Halfstep
Well-Known Member
I was lucky (thanks to the hospitality of an extremely kind friend! 
) to be able to spend three days at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, which was a fantastic and educational experience.
Notes:
1. Horses are ridden *much* more forwards and with far more impulsion than in the UK, from babies right up to the 6 yr olds. Those horses are MOVING, there is no riding with the handbrake half on as you come down the centre line.
2. Uvex helmets and short, tight jackets are very, very "in". Probably 80% of riders wearing helmets were wearing Uvex. The bling Uvex looks amazing in the sun. Browbands must be droopy and blingy, but dead sheep is definitely out.
3. German judges do not pull punches and are critical where it matters, regardless of who is riding. A German team rider was criticised for his riding in public (after each test in the final the marks are read out aloud and comments given).
4. Horses are extremely well behaved (in general) and even a load of 3 yr old stallions warming up together showed minimal antics. prize givings are mounted with lots of clapping, music and noise, and the horses just get on with it.
5. Audiences are very knowledgable (audible sigh from the crowd when a horse slightly missteps in a walk pirouette), and not precious or silent. People walk around, talk on the phone, take jackets off, etc. I saw a few spooks (Benicio, the truly wonderful winner of the 6 yr old final, spooked massively just before the bell rang, but went on to do a foot perfect test).
6. The last placed horses in most groups would probably be winners in the UK. The standard is quite beyond belief. And the quality of the riding is astonishing. I've never seen so many perfect seats in one place! Of course there were a few who weren't quite so polished, but in the main, nearly every single competitor had a classical seat and exceptional hands.
7. I really want a horse by Damon Hill.
Some photos:
Uta Graf on Damon Jerome H:
Uta Graf doing a demonstration on Le Noir, she rode the Grand Prix movements in a bitless bridle with no spurs, impressive:
Dorethee Schneider schooling her 5 yr old:
Christian Flamm in the 5 yr old small final:
5 yr old Sans Souci schooling:
one of the 5 yr old show jumpers:
4 yr old dressage horses (they go in groups of 3)
Apologies that the photos aren't great, they are off my phone!
(photos are off my phone, I'm not a photographer, but it gives an impression of the whole thing!)
) to be able to spend three days at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, which was a fantastic and educational experience. Notes:
1. Horses are ridden *much* more forwards and with far more impulsion than in the UK, from babies right up to the 6 yr olds. Those horses are MOVING, there is no riding with the handbrake half on as you come down the centre line.
2. Uvex helmets and short, tight jackets are very, very "in". Probably 80% of riders wearing helmets were wearing Uvex. The bling Uvex looks amazing in the sun. Browbands must be droopy and blingy, but dead sheep is definitely out.
3. German judges do not pull punches and are critical where it matters, regardless of who is riding. A German team rider was criticised for his riding in public (after each test in the final the marks are read out aloud and comments given).
4. Horses are extremely well behaved (in general) and even a load of 3 yr old stallions warming up together showed minimal antics. prize givings are mounted with lots of clapping, music and noise, and the horses just get on with it.
5. Audiences are very knowledgable (audible sigh from the crowd when a horse slightly missteps in a walk pirouette), and not precious or silent. People walk around, talk on the phone, take jackets off, etc. I saw a few spooks (Benicio, the truly wonderful winner of the 6 yr old final, spooked massively just before the bell rang, but went on to do a foot perfect test).
6. The last placed horses in most groups would probably be winners in the UK. The standard is quite beyond belief. And the quality of the riding is astonishing. I've never seen so many perfect seats in one place! Of course there were a few who weren't quite so polished, but in the main, nearly every single competitor had a classical seat and exceptional hands.
7. I really want a horse by Damon Hill.
Some photos:
Uta Graf on Damon Jerome H:
Uta Graf doing a demonstration on Le Noir, she rode the Grand Prix movements in a bitless bridle with no spurs, impressive:
Dorethee Schneider schooling her 5 yr old:
Christian Flamm in the 5 yr old small final:
5 yr old Sans Souci schooling:
one of the 5 yr old show jumpers:
4 yr old dressage horses (they go in groups of 3)
Apologies that the photos aren't great, they are off my phone!
(photos are off my phone, I'm not a photographer, but it gives an impression of the whole thing!)
