CDJ masterclass

HayleyUK

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Literally just a copy and paste of the notes I made at the CDJ masterclass yesterday - it was fantastic. Really enjoyed seeing training and work in progress rather than the show ready polished end result. Adored the ‘very ordinary’ in Charlotte’s own words mare that they brought out - she was a firecracker!!


Think about what your good at and what your not good at - do the things your not good at, what’s the point in doing the stuff you’re good at?

5yo
If you can’t stretch at the start, that’s fine - they need to learn to do it, so teach them at the end when they’re tired.

No more than 30min with walk breaks on young horses - aim for the basics. Good transitions, good ryth, suppleness. Build the foundations for the future.

If they learn badly now; it will bite you further up the levels. Don’t rush the education but be disciplined - ‘was that good enough?’ Train at home what you expect in the arena.

Half halt to slow the hind legs and rebalance. Slow the rising and make the transition. Must be forward in the downward transition - if you use too much hand; they’ll hollow and come against you.

What happens if you let go of the reins? It’s okay if they come slightly above the bit but expect that they stay in the same tempo/don’t fall on the forehand/hollow

Holding them on the bit creates stiffness - shouldn’t be strong, should be even and light. Should be able to move the rein with them.

Click, kick and go. Pat and reward the forward.

Hand lower and wider; then push forward to stretch them down. Take the nose down and out to stretch the topline.

7yo
Use the lateral work to deal with spooking; don’t make a huge deal out of the issue but just gently move them around. Keep them occupied mentally.

LY off the CL; think about the shoulders being slightly in front, move them off the leg. Only has flexion not bend. Needs to be upright through the shoulder, not falling out through the shoulder.

Use on and back to help bring them sitting back on their hocks and lifting through the shoulder.

SI doesn’t have a bend - just a flexion to the inside.

Corners are so important.

Always correct the halt by stepping forward.

Do more on the side you find difficult to make it better and as good as the easier side. Work the more difficult side first.

SF - is not a shoulder in, just bringing the shoulders slightly to the inside to help with the straightness and encourage the sit and bringing the inside hind under the body.

You must let go of the front if you are going to kick click and go - it won’t achieve anything if you hold the front and they can’t go.

If they’re getting down on the forehand; tip the balance the other way by putting the weight on the hinds. Think walk with the reins and canter with your legs to make the canter small and then ride forwards out of it, then back again. Softening the neck if they come a bit against you.

If they bend left naturally don’t pull them round left - straighten the neck with the right to keep them straight and stop them falling in down the inside shoulder

Medium/Advanced Medium

Use the give and retake to check they’re in self carriage and your hand is independent from your seat and leg aids - if you’re holding them together, something will change

Always allow forward with the hand but don’t throw the contact away. The horse must step forwards into the bridle

Teach the flying change on a figure 8 across the short side so you’re using the turn to keep the canter short and small and the wall to encourage them not to run on/sit them back.

Canter on a large circle - SF/Traver to increase suppleness and get them stepping off the inside leg. Start of the piri.

If you touch with the whip or leg and get a buck or something - keep the pressure on until they go forward and then take it away and pat.

Making a mistake doesn’t matter; that’s what training is about. If you don’t make a mistake you can’t learn; it’s how you correct it that matters

CDJ riding Valencia

It’s never perfect in training; but if they’re offering then don’t punish. Just go again.

Praise them when it’s good, and correct when it’s not.

It’s not a race to get there; if other people are doing different levels that doesn’t matter. Every horse is on its own journey and needs different amounts of time. Take your time and build a solid basic foundation; the tricks are the easy part.

Don’t over ride and do too much; sit and hold the reins without holding them onto the bit and kicking to keep them going

Nothing should come from tension or being forced; they shouldn’t be stressed or worried. Winning isn’t everything, sometimes the win comes from the training and the partnership.

It’s very easy for people on the outside to be critical and pick fault, but very hard to be on top doing the riding.

GP
Canter LY is really good suppling and keeping them upright exercise. Use it in training varying the angle to make it more/less difficult

Take a risk and be brave; especially in training. You can make a mistake - if you sit there looking nice and pretty - the judges won’t give you big marks.
 

be positive

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It sounds so simple broken down like that, and most of it is simple in theory, it is being consistent, allowing them to go forward and really establishing the basics that is so important.
 

milliepops

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thanks for posting :) I almost went but in the end was so ill yesterday it was better to stay at home in bed :(
 

HayleyUK

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Thank you, must have been a great day! Could you elaborate on "click, kick and go" please?

so basically, this was her way of getting horses hotter off the leg and rewarding them after doing some collection work for example.

If they’re a bit lazy, behind the leg etc - come down the long side and click, give a leg aid to go and really GO down the long side.
 

HayleyUK

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It sounds so simple broken down like that, and most of it is simple in theory, it is being consistent, allowing them to go forward and really establishing the basics that is so important.

Her whole ethos was very much teach them to be reactive, forward, balanced, supple and straight - then everything thereafter is easy and the tricks are much easier to teach.

Thank you for posting this. I am going to print off and keep. My local trainer worked for CDJ for three years and I definitely recognise many of the above comments!
She was fabulous, I really enjoyed it.

thanks for posting :) I almost went but in the end was so ill yesterday it was better to stay at home in bed :(

oh no :( hope you’re feeling better!
 
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