Second level

Test: 2-4, L, Second Level Test 4, with judges scores and commentary by movement.

Hilda Gurney judging Second Level, Test 4

Second level ride and test with Axel Steiner

Lars Petersen helps this slightly tense pair warm up, and encourages the rider to ride him forward when he is looking at things rather than go for long and loose at this point. He asks them to do a little leg yield zig-zag to loosen him up behind the saddle. They move on to the canter, and when h...

They continue in the canter after changing directions, and he becomes steadier and steadier. Lars has her make a counter canter circle to the right on the left lead with counter bend. They ride a 20 meter circle on the counter canter, then cross the short diagonal to circle on the true canter and...

Lars challenges them with the trot half pass and he is much more confirmed than at the beginning of the ride. They do a beautiful canter depart when she sits into him more in the transition. When cantering right Lars has her play with him a bit to the right while keeping the left contact and ke...

Training the Five Year Old with Dr. Ulf Moller

Training the Five Year Old with Dr. Ulf Moller

Training the Five Year Old with Dr. Ulf Moller

Training the Five Year Old with Dr. Ulf Moller

Chrissa introduces Mel, her assistant, riding her own horse, Piston, a 14-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding. They have had success showing, but are having some issues with changes. He shows a lovely, round topline, but they have to work on getting him forward off the leg. They have taught him w...

They start the canter work with Chrissa helping her keep him more up in the frame. They ride a shoulder in and haunches in and then a leg yield before trying the single change. He doesnt accept the aid for the change so they ride it again after getting him a bit more on his haunches. They change ...

Capitalizing on suspension and engagement, Charles de Kunffy works with a rider to improve her horse lengthening and collection on the second day of the clinic, after developing the foundation on the first day.

As they ask for the canter, the mare becomes wiggly, so they work the shoulder fore at the walk until she is bored with it before going to the canter. They show a good example of using the counterflexion to correct the shoulder. With several walk canter walk transitions, the connection becomes ...

They return to the trot, and when the mare is a bit hot, they use those moments to further the training. Debbie talks about the importance of the horse being able to come back to a relaxed walk in the session.

Nicholas Fyffe works with this young rider starting by asking for a consistent frame and connection in the walk.  He challenges her to be precise in her free walk, and to get that walking back to the barn walk. He asks her to ride a slight shoulder fore at the walk which will help with the straig...

Florian Bacher who has been with the Spanish Riding School for 13 years demonstrates work in hand and training in the school. He presents an 11 year old Andalusian showing medium level that has been in training in work in hand for a few months. He walks through how they start the horses, and has ...

Nancy presents this video with her student riding an 8 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding working at Second Level.  They begin in the walk as Nancy explains the characteristics of the correct walk for Second.  In the trot they include several 20 meter circles, and then go to the three loop serpenti...

They change directions and repeat the exercise to the right.  Nancy then presents an exercise for picking up the counter canter and talks about how to correct common problems that come up with introduction of the counter canter.

Second Level Test One, connection and response with Cesar Torrente

Axel Steiner introduces his plan for this session where they work through a test of the rider choice, in this case Second Level Test 1.  They warm up while he watches, and Axel explains the movements that are introduced in this test including collected and medium trot and canter, 10 meter circles...

They now ride the beginning of the test and Axel starts with input on how to do the initial salute for the most points.  He corrects the rider on her turn from the shoulder in at E to B, pointing out that you dont straighten the horse before that turn.  He coaches her through the rein-back to the...

The rider now performs the test as it is called by the announcer and Axel gives commentary. He talks about getting a rhythm to the simple changes in the serpentine, and gives advice on how to ride the free walk. He gives more tips on the geometry of the test and the importance of precision in rid...