Catherine Haddad explains how she created the Gladiator freestyle

Catherine Haddad explains how she created the Gladiator freestyle

Catherine Haddad brings us a lecture on her years in Europe training and showing with the top European competitors. In this section Catherine covers what it is like to compete in Europe where the dressage shows are much more elaborate. She explains the training she did with her horses to compete ...

Catherine talks about showing at Lyon and Olympia.

While showing video of her warm up at Falsterbo in Sweden, Catherine talks about the enthusiasm for dressage in Europe with the spectators as well as sponsorships. She explains how the experience of showing in Europe and the prize structure involved changes the sport for professionals and amateurs.

Bernard Maurel judging Grand Prix Movement by Movement score

Bernard Maurel judging FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with movement by movement scores.

Carl Hester introduces the two nine year old GP horses for this session, as well as the fact he will ride NipTuck, his 2014 World Games partner, offering a great diversity of horses to watch.  Carl shows the importance of straightness with many movements that are performed on the centerline. The ...

Carl talks about the fact he rides without spurs or a whip even though he has to use them in competition and about how he has to work him in competition week.  He has to be very precise in the use of his leg while paying attention to Barney's relaxation.  He does half pass in the canter while bei...

Carl finishes this demo ride with trot work and stretching him in a long rein stretchy serpentine and talks about his relationship with this special horse.

Axel Steiner, Grand Prix,S Level, Grand Prix test ridden

Axel Steiner judges a Grand Prix Freestyle

Axel Steiner judges a Grand Prix Freestyle

They return to the trot, working on going from the trot to the passage with forward thinking and him lifting his shoulders. Laura encourages the rider to use her half halts rather than holding him to get the passage.  She gives a very thorough explanation of the connection needed and the aids the...

Laura works with a rider who's goal is to have him working for her from the start of the ride.  She is schooling the movements of the Grand Prix, but can become backed off from going forward, and Laura works out a plan for keeping him forward first.  The rider always encourages him forward when s...

They reverse directions at the canter, and check that she can honestly move him from one rein to the other without a flying change.  Laura talks about never using both hands in a restrictive manner, and always leaving them someplace to go.  After the warm up they check the extended and collected ...

As this rider starts the half pass in the other direction she runs into resistance, so starts it with a leg yield, changing to half pass halfway through.  After a walk break they go to the canter, making sure to give forward with the hands much like her seat moves forward during the canter stride...

They return to the trot, working on going from the trot to the passage with forward thinking and him lifting his shoulders. Laura encourages the rider to use her half halts rather than holding him to get the passage.  She gives a very thorough explanation of the connection needed and the aids the...

Alex Gerding training Andy Feller training at Level GP - Grand Prix.

Alex Gerding training Andy Feller training at Level GP - Grand Prix.

Alex Gerding training Andy Feller training at Level GP - Grand Prix.

Debbie starts out working with this horse in the canter, which can often improve the trot. She encourages the rider to keep her shoulders back, but leave her arms forward. They ask for stretch in the collection and work on haunches in on a 12-meter circle, using the half halt on the outside rein....

They continue working to supple the horse, a tough goal since he's older. Debbie then works with a second horse who loses the thought of forward in the collection. This is a fantastic opportunity to see how precise the coordination of the aids has to be to keep him from sitting too hard and stall...

In this final video, Debbie continues with the same horse, asking for haunches-in on the circle at the canter. They school pirouettes and passage steps. Unfortunately he takes a bad step and they have to stop the session. Debbie and Janet go on to offer advice on riding the canter zig zag and the...