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6/8/97 Page 5
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A THOUGHT TO ORDERby Craig Stevens
Time is not as important as going as slow as it takes and observing very carefully the horse. You always have to let the horse lead you through the process. The slower you go in the beginning the quicker you get to the end. Everything must be done with gentle, but ridgely firm actions. Small use of forces correctly applied brings better results that large forces.
Lunging at the start and leading are far more mportant than the riding. Evenually work in hand develops. The voice is important and showing affection correctly is important. The alteration of the pairs of opposites, both physically and psychologically is important. The walk is the most important gait and then for an advance trainer the canter. For somebody with less experience the trot is safer.
All the early work supples the horse and leads to the piaffe which is the most important excercise because it is the posture of the finished horse. When to begin this is impossible to say with certainty. I have started it in the first ride with older horses and with others, it is two or three months before it is even considered. It maybe started in hand or undersaddle. There is no one system or way. Each horse is an individual and has to be considered as such.
Medium and extended gaits are usually the last do develop. Passage starts as soon as the piaffe starts, but with some horses the passage is first, but the piaffe must quickly follow or you will have trouble...
Canter pirouettes are usually before the flying change, but again not always, and the counter canter is almost always done first. It is best most times to do the canter in place before the the pirouettes.
It is sometimes best to do the airs above the ground before the actual finishing work in GP, because they build the strength and position to be able to do the GP with brilliance.
It is very important to never seek brilliance, but only to seek position. The movements are not as important as the spirit and the posture. The lateral work is done as close to immediate as possible and has to be done in absolute calm and relaxation. I start generally with the shoulder in at the walk, but it has been suggested to me that the use of the shoulder in is a complete mistake and should only be used in special cases. In which case the half pass is used immediately. I can understand why the shoulder in might cause a waste of time in theory but at this time I do not know this to be absolutely so.
Turning at the start is important and as long as the horse is totally relaxed the turns should be very small(very close to the volte). The next step after this is the waltz, which is a alternation of run on the forehand followed by turn on the haunches. Working on the rail should be abandoned very quickly in favor of rapid changing movements done in complete calm.
The hardest thing to perfect are the close interval changes and especialy the changes at every stride. These are taught in the walk almost from the first day.
The order in which to progress is absolute in all cases, do not depart from this order. Calm is first, forward is second and straight is last.
Avoid making the horse sweat. 2 session a day are better than one, but they should be 20 minute to a half hour. I usually only do one unless there are problems, mainly because it is not practical to have the grooms double work in a day.
Do not seek the ramener. The horse will provide it to you when it is supple enough. Never pull on the reins.... never bounce on the horses back. The relaxation of the jaw is very important and should be sought very early. Never use any artifical equipment. No side reins, draw reins or any other device. The bit must be a simple snaffle always(one horse in a million may actually need something else.) No spurs. Always carry a whip but never punish with it. Always achieve lightness before anything else.
ADMINISTRATIVE
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FYI, We are planning an upgrade in the next issue(we hope) to make the news a bit more readable. We have also refined our "hard" copy for those who may be interested in a subscription. I would be interested in knowing how people feel about using attachments and what attachments would be the best to use to insure the highest readability. Please let us know privately.
WHAT WE HOPE TO BE
NSAE NEWS is devoted to discussions and promotion of excellence in academic equitation for the serious student of the classical art of equitation. We seek to develop thinking on the ways and means to develop greater harmony between horses and riders. We believe the path to this is through the study of the past, awareness of the present with toward a more harmonious future. We encourage positive loving relationships between humans, recognize that all are students and life is a classroom for us all.
We welcome your post and input. Subscription is at no charge on the net. Simply send an e-mail to cpszzz@concentric.net with the heading the subject heading, "NSAE NEWS -Subscribe." Your subscription will be acknowledged. Our publication is published monthly or more frequently according to the needs of our collective needs of subscribers and a the convenience of the editors at no set schedule at this time.
NSAE is Proud to Present:
Henri Gerard Bouzar
July 1-5
A Special Clinic
Private, Semi-private, Group Instruction & Auditors WelcomeA teacher of exceptional clarity Specializing in the perfection of the half halt, Instructor training Problem horses solved
For more information contact the NSAE
(206) 806-8171
ask for Craig or RitaCraig P. Stevens
Director
National School of Academic Equitation
22131 31st Avenue SE
Bothell, WA 98021
(425) 806-8171
cpszzz@concentric.net
For information about our free internet magazine about classical horsemanship
or
our horse or rider training programs contact us at the above address
Copyright© 1997 - Craig P. Stevens, Director, National School of Academic Equitation.
Printed here by special permission.
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