Steffen Peters helps this pair relax in their warm up using lots of walk halt transitions, asking for control of the first step out of the halt to set the tempo. Right from the beginning he looks for the horse to be in front of the leg and even in the reins. They work through the trot being precise about this, and then go to the canter. Steffen requires that the aids be light with an immediate response, and in the canter pirouette this really stands out. He explains that the rider shouldnt have to work so hard to keep the energy in the pirouette. He has them ride the first stride of the pirouette and then do a lengthened canter immediately. As the exercise progress he has the rider ride pirouette but ride a lengthening forward out of it if she feels it get labored. After a few times of doing this the pirouette is forward with energy.
Up Next in Fourth Level
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Raise Your Expectations, Part 2
Steffen explains how it is more effective to come back and try the pirouette again shortly after making a correction, and how much the horse has to be able to perform the movement with energy and self carriage to move up to CDI classes. He points out that the spur is used for correction rather t...
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Raise Your Expectations, Part 3
They return to the walk pirouettes and Steffen asks the rider to raise her standards so the horse moves off her calf, not her spur and points out how raising her expectation to the response to her aids will improve the more difficult movements. He has her ride the canter half passes from I1 keepi...
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Training Challenges Intro
Do you have a horse who is challenged by old injuries? Watch how USDF gold medalist Mimi Stanley deals with her mare's old check-ligament injury as they ride at the Prix St. Georges s/Intermediate I level and school Grand Prix.
