Classical training video? Opinions?

[TarrSteps]

well as an average rider with several average horses - although 2 are spanish types the 3rd is a cob cross.... what I am trying to 'buy' when I have a lesson with a 'classical' trainer is advise on a training system which is light in leg and hand. And not to endlessly be told that I need to keep a lot of weight in the rein and to use enough leg to sweat off a few Easter eggs and probably spurs too until my horse learns to go into my contact. (I know you can train horses to collection without needing to go weight training first because yrs ago on someone else's horses I could produce work like on a light rein.)

so I am buying lightness - or should I say trying to because classical or traditional (and I will try anyone who I think might be useful regardless of lables) I have not had a deal of luck finding it. One instructor who lives 200 miles from me, and the best locally would never call her self classical in a million years.

Excellent, thank-you. That would be more or less my opinion (although, by 'average' I did mean non-Spanish so should have been more clear - I think they do benefit from a tailored approach). So in what way - aside from quality/level - does the video not demonstrate at least a version of that approach?

I'm not being argumentative, I think this is a very interesting discussion. If that is not Classical, as in not German Competitive, what is it?

 

[LMR]

I suppose I was expecting too much from the video, which I hadn't realised when I initially posted. I think I saw the classical way on the video then expected to see a perfect rider working with a perfect horse which is obviously not going to be the case.

Thinking back on it it seems ridiculous to have such high expectations! I generally try not to label things but feel I do work along the more classical lines.

Excellent, thank-you. That would be more or less my opinion (although, by 'average' I did mean non-Spanish so should have been more clear - I think they do benefit from a tailored approach). So in what way - aside from quality/level - does the video not demonstrate at least a version of that approach?

I'm not being argumentative, I think this is a very interesting discussion. If that is not Classical, as in not German Competitive, what is it?

 

[tristar]

to me the horse looks all over the place, hardly an example of classical training by this performance.

 

[loobylu]

It was fairly local to me, saw it advertised but then completely forgot about it. I would question whether the horse is regularly ridden by the rider- it's a livery yard with a dressage bias so perhaps he had never sat on the horse before? It may not have been in his system, could be someone's pride and joy all rounder.

 

[Blythe Spirit]

Excellent, thank-you. That would be more or less my opinion (although, by 'average' I did mean non-Spanish so should have been more clear - I think they do benefit from a tailored approach). So in what way - aside from quality/level - does the video not demonstrate at least a version of that approach?

I'm not being argumentative, I think this is a very interesting discussion. If that is not Classical, as in not German Competitive, what is it?

well personally I think it is 'classical' after a fashion, certainly more classical than it is 'germanic'. Only puzzled that if this chap is as good as some say why did he not choose a more flattering clip for his vid? oh and my spanish type horses are not very spanish - one is a 15hh Andalusian mongrel (ie not a PRE) but did actually come from Spain - one is a lippizanner half bred (other half anglo arab) bred in the UK, and the third is a cob x TB type who came from the gypsies at Stow Fair. But though I have trained each horse differently according to their varying temperaments, i have aimed for lightness and sensitivity with them all. Funny thing is the cob x is actually the most sensitive to the seat, though the lippi x has the best lateral work and the Spaniard I don't know what his forte will be yet - only had him 3 weeks....

 

[paddy]

Without any info as to the horse's background and level of training, it's hard to comment. I would have liked to have made some changes to the rider's position, but that's me. As to 'shoulder, hip and heel should always be in alignment', that's not necessarily always true either. In extended, your shoulders may need to be further back to keep the balance, and your legs further forwards to ask the leg to step through more. In collected work, your heel may be behind your shoulders to ask the legs to step 'up' more. And if you're taking your shoulders back to encourage your horse to 'sit' more, that doesn't mean your legs should be doing the same thing. So many generalisations in riding!