Highlights from Conrad Schumacher at the dressage symposium: Prepare. Do it. Reward

Yet, at the National Dressage Symposium April 12-14 at the Kentucky Horse Park, Schumacher presented a very systematic, clear program for developing the basics and bringing out the brilliance in the upper levels. Over 700 dressage enthusiasts watched as he worked horses from training level to grand prix.

Riders focused on the building blocks of the training scale-rhythm, relaxation, and contact. "You must have the scale of training in mind when training young horses," Schumacher said. Before the horse can perform with power and radiance, he must be solidly trained in the basics.

"Prepare. Do it. Reward," echoed in the indoor arena throughout the weekend. "Most of the mistakes come because we are too quick with our aids," Schumacher said, whether that is in a trot-walk transition or a flying change. He encouraged riders to think about the preparation, not the aid. Once the horse performed the desired movement, he was immediately rewarded.

The reward for the horse could be the removal of the aids, being allowed to go forward, or stretching. Giving the inside rein was the reward when the horse was correct in spiraling in and out on a circle. Extended canter down the long side was the compensation to the horse after a three-loop serpentine at the canter with no change of rein. The horses loved the rewards. Spectators immediately saw the results as the horses lifted their backs and stepped more underneath with their hind legs.

"[Schumacher] is very generous to the horses, " said clinic rider Tami Crawford.

The horses were stretched at all three gaits and in all movements, which resulted in better performance at all levels. "[Schumacher] uses stretching as a reward system," rider Christopher Hickey explained.

"[By doing this the horse] is not stressed, but he has learned," said Schumacher of the stretching technique.

It has been said that the difference between a good rider and a great rider is the amount of concentration applied in each moment. Schumacher implored the participants to ride with conviction and to tell themselves "I will." This slight shift in attitude made wondrous improvements happen in the horses. Changes were cleaner, piaffe had more power, and pirouettes were more brilliant.

"You must express the will to make it happen to the horse," Schumacher said.

For young horses, suppleness and control were built with serpentines and many transitions between and within gaits. Figures such as voltes and squares were used to engage the horse's hind legs before a transition to a new gait.

The same concept was applied to the upper level horses. At the walk, a half-pirouette was performed in the corner, followed by extended trot down the long side, with another walk half-pirouette in the corner. This served to activate the hind legs. An exercise to enhance collection was cantering quarter-pirouettes in each corner of a 10-meter square.

The ability to influence each step that the horse takes was the premise of Schumacher's system. This amount of control can only be achieved by years of correct training and an infinite number of progressively more challenging exercises. This regulation over the horse included the placement of the horse's neck, which Schumacher sees as an extension of the horse's back. "Neck control" was achieved by flexing the horse inside and outside during any movement without losing impulsion, bend, or contact.

"You must be able to ride the neck in all positions," Schumacher explained.

Schumacher cautioned riders against asking for compressed strides from a horse that is still finding its balance. "If you require collection too early, you ruin the young horse," he said. All of the young horses were ridden in very rhythmic working paces.

Working, medium, and extended gaits were interspersed with collection to keep the horses thinking forward. A horse practicing canter-walk transitions was kept forward by cantering down the long side. To keep the piaffe active, extended trot for half of a long side was followed by piaffe at B or E, which was followed by extension for the remainder of the long side.

Going forward always tremendously improved the engagement of the hind legs and freshened the horse. Even a hot horse was kept in front of the aids. Schumacher told one rider with a very hot horse, "The more you hold, the more of a fireball he becomes."

To demonstrate how adding power increased the brilliance of a movement, Heather Blitz and the Danish stallion Rambo rode extended canter on the diagonal followed by one-time changes on the next diagonal. "Those were some of the straightest, cleanest ones I have done on him," she said.

Finally, Schumacher believes that "most riders only do 80% of their potential because they are afraid to make mistakes." He reminded riders that if you make a mistake, "It is not a disaster."