What do you look for in a potential Grand Prix horse?
“The horse must be a motivated character, with three good paces. We have to look at their body – have we enough balance and power? You have to think it’s a young horse, okay good hind leg, good paces. Can I manage the character and the body for this sport over a few years? I try to see that in a young horse.”
Dorothee Schneider on the Podium at Rio talks about Showtime the horse who put her there:
“With Showtime, I got him when he was three years old, and when I first rode him, I thought the hind leg is amazing, but the way is long and over the next six or seven years, you maybe have to manage some problems. For me it is important that the horses are happy and with me, mentally.”
Starting out, Showtime and Dorothee competing at the Bundeschamps
“I try to manage every horse, with the mental situation, with the body situation, to have a good feeling from the body of the horse. I try to manage each individual horse on his own way, I think that is very important – every horse is another character, and the rider has to look at every horse as something special and find their own way for this horse.”
And the working session?
“Even the upcoming Grand Prix horse, we ride first a bigger stride. Get him forward in front of your hips. A little bit forward and back on straight lines then onto the bent line and rising trot keeping the inside leg riding to the outside rein and have him stretch to the snaffle.Try to move his mouth a little bit with your wrist. Soft mouth.”
Another of Dorothee’s stars, Faustas demonstrates inside hind leg
“Stretch your body and take your shoulder back. Move forward with your hip to help him with the three beat rhythm in the canter. Keep his inside leg stepping under the body.”
Faustas in half pass
“Ride a small circle changing between shoulder in and travers. Help him find his way to the bit. It’s better when he’s going in front of you. Sit him on the outside hind leg and turn the shoulder around it. Make the outside hind leg active with your hip. Ride him out and give him a pat. Activate the hind leg and ride it to the bit. That’s our goal.”
A pat for Showtime warming up at the Euros
The Trakehner stallion, Kaiserkult demonstrates in front of the rider
“Don’t let him ride down onto his front leg. Not deeper, have him in front of you. Look to the point, and swing him there. Activate the hind leg when you bring him back to you. Even across the diagonal, forward and back and keep playing with the balance. A little bit faster with your wrist. You need the contact but not too much pressure.”
Showtime and Dorothee on their way to a medal at Rio
