{"id":24291,"date":"2015-09-08T14:05:10","date_gmt":"2015-09-08T04:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/?p=24291"},"modified":"2017-02-09T16:47:57","modified_gmt":"2017-02-09T05:47:57","slug":"a-clinic-with-dirk-schrade-and-christopher-burton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/2015\/09\/a-clinic-with-dirk-schrade-and-christopher-burton\/","title":{"rendered":"An Eventing clinic with Dirk Schrade and Christopher Burton"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CAM_6470-3683670779-O\"<\/a>Words by Suzy Jarratt and Photos by Cameron Grant Photography<\/em><\/p>\n

A\u00a0puff of smoke spiralled up from the rail as Dirk Schrade made adjustments to the jump \u2013 he then continued the lesson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I should give it up,\u201d he declared during a break at Wallaby Hill where he and Christopher Burton were hosting an eventing clinic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a serious smoker, that\u2019s for sure\u201d, confessed the 36-year-old. \u201cI do workouts such as running in the forest and I\u2019m fitter than many other eventers but I know I should give away the cigarettes. In Germany we have to do an annual physical test – we go on treadmills and have things attached to us. I usually do better than all the others but this year there were signs that I should stop. Up until now I\u2019ve never even tried but now I\u2019m going to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hopefully he will be as successful giving away cigarettes as he has been accruing medals.<\/p>\n

Schrade is one of the world\u2019s best, his most recent triumph being a team gold on Hop and Skip at the WEG.<\/p>\n

His theory is that Germany is doing well since eventing became more technical without roads and tracks and steeplechase. As he told editor, Chris Hector, in the October 2014 edition of The Horse Magazine:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything became more precise \u2013 a higher level in dressage, showjumping and even in the cross country. It\u2019s more technical – this makes it for Germany a little easier.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYears ago if you were brave and a hard worker you could still make it to the top. Nowadays you really need riding skills on the flat. Being brave in showjumping and cross country is no longer enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t learn riding at pony club. In the beginning we\u2019re on the longe, then we work in the school; we don\u2019t go out on a hack until we can ride a proper dressage test \u2013 it\u2019s considered too dangerous. That idea might be a bit much but for modern eventing it helps having the horses really on your aids. And also our horses are Thoroughbred and Warmblood crosses which help us to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schrade is based in Sprockhovel near Wuppertal half-an-hour from Dusseldorf Airport.<\/p>\n

He works many horses and says he has a good eye for promising young\u00a0ones.<\/p>\n

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Dirk and Shardanne Bain<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI really enjoy training, selling them on and seeing them do well with other people. And that\u2019s how I make money.\u201d<\/p>\n

For dressage his \u2018eyes on the ground\u2019 belong to his partner, international rider, Johanna von\u00a0Fircks.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I showjump and cross country with Felix Foch and Yoshiaki Oiwa who are my training partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kenki Sato is another Japanese rider who\u2019s played a pivotal role in Schrade\u2019s competitive life.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe comes from a family of equestrians and Buddhist priests and spent four years in the mountains becoming a monk. I sold him Hop and Skip and he went from one-star to WEG in a year and-a-half \u2013 the dressage was crap I have to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKenki decided he wanted a horse which was better at dressage so I sold him Chippieh. An owner of mine (Freya Rethmeier) bought Hop and Skip and I\u2019ve been riding him ever\u00a0since.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2015 I won\u2019t be going overseas to compete \u2013 I have too many horses at home, it\u2019s too much effort and too much money. I\u2019ll take him to Luhmuhlen and then, hopefully to the European Championships.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his time at Wallaby Hill he found that the riders displayed two very bad habits.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone tends to carry their hands too high,\u201d he lamented. \u201cIt takes the concentration away from the fence, breaks the horses in the middle and blocks the shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if that\u2019s what\u2019s trained here in Australia but it is bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the other thing, and I\u2019ve seen it overseas, too, is at fences which have a deep drop. The riders sit like they\u2019re on the flat,\u201d said Schrade, demonstrating with a lurch forward from his chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis can bring trouble \u2013 if they\u2019re jumping into water they\u2019ll end up standing next to their horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dirk and Kathy McKinnon<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy idea of riding a cross country jump with a deep landing is to give them more neck so they can balance. Sit like you\u2019re supporting them instead of leaning on their shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy does everyone do it here? It would be to your advantage if you did it differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before his break he had schooled novice one star rider, Jeanan Yassen, through the water continually instructing her to \u2018keep your hands near the breastplate\u2019; \u2018when he takes off you soften\u2019; \u2018one more time \u2013 stay relaxed keep your hands down\u2019; \u2018a little bit more open and one stride\u00a0less’.<\/p>\n

On another part of the cross country course Christopher Burton was giving the juniors a free-of-charge work out \u2013 he wasn\u2019t mincing words nor pulling any punches.<\/p>\n

After discussions with Wallaby Hill principal, Alex Townsend, he had agreed to donate his time to twenty young eventers.<\/p>\n

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Chris with Lachie Dawes<\/em><\/p>\n

Explained Alex: \u201cChris and I felt there were quite a lot of Australian riders based in the UK who received funding from Equestrian Australia. At Christmas they come back to see their families and friends and conduct clinics. That\u2019s all very well and good but the point is we\u2019re losing talent overseas and when they come back we have to pay to receive their wisdom. We thought it\u2019d be a nice thing if they put something back. Christopher was keen to help the juniors and that\u2019s what he\u2019s doing this Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burton gave praise where it was due but was quick to scold any rider who wasn\u2019t straight, couldn\u2019t immediately halt or couldn\u2019t count their strides. The going wasn\u2019t muddy but he told everyone to wear studs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Australia the ground gets hard, the horses turn a corner and slip on the dry grass and they get scared. So put them in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see riders schooling horses not horses schooling riders. When you\u2019re training don\u2019t leave any stone unturned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t ride a halt how can you ride a half halt?\u201d he said to young Lachie Dawes whose horse had taken too many strides before stopping.<\/p>\n

Lachie had come from Millthorpe, five hours away, and was inspired after working with Burton.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy horse, Piper, was bred at Sandhills by Prue and Craig Barrett. My mentor\u2019s been Sam Lyle, I love the way he treats his horses and rides in such a relaxed manner. I\u2019m hoping to move up to two star next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChris was very good helping me to move out of my stride, getting me to move to a fence and find my spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timing, pace, balance \u2013 these were the vital elements to riding cross country stated Burton.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit risky, a little bit scary \u2013 that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about,\u201d he told the assembled fledglings.<\/p>\n

And while the riders were young some of the horses were aged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s plenty to learn from him,\u201d he said to Stephanie Collins about 18-year-old Woznme, \u201cbut you have to think about having another one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was George Sheridan\u2019s old three-star horse,\u201d explained Stephanie. \u201cI got him about two-and-a-half years ago after he had an injury. He\u2019s sound now and he\u2019s been such a good horse for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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But at some stage young eventers have to upgrade.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m donating my time to the good young riders in Australia who\u2019ll go on and be our representatives. If your horse isn\u2019t good enough don\u2019t waste my time. Don\u2019t waste your time. Get another one. Nag mum and dad \u2013 get two or three if you have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

A murmur went around the assembled mothers looking on from the sidelines \u2018we don\u2019t have much money\u2019; \u2018we can only afford to keep one\u2019; \u2018did he have to say that?\u2019<\/p>\n

During his break Burton explained the reason for his bluntness.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found myself being quite harsh on the riders,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I wasn\u2019t going to sugar coat it for them. If they want to do this professionally it\u2019s a lot of hard work and you have to do it right. I want to talk to them about how they\u2019re going to get there and how they\u2019re best going to represent their country.\u201d<\/p>\n

When told some of the mothers began shuddering upon hearing the need for a new horse and having no money to buy one Burton was unmoved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are other ways, aren\u2019t there?\u201d he responded, \u201cit\u2019s not always about money. I didn\u2019t come to Sydney with a bucket load of it.\u00a0 I did, however, have very supportive parents. There is always a way; so to hide behind the fact that you can\u2019t afford it is not a good enough excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this clinic all you can do is talk about the important things. I\u2019m very fussy about straightness and control. It always fascinates me when I ask people to stop their horse that it takes 5 to 6 strides before it does so \u2013 that really winds me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CAM_6400-3683635440-O\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Christopher with Thea Horsley<\/em><\/p>\n

So what are his thoughts on eventing internationally?<\/p>\n

\u201cGood question; we could talk about it for hours. The World Championships are often considered tougher than the Olympics. The Australians coped but the Germans were unbeatable in those conditions. They\u2019ve bred Thoroughbred into their good jumping and dressage horses and we\u2019re finding them hard to beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the course at the WEG was good although the ground was appalling.\u00a0 I like the balance we\u2019ve got at the moment. Not too unjumpable, not ridiculously big or taxing on the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the 33-year-old returns to his yard in Surrey he will begin preparing for the new season. This property, in Godalming, is close to eventing internationals like Pippa Funnell, Kevin McNab and Tina Cook, and sharing it with him is Australian partner, Bek Thompson, an eventing rider herself who handles all the office\u00a0work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have Jamaimo and we\u2019re quite excited about Graf Liberty, who\u2019s stepping nicely up to four star \u2013 I think a prospect for Rio. I feel the same about Tempranillo, she\u2019s having a bit of time off but she\u2019s a lovely mare. She\u2019s tricky and quirky but has everything to win gold at Rio. She\u2019s owned by the very generous Alan Skinner, as is Haruzac, and Graf Liberty\u2019s syndicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Rosie Cohen<\/em><\/p>\n

Another horse owned by Skinner was at this clinic being ridden by Charlie Brister.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlan\u2019s a great asset to Australian eventing,\u201d said the young eventer\/trainer.\u00a0 \u201cGemini\u2019s a four-year-old and I\u2019ve just had a tune up with Burto. We went OK but I need to be more particular and exact when I ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brister had also brought some other rides to Wallaby Hill, one of which was a chestnut pinto.<\/p>\n

\u201cAshmead Her Highness is a one star Irish Sport Horse, Dirk said she looked like a cow! I suppose she has the same markings as a Hereford.\u00a0 Apparently they don\u2019t have coloured horses in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike any top trainer Dirk\u2019s messages were very simple but very\u00a0effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was riding the \u2018Hereford\u2019 a toddler was passing by and the mare became very resistant. I was told to slow her down, come back to the walk, leg yield off the inside leg into the outside rein – she then began to\u00a0concentrate.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Charlie Brister<\/em><\/p>\n

These little things help when you spend all your time teaching, schooling and re-educating from your yard in Mulgoa, 66 kms west of Sydney. In the past Brister spent time in Germany.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked at B\u00f6ckmann\u2019s where half the day was cleaning stables and the other half riding orangutans which nobody else wanted to get on.\u201d<\/p>\n

These days he continues to ride tricky horses, but not if they\u2019re too\u00a0dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t come off since January last year. It was quite a bad fall and I\u2019m getting a bit more selective about which ones I get on.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as a bunch of horses he also has a degree in political science.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of politics in riding like horse administrators, dealers, pupils, mothers – so hopefully it\u2019ll come in handy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachael Lee, from Somersby on the NSW Central Coast, was another rider who came with horses at varying\u00a0levels.<\/p>\n

She had very positive experiences in all classes with both trainers.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirk\u2019s cross country lessons were very different and very well\u00a0explained.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was especially interested in Lansina, my mare by Lander which I bought from Stuart Tinney. I\u2019ll be taking her to Equitana to try out for Dirk\u2019s masterclass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helen Hamilton-James loved every moment of her time at Wallaby Hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirk was amazing, he has the ability to spot the rider\u2019s issue quickly and then communicate in a really clear and effective way what\u2019s needed to be done differently. For example \u2018sit up and keep your hands down\u2019 sounds simple but it made a huge difference to how my horse went.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe tailored his comments to the riders\u2019 level really well and each combination improved substantially.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I\u2019d love to see him come back.”<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the December 2014 issue of THM.<\/em><\/p>\n

Burton, Christopher<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n