aids, naturally teaching the half-halt, and ultimately setting u...
-
Warm-up Walk and Lateral Work | Laura...
Laura Ashley Killian demonstrates and explains what it feels like as she warms up her upper-level horse in the walk. The focus still needs to be on the horse engaging the back and hindquarters. She also shows examples of how the horse goes when he is not ridden as correctly. She does a good deal ...
-
Second Level Test 3 Ride-a-Test | Jod...
“S” level dressage judge Jodi Ely leads this Second Level Test 3 ride-a-test. Jodi scores each movement as the rider goes through the test. Afterward, she discusses which movements the rider could improve upon, including the transitions, shoulder-in and travers. Jodi has the rider go through the ...
