nevis
Well-Known Member
I'm finally home after a 12 hr drive (wee detour into Wales and Cheshire to escape todays M6 drama) from 3 days at the Unicorn Trust and the Gerd Heuschmann Clinic.
Sorry if I've missed posts already this week... just wanted to say what a stunningly brilliant 3 days I have had and would highly recommend anyone to audit a clinic and if you can take a session.
I think you really have to sit in on the biomechanics lecture to see where he is coming from with the ridden work - although he does explain his every action for any new person arriving...
I watched 8 or 9 horses a day - ALL without exception showed a dramatic if not drastic transformation from their various issues to a loose, swinging, forward thinking movement that was seeking the light hand from the soft seat.
Horses varied in age, discipline and issues (as did the riders...)... but all had the audience gasping with the transformation.
What did drop my jaw was the news that one or two of the riders came out of their sessions complaining about what they had been asked to do... "oh but my horse HAS to be cranked in in front" ... from a horse that had entered in a stilted giraffe walk looking like 3 horses photoshopped together and left in the beginnings of loose forward self carriage and looking like he belonged on the front page of H & H (apologies if you recognise yourself - your horse is stunning!).
I think the riders who came in with an open mind to try something new (because what they were doing for whatever reason wasn't working!!!) had a mindblowingly life changing time - the 2 girls who had sessions all 3 days had horses who came out each day looking visibly more up and open in front and swinging power behind.
Those who came to get a pat on the back and didn't get it were a bit miffed.
There was a stunning rescue mare today who Gerd rode ... he gave a wee speech on how "working the horse with pink cotton wool balls is not always helpful" - I think saying, yes she has had a brutal time but do still treat her as a horse. There was a bit of give and take on both sides and the first opportunity he had to say to the horse with his technique THERE well done now stretch - and she took it with no agenda. I confess I cried.
The funny bit was that he had just given his wee speech on how a horse is a flight animal and how all flight animals brace before they flee etc blah... then a fast jet screamed overhead, we all levitated, Gerd was soft in his seat and they both just carried on. The rider got back on and I think was really able to ride the horse for the first time.
He did some amazing work with novice to advanced medium and beyond but that rescue mare to me is proof that the mans techniques are as far removed from hardness and rollkur as you can get. If you want to have an opinion - please do go watch an ENTIRE session!
Oh aye - those pictures and the thread earlier this year on the Friesian - apparently he got on it and it more or less bolted, he used his strength to stop it - and the picture was taken... sadly the camera jockey didn't stay til the end of the session to see what happened 20 minutes later.
OK, enough from me, the 12 hour drive gave me so much time to mull over and I had to share. The car is full of toffees and sport mixture which I am happy to share!
ps he is at Waterstock tomorrow I believe if you are close by!
Sorry if I've missed posts already this week... just wanted to say what a stunningly brilliant 3 days I have had and would highly recommend anyone to audit a clinic and if you can take a session.
I think you really have to sit in on the biomechanics lecture to see where he is coming from with the ridden work - although he does explain his every action for any new person arriving...
I watched 8 or 9 horses a day - ALL without exception showed a dramatic if not drastic transformation from their various issues to a loose, swinging, forward thinking movement that was seeking the light hand from the soft seat.
Horses varied in age, discipline and issues (as did the riders...)... but all had the audience gasping with the transformation.
What did drop my jaw was the news that one or two of the riders came out of their sessions complaining about what they had been asked to do... "oh but my horse HAS to be cranked in in front" ... from a horse that had entered in a stilted giraffe walk looking like 3 horses photoshopped together and left in the beginnings of loose forward self carriage and looking like he belonged on the front page of H & H (apologies if you recognise yourself - your horse is stunning!).
I think the riders who came in with an open mind to try something new (because what they were doing for whatever reason wasn't working!!!) had a mindblowingly life changing time - the 2 girls who had sessions all 3 days had horses who came out each day looking visibly more up and open in front and swinging power behind.
Those who came to get a pat on the back and didn't get it were a bit miffed.
There was a stunning rescue mare today who Gerd rode ... he gave a wee speech on how "working the horse with pink cotton wool balls is not always helpful" - I think saying, yes she has had a brutal time but do still treat her as a horse. There was a bit of give and take on both sides and the first opportunity he had to say to the horse with his technique THERE well done now stretch - and she took it with no agenda. I confess I cried.
The funny bit was that he had just given his wee speech on how a horse is a flight animal and how all flight animals brace before they flee etc blah... then a fast jet screamed overhead, we all levitated, Gerd was soft in his seat and they both just carried on. The rider got back on and I think was really able to ride the horse for the first time.
He did some amazing work with novice to advanced medium and beyond but that rescue mare to me is proof that the mans techniques are as far removed from hardness and rollkur as you can get. If you want to have an opinion - please do go watch an ENTIRE session!
Oh aye - those pictures and the thread earlier this year on the Friesian - apparently he got on it and it more or less bolted, he used his strength to stop it - and the picture was taken... sadly the camera jockey didn't stay til the end of the session to see what happened 20 minutes later.
OK, enough from me, the 12 hour drive gave me so much time to mull over and I had to share. The car is full of toffees and sport mixture which I am happy to share!
ps he is at Waterstock tomorrow I believe if you are close by!
I managed to make it to the lecture on the first day - feeling very sceptical due to the recent bad publicity - but was pleasently surprised by an informative, sensible, and not in the least dogmatic dicussion, about the biomechanics of riding and what happens if you do x and why this might have an impact. Where there was little evidence to back it up he said so, and where it had been well discussed and researched he also said so. To be fair to him he didn't profess to be the world's best rider, but one that tried to understand how the horse worked in order to be able to make it work better. 
