Klaus\u2019 philosophy and his methods are wonderfully simple\u2026<\/em> Do you think experience is more important than having great theory? That was Debbie’s message to Jenny Gehke in her Masterclass – but first a little background on Jenny’s horse:\u201cHe\u2019s a Westfalien, by Steinberg, he\u2019s nearly seven,” Jenny told me. “A dear friend of mine, Rose Deo bought him for me to ride in February last year, and he arrived in June. I\u2019ve had him at home for nearly a year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m at the point where I didn\u2019t feel I needed any more ribbons at Novice, so I didn\u2019t take him out until I felt he was where I wanted to be. I have taken him to some clinics with Leonie Bramall \u2013 I did a couple of Novice tests on him for 74, 75 scores.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a really sensitive horse, so apart from training with Debbie, one reason for bringing him here to the Festival was the opportunity to get him out and get him used to this sort of atmosphere. He\u2019s such a willing, trying horse, he\u2019s a delight to ride. I\u2019m a lucky girl, he\u2019s the best one I\u2019ve sat on.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenny and Senator were into that that scary big arena for their lesson. The second master class is sub-titled: Using the Lateral World to Develop Collection, but Debbie stresses that we should only expect the beginnings of collection with such a youngster: \u201cThis horse gets a little tight in the back, you can see it better in the canter \u2013 and this is an important point in the horse\u2019s life to change that through exercises.\u201d<\/p>\n The exercise is canter, trot, stretch: \u201cStretch up not back, use a little inner thigh. When you collect, the hind legs get short and choppy, when you feel that, don\u2019t stay there. It is important that he learns he has to canter long in collection. At the moment the strength is not quite there in canter to sustain a big stride. We want a ground covering canter, not running.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPick him up now and ride a little forward \/ back. Some leg yield, supple up both sides, but never steep leg yields, light leg into the outside rein.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRide a little haunches in, get him to reach under with the inside leg. Pay attention the ears are level, never risk more angle or bend if you lose that. You can see he\u2019s a little weak, his hind legs are a touch wide. Shoulder in is going to help that, it will strengthen the hind legs and help the canter too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive the horse a chance to walk in between the exercises, he needs the oxygen to get to his muscles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeg yield helps the horse become supple in the back, the neck and the shoulders. You need to find a zone where he swings, never lose that quality of the trot to ride the movement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many riders have felt that because the horse is hot, they can\u2019t put leg on? Then you end up with a horse that is hot, but also behind the leg.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the short end, is the best place to show off the trot, that\u2019s where three judges are going to see the trot. Now back to walk, and when he is walking tight, let him go. He gets a little curled back, guide with the contact so he pulls you out in the walk.\u201d \u201cCome on the circle round me, play haunches in, out to shoulder fore \u2013 strictly off your legs. Keep his hind legs always under him after the haunches in. Even in a collected moment, you should feel you could give the rein and remain collected. The biggest thing to realise is that you don\u2019t need your hand. Shoulder in circle, then quarters in, then give your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA horse like this, in the wrong hands, could be trained too fast and ruined. He is very forward and sometimes with a very forward horse, we think we don\u2019t need our legs \u2013 but when you get to tempi changes, you will discover that you do need legs. On the canter walk transition, here you feel a little vulnerable, use a little walk shoulder fore, to get him listening to your inside leg.\u201d<\/p>\n Suddenly the black gelding loosens and lets go his back in the canter:<\/p>\n \u201cNow try a flying change\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The horse is surprised and misses the change. Next time, Senator beats Jenny to the punch: \u201cHe did that, he\u2019s too clever. You have to be really sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/1BalkenholPort.jpg\")
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\n<\/em>\u201cWhat I love about Klaus is that he knows exactly when to back off, when he knows a horse has maybe had enough for the day. He never over-does a horse. I\u2019ve never seen a man walk into a barn like he does, and every single horse nickers to him, because he loves his horses and he spends time with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/em>\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt about it, I think experience is vital because you can have all the theory in the world, and have read all the books in the world, but that doesn\u2019t give you the feeling of what it takes to make it happen \u2013 and no two horses learn the same way. You have to have enough experience to know that it doesn\u2019t have to be done out of straight strength and roughness. It\u2019s a matter of communication and I think experience is really where we all get that.\u201d<\/p>\nYou have to let your young horse go FORWARD…<\/h2>\n
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\n\u2018He\u2019s just a six-year-old, collection is a huge ask, we should be\u00a0thinking<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>about developing collection.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nBack into trot and Debbie wants a little position:
\n\u201cA little shoulder fore until you feel you don\u2019t need much inside rein, just your upper thigh.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cHe was taken by surprise then. Use a little warning leg to let him know you are going to do something. Canter, eye up, think straight, that\u2019s the girl, SUPER, pet him.\u201d<\/p>\n