Axel gives them some pointers on keeping the mare happy and in front of the leg before they ride the test again while he coaches them.

Axel helps them finesse their trot work in 3-3. They work on creating more powerful medium and extended trots and a bigger extended walk.

When they reverse direction the challenge is to keep him straight. They repeat the leg yield exercise in this direction and let him stretch in the canter while keeping a strong core. Now that he is totally warmed up, they can ask him to come through the neck while being responsive. They work ...

U.S. Olympian Allison Brock coaches this talented young rider on details to make her Third Level ride even better. Watch for her invaluable tips on improving single changes, walk pirouettes and the sitting trot.

We join Steffen Peters with this Third Level pair as they are doing their trot work in their warm up. Steffen works with the rider to make sure she presents a trot and canter that looks easier and less against the bridle. He looks to have the length of the horse's frame more adjustable and show m...

Next, they work on trot half passes asking the horse to come more off the ground and be more responsive to the half halts. They work transitions between medium trot and half steps while keeping the suppleness and elasticity in the contact. Steffen explains that the goal is to create half pass tha...

While we watch the next pair warm up, Janet answers a question from the auditors about the necessary qualities needed to move up to Second Level.  Debbie answers a question about the proper stirrup length for an effective leg. Janet then has the two riders demonstrate the walk on a loose rein, th...

Janet points out that there are a lot of fine points to riding the test, and Debbie adds great insights into where her training should go next.  They both talk about how the rider must be able to independently use the various parts of their body to influence the horse.  They have an interesting d...

Debbie and Janet offer their observations on how the test went, and suggest working on his left suppleness with just the snaffle.  They point out how great the walk pirouettes were- a nine! - before talking about what to do if you run into problems while riding the test.  They recommend knowing w...

Debbie continues helping the rider with the change because as soon as she changes the bend the horse gives the change.  The complexity of riding a clean change is evident, and Debbie offers her expertise on correcting his balance for a good change. Janet makes the very good point often when a hor...

International judge Axel Steiner guides a pair new to Third Level through the Third Level Test One.

This series begins with Axel working this pair through their warm-up.

Next, Axel helps them work through simple changes with just a few steps of walk to prepare for the flying change.

Now that the pair is warmed-up, Axel has them ride the Third Level, Test 1 with commentary on what to improve.

This time they ride straight through the test with coaching and commentary from Axel.

Finally, they repeat their ride of the test while working on improving the transitions, rein-back and changes. They work on a strategy for what to do if she doesnt get the flying change in the test.

They continue the trot work with half passes, getting her to use her long back and step under.  After a walk break Axel has her school walk pirouettes with special attention to keeping the balance of the horse throughout the movement. He helps her get the mare to keep coming from behind in the fu...

They continue the trot work with half passes, getting her to use her long back and step under.  After a walk break Axel has her school walk pirouettes with special attention to keeping the balance of the horse throughout the movement. He helps her get the mare to keep coming from behind in the fu...

This chestnut mare schooling at Third Level is coming off an injury and starting back to work.  After watching the warm up Axel has them work on bending lines with more bend around the inside leg.  With her long back she has a tendency to let her hindquarters swing out on the circle. Axel encoura...

Straightness with Debbie McDonald

Straightness with Debbie McDonald

Straightness with Debbie McDonald

Steffen begins with this mare moving up to Third by asking for walk halt transitions that show relaxation.  In the walk pirouettes he emphasizes she should be responsive to the outside leg aids and uses them to teach the aids and sequence of the steps.  He helps her develop the correct leg positi...

They proceed to the canter, and when the mare swaps leads when she asks for collection Steffen has her explain it in a walk pirouette.  At the canter again on a 20 meter circle they ride haunches in, lengthen, bring the haunches in and then ask for collection.  They experiment with keeping her st...