Jo C
Well-Known Member
As title really!
BD Convention reports - have I missed them?
- Thread starter Jo C
- Start date
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
Sorry Jo, no you've not missed them, I've just had a couple of manic days when I've not had the time to post more than just a quick one.
Others were there too but I'll start the ball rolling if you like!
My overiding impression was that Hubertus Schmidt was a lovely guy. I liked the way he worked the horses, with good walk breaks, segmenting the work and reminding the riders to pat the horses for a job well done.
The report on the BD website gives a pretty good overview of the horses and riders.
Personally I loved Vivaldi and Fernandez. Both their riders were amazing too, something to aspire to!
Slightly disapointing was the fact that I didn't come away with any new exercises to try as from previous conventions and I heard mumblings from some people that it was a little dull and they expected to see more issues worked through and that the guinea pigs were too 'perfect'!
I do understand the latter comments but having been there when Roland Tong and Josephine Eley both went thrrough the mill in front of a huge audience, I'm not too sure we need that at the National Convention.
What did the others who went think?
Oh, and I met up with Tempi for a coffee which was nice, and yes, I can vouch for the length of those legs!!!
Others were there too but I'll start the ball rolling if you like!
My overiding impression was that Hubertus Schmidt was a lovely guy. I liked the way he worked the horses, with good walk breaks, segmenting the work and reminding the riders to pat the horses for a job well done.
The report on the BD website gives a pretty good overview of the horses and riders.
Personally I loved Vivaldi and Fernandez. Both their riders were amazing too, something to aspire to!
Slightly disapointing was the fact that I didn't come away with any new exercises to try as from previous conventions and I heard mumblings from some people that it was a little dull and they expected to see more issues worked through and that the guinea pigs were too 'perfect'!
I do understand the latter comments but having been there when Roland Tong and Josephine Eley both went thrrough the mill in front of a huge audience, I'm not too sure we need that at the National Convention.
What did the others who went think?
Oh, and I met up with Tempi for a coffee which was nice, and yes, I can vouch for the length of those legs!!!
Jo C
Well-Known Member
Thankyou Bananaman shame there were no new things for you to come and try but still all sounds very interesting. Am off to read the BD reports now.
(Psst not sure if you know but Patrick had a vet visit on Sat and he can start to come back into work this weekend, so hopefully I will be able to come up and do some clinics in the New Year!!
)
(Psst not sure if you know but Patrick had a vet visit on Sat and he can start to come back into work this weekend, so hopefully I will be able to come up and do some clinics in the New Year!!
Tempi
Well-Known Member
LMAO - and yes, i can vouch - Bananaman is SHORT!!!!!!!!
I had a great day - i must agree that the guinea pigs were all rather perfect and were already established in the work asked. I wouldve liked to have seen someone have problems and to see how they got ironed out, and also to see someone perhaps do their first change on their horse or something so we could see how he teaches them.
Vivaldi and Fernadez were my two favourites aswell, both ridden beautifully. I also love Showtime too - ive seen him in action before and just love the way he goes, theres something really special about him.
I had a great day - i must agree that the guinea pigs were all rather perfect and were already established in the work asked. I wouldve liked to have seen someone have problems and to see how they got ironed out, and also to see someone perhaps do their first change on their horse or something so we could see how he teaches them.
Vivaldi and Fernadez were my two favourites aswell, both ridden beautifully. I also love Showtime too - ive seen him in action before and just love the way he goes, theres something really special about him.
Touchwood
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I liked the way he worked the horses, with good walk breaks, segmenting the work and reminding the riders to pat the horses for a job well done.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is pretty much word for word what I wrote on another forum!
I felt very inspired when I left. I found the combinations very very polished and it may have been nice if they were actually working at the level they were shown at in the program, they were clearly very established rather than 'working at'.
Showtime really is very very special, and looks such a genuine horse. I thought the way Fernandez transformed when Charlotte picked him up was incredible. Vivaldi is obviously going to be a very big star.
I've said it already on another forum and at risk of being controversial, I didn't like the way Nicola worked her horse in on Sunday. He was very deep and a bit held in his frame, and when she let his nose forward he became a lot looser and had a lot more swing.
I liked the way he worked the horses, with good walk breaks, segmenting the work and reminding the riders to pat the horses for a job well done.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is pretty much word for word what I wrote on another forum!
I felt very inspired when I left. I found the combinations very very polished and it may have been nice if they were actually working at the level they were shown at in the program, they were clearly very established rather than 'working at'.
Showtime really is very very special, and looks such a genuine horse. I thought the way Fernandez transformed when Charlotte picked him up was incredible. Vivaldi is obviously going to be a very big star.
I've said it already on another forum and at risk of being controversial, I didn't like the way Nicola worked her horse in on Sunday. He was very deep and a bit held in his frame, and when she let his nose forward he became a lot looser and had a lot more swing.
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
That's great news about Patrick, Jo.
Will he feel the same though!!!
I felt the thing I did come away from the convention was the fact that no matter what level you are working at, the basics MUST be worked on before anything else can be good.
Of course, we all know that anyway but it is good to have it drummed in to us!
Sometimes it can be easy to get carried away schooling the movements and forgetting to pay enough attention to the basics.
He was very keen that riders flexed their horses to the inside, not only through the corners but also along the long sides.
Riders were constantly reminded to prepare the horses for the movements.
We were constantly told to keep the horse sensitive to the aids.
So nothing new there but it's great to have that reminder that we should all be following the scales of training because they work!
I felt the thing I did come away from the convention was the fact that no matter what level you are working at, the basics MUST be worked on before anything else can be good.
Of course, we all know that anyway but it is good to have it drummed in to us!
Sometimes it can be easy to get carried away schooling the movements and forgetting to pay enough attention to the basics.
He was very keen that riders flexed their horses to the inside, not only through the corners but also along the long sides.
Riders were constantly reminded to prepare the horses for the movements.
We were constantly told to keep the horse sensitive to the aids.
So nothing new there but it's great to have that reminder that we should all be following the scales of training because they work!
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
We obviously think alike!!!
I also agree with you about Fernandez. When they came in I thought he looked 'nice' but didn't make me think 'WOW' as Vivaldi had. I thought he looked more like a show hunter than a dressage horse. When he was trotting in the warm up section I hadn't changed my mind but as Charlotte, (or Shallot as HS called her
), picked him up and collected him, the difference in him was amazing.
Perhaps not as supple laterally as some but his ability to sit and take the weight behind was phenominal! The trot really swung and his collected canter was to die for!
Oh, and that reminds me too, again and again Hubertus asked for the horses to be ridden more forwards in the collection. Something that often is lacking in tests I see at least at local level.
I also agree with you about Fernandez. When they came in I thought he looked 'nice' but didn't make me think 'WOW' as Vivaldi had. I thought he looked more like a show hunter than a dressage horse. When he was trotting in the warm up section I hadn't changed my mind but as Charlotte, (or Shallot as HS called her
Perhaps not as supple laterally as some but his ability to sit and take the weight behind was phenominal! The trot really swung and his collected canter was to die for!
Oh, and that reminds me too, again and again Hubertus asked for the horses to be ridden more forwards in the collection. Something that often is lacking in tests I see at least at local level.
Tempi
Well-Known Member
Agree - people think collection means slower, but it dosent. So many people get to elementary level and ride their horses round in a lack-luster trot/canter thinking that they are riding them collected
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
And stick them in a double bridle to give them better brakes and because they can get them in a 'better' outline.
carthorse
Well-Known Member
Very interesting,I'm glad it showed that basics are SO important .We look for things to help us but maybe we should look at correct seat and being aware of how we influence the horse and working on something new and then taking a step back to keep the basics and reassure the horse.
When I used to compete if I asked my horse something new and he found it difficult ,I would find when I took a step back to his former work he would try really hard and say to me 'Look Mum I can do this well'
When I used to compete if I asked my horse something new and he found it difficult ,I would find when I took a step back to his former work he would try really hard and say to me 'Look Mum I can do this well'
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's all too easy to think that by buying the latest this or that that our riding and/or our horses will be transformed.
( Not having any digs as I'm as guilty as the next man here!)
Unfortunately it really is down to hard work and a desire to improve at the end of the day.
( Not having any digs as I'm as guilty as the next man here!)
Unfortunately it really is down to hard work and a desire to improve at the end of the day.
FREESTYLER
Well-Known Member
Blast, so getting the latest bling in USA will not help me then!!!
LOL!!!
I too went, met up with Jlav Jane and Tempi, possibly because noone recognised me under my black furry hat!!! TEHE!!
I must admit I learnt lots excuse spelling here we go; das is gud, ya, ya, schone, gud, !!!!
No really, lovely chap and having never been to a convention before I must admit was not sure what to expect. He played it "safe" in my opinion. I heard that at Ankys convention it was more enlightening or at least made you come away thinking........I am NOT being critical as he is obviously a respected trainer but I would have liked to have seen more improvements made......maybe next time the convention can have amateurs !!!!!!!
I too went, met up with Jlav Jane and Tempi, possibly because noone recognised me under my black furry hat!!! TEHE!!
I must admit I learnt lots excuse spelling here we go; das is gud, ya, ya, schone, gud, !!!!
No really, lovely chap and having never been to a convention before I must admit was not sure what to expect. He played it "safe" in my opinion. I heard that at Ankys convention it was more enlightening or at least made you come away thinking........I am NOT being critical as he is obviously a respected trainer but I would have liked to have seen more improvements made......maybe next time the convention can have amateurs !!!!!!!
Rachel1
Well-Known Member
Wish I'd been able to go the convention - sounds very inspiring! Going to Olympia on the 17th so at least got that to look forward to instead
thanks for the reports guys, interesting reading
carthorse
Well-Known Member
Freestyle ,the bling will help, we'll notice the lovely you even more.
It is hard to be a guinea pig, my daughter did one once for the BSJA and everyone but her were on fabulous top horses that were jumping enormous fences.
Penfold had eyes on stalks and found it really hard but improved a great deal. The following week he went out and won a blue chip qualifier.
We couldn't afford to get training like that all the time .
Many people came up to her over the months and said they learnt a lot more from her session than from the others because it was more like they could achieve but it is hard to be the guinea pig and have everyone notice your problems and mistakes.
I thought she was brave ,but maybe she is just foolish.
It is hard to be a guinea pig, my daughter did one once for the BSJA and everyone but her were on fabulous top horses that were jumping enormous fences.
Penfold had eyes on stalks and found it really hard but improved a great deal. The following week he went out and won a blue chip qualifier.
We couldn't afford to get training like that all the time .
Many people came up to her over the months and said they learnt a lot more from her session than from the others because it was more like they could achieve but it is hard to be the guinea pig and have everyone notice your problems and mistakes.
I thought she was brave ,but maybe she is just foolish.
FREESTYLER
Well-Known Member
Ahhh!! Thanks Carthorse!! I would hate to throw away my new sparkly belt and gloves and earings and spur straps!!! What I am intending to do is blind the Judges so they cannot see me!!
Whatcha reckon?!!!! I could do a quick gallop around and halt at x? 90% you think??!!!
I think being a guinea pig is hard, BUT rewarding for you and your horse and to be perfectly honest I hate it when I have a good lesson from the beginning as I want to learn how to correct any problems I have. She was brave doing it but obviously the results show that by being brave you come out on top!!
I think being a guinea pig is hard, BUT rewarding for you and your horse and to be perfectly honest I hate it when I have a good lesson from the beginning as I want to learn how to correct any problems I have. She was brave doing it but obviously the results show that by being brave you come out on top!!
carthorse
Well-Known Member
Yes but people are quick to criticise as we all know and forget they are just as bad or worse.
I am going to start calling you Liberachey[sp]I think it looks great especially in music classes under lights but outside in the rain not so good.I bet you are using 'star spangled banner 'music
I am going to start calling you Liberachey[sp]I think it looks great especially in music classes under lights but outside in the rain not so good.I bet you are using 'star spangled banner 'music
Halfstep
Well-Known Member
For me, the most interesting guinea pig was Mary Sharman and DHI Wohler. This wasn't an amazingly perfect horse; he came in quite spooky and tense and is quite long in the back and has an cresty neck. I loved the way Hubertus had her relax him, keeping it non-confrontational, not forcing him into the spooky corner until he was ready to go there. He also made the point that this horse's conformation made it physically impossible for his poll to be the highest point, but that you could still see that he was going correctly when he was swinging through the back. When Mary collected him and asked for more cadence he looked a different horse.
Fernandez was my favourite, and my word does Charlotte ride well. Horribly jealous. She had a few problems with him evading being completely engaged in the collected trot on the left rein by breaking into canter, but they worked through that patiently and he was much better by the second day.
Showtime came in looking a bit ponderous and slow, dragging his hind legs a bit, but went out looking like a super star. Everyone (including HS) could see how special Vivaldi is. He was totally unfazed by the atmosphere as well. He had to give a lead to the (much older) horse who came in after him!
It possibly wasn't as interesting as Anky and Sjef last year, but the work was extremely high quality and very traditional - German training at its best. I went home saying "Prima" and "Brav" all evening LOL!
Oh, and I got to meet Tempi, who made me feel like a dumpy dwarf. And I saw Bananaman briefly.
Wonder who it will be next year?
Fernandez was my favourite, and my word does Charlotte ride well. Horribly jealous. She had a few problems with him evading being completely engaged in the collected trot on the left rein by breaking into canter, but they worked through that patiently and he was much better by the second day.
Showtime came in looking a bit ponderous and slow, dragging his hind legs a bit, but went out looking like a super star. Everyone (including HS) could see how special Vivaldi is. He was totally unfazed by the atmosphere as well. He had to give a lead to the (much older) horse who came in after him!
It possibly wasn't as interesting as Anky and Sjef last year, but the work was extremely high quality and very traditional - German training at its best. I went home saying "Prima" and "Brav" all evening LOL!
Oh, and I got to meet Tempi, who made me feel like a dumpy dwarf. And I saw Bananaman briefly.
Wonder who it will be next year?
Tempi
Well-Known Member
LMAO - you certainly aren't dumpy or a dwarf!!!!
jackpalfreyman
Well-Known Member
i had a brilliant weekend too! echo everything already said. And would like to add- fernandez's piaffe oh my god! to die for.
Most irritating thing for me was the questions some people came up with! i felt he explained things really well and some peolpe were just making him repeat himself- and as for the person who tried to tell him he rides shoulder in wrong!!!
Most irritating thing for me was the questions some people came up with! i felt he explained things really well and some peolpe were just making him repeat himself- and as for the person who tried to tell him he rides shoulder in wrong!!!
carthorse
Well-Known Member
Most irritating thing for me was the questions some people came up with! i felt he explained things really well and some peolpe were just making him repeat himself- and as for the person who tried to tell him he rides shoulder in wrong!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
I hope that wasn't one of you on here !!!
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
OMG! I must have missed that one!
We did have some rather irritating 'experts' behind us who kept jabbering and when HS said something, one in particular kept on loudly...'mmm, yes, of course, blah, blah, blah'.
It made me wonder why they'd bothered to come if they knew it all already.
I did give them a 'look' or two but have to be a bit careful in case they were judges!
We did have some rather irritating 'experts' behind us who kept jabbering and when HS said something, one in particular kept on loudly...'mmm, yes, of course, blah, blah, blah'.
It made me wonder why they'd bothered to come if they knew it all already.
I did give them a 'look' or two but have to be a bit careful in case they were judges!
carthorse
Well-Known Member
Yes, they probably were judges and the type of judges that have not done well riding so thought they would judge instead!
FREESTYLER
Well-Known Member
Nope Carthorse.. just old fashioned Doo Whop 50's ROCK AND ROLL!!!
I too heard that question, the man asked which was right when doing shoulder in, to look down or to look to the side or in front I believe, as HIS riders were doing both!! which was correct and how did he ride a shoulder in and position himself. I think Schubert got a little confused at his question! I suppose the man with the question should have asked how does the rider position him/herself when riding a shoulder in...
Bannanman come on... loud irritating people like this we should learn from....we learn how to restrain ourselves, and conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner like our ma taught us.........or we learn how to totally lose it and tell them to shut the .
.... up!
I too heard that question, the man asked which was right when doing shoulder in, to look down or to look to the side or in front I believe, as HIS riders were doing both!! which was correct and how did he ride a shoulder in and position himself. I think Schubert got a little confused at his question! I suppose the man with the question should have asked how does the rider position him/herself when riding a shoulder in...
Bannanman come on... loud irritating people like this we should learn from....we learn how to restrain ourselves, and conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner like our ma taught us.........or we learn how to totally lose it and tell them to shut the .
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
LOL, Freestyler!
(PS You didn't bling out at the Classic Dressage stand did you? Those belts were amazing and I thought the spur straps were very nice too!
)
Actually, now you remind me exactly what was said, I can remember the question now.
I felt HS was a bit confused too and I remember he said something about turning the body into the movement but can't remember about where he said to look.
What I do is to turn my shoulders to mimic the horse's shoulders but turn my head to look where I'm going, ie down the track. Works for me.
Actually, now you remind me exactly what was said, I can remember the question now.
I felt HS was a bit confused too and I remember he said something about turning the body into the movement but can't remember about where he said to look.
What I do is to turn my shoulders to mimic the horse's shoulders but turn my head to look where I'm going, ie down the track. Works for me.
FREESTYLER
Well-Known Member
Nope, I did see them but hubby quickly dragged me away as I bought some new jodfurs there as my old ones had a hole in the crutch!! Too much sitting trot I believe!!
I had to get changed in the Judged box!!! Could not help ring the big bell in there too!! LOL!!! I awarded many 8's and 9's as I stood there in my bridget jones knickers and long johns!!!
On a serious note, what you do for Shoulder in I have been taught too...some of the questions were a little ummmmm...my hubby even said he would give me £500 to burp down the mic. just to get everyones attention again!! Needless to say, being a lady, I declined.....just!!!
On a serious note, what you do for Shoulder in I have been taught too...some of the questions were a little ummmmm...my hubby even said he would give me £500 to burp down the mic. just to get everyones attention again!! Needless to say, being a lady, I declined.....just!!!
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
some of the questions were a little ummmmm...my hubby even said he would give me £500 to burp down the mic. just to get everyones attention again!! Needless to say, being a lady, I declined.....just!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
PMSL!!!
Now that would have woken the old dears up!!!
some of the questions were a little ummmmm...my hubby even said he would give me £500 to burp down the mic. just to get everyones attention again!! Needless to say, being a lady, I declined.....just!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
PMSL!!!
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, it's all too easy to think that by buying the latest this or that that our riding and/or our horses will be transformed.
( Not having any digs as I'm as guilty as the next man here!)
Unfortunately it really is down to hard work and a desire to improve at the end of the day.
[/ QUOTE ]
Fraid as a mere peasant I just have to rely on good old hard work,
most of my tack has a collective age that would take it back to Roman times, and I only bought a double bridle for my old irish mare because some people were giving up and selling it for £30 complete.
As a non-dressage person, have I seen a picture of Vivaldi in a H&H in the last year, if it is the one I am thinking of I must admit that I did think it was rather special
please a clever person find a photo!
Yes, it's all too easy to think that by buying the latest this or that that our riding and/or our horses will be transformed.
( Not having any digs as I'm as guilty as the next man here!)
Unfortunately it really is down to hard work and a desire to improve at the end of the day.
[/ QUOTE ]
Fraid as a mere peasant I just have to rely on good old hard work,
As a non-dressage person, have I seen a picture of Vivaldi in a H&H in the last year, if it is the one I am thinking of I must admit that I did think it was rather special
please a clever person find a photo!
Bananaman
Well-Known Member
Found this quickly.
Tempi
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Nope, I did see them but hubby quickly dragged me away as I bought some new jodfurs there as my old ones had a hole in the crutch!! Too much sitting trot I believe!!
I had to get changed in the Judged box!!! Could not help ring the big bell in there too!! LOL!!! I awarded many 8's and 9's as I stood there in my bridget jones knickers and long johns!!!
[/ QUOTE ]
LMFAO
Nope, I did see them but hubby quickly dragged me away as I bought some new jodfurs there as my old ones had a hole in the crutch!! Too much sitting trot I believe!!
[/ QUOTE ]
LMFAO