DTO is thrilled to welcome Laura Graves riding her spectacular Grand Prix partner, Verdades, just coming off of their 2015 Championship ride in Wellington. She talks about how she gives him some time off after the competition and with the Christmas break coming up she carefully plans to keep his routine the same while doing lighter rides. She has already walked him for 10 minutes before doing some lateral work in the walk and then the trot. For this ride she doesn't wear spurs or carry a whip and rides in the snaffle bridle as she does one day a week. She talks about the importance of the walk and when she goes to the walk concentrates on his rhythm being regular while he stretches. The trot work shows relaxation and swing. She practices a few square halts before going to the canter.
Up Next in Grand Prix
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Verdades 2
Laura now moves into the canter, making sure he's moving through his body and into the contact. They ride the half pass and the schooling pirouette. Watch her work through the canter pirouette to see a stellar example of control and precision. After a walk break she runs him through piaffe and...
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Training Verdades: Responsiveness and...
Laura Graves rides her phenomenal Grand Prix partner in this video featuring a post-competition training session. Watch for great insight into how this amazing team builds the responsiveness and relaxation as they rise to the top of dressage!
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Training the Grand Prix Horse - Intro...
Catherine Haddad rides Hotmail in this video, providing invaluable demonstrations of her regular work sessions with him as well as some of the common issues that can arise in the piaffe and passage. The total running time of this four part video is 49:45.