I am very lucky to be riding in this clinic with a beautiful young thoroughbred off the tracks owned by the Elite Equine Group. I think it will be a great lesson to improve the quality of contact and throughness - especially interesting with a horse who was racing. And, of course, especially interesting with the classical expert of contact and flexions : the Colonel Carde.

Here are all the info about the clinic which starts this Sunday.


MKB Dressage / Waterbury Dressage Center Welcome

         Colonel Christian Carde
         Former Head Trainer of Cadre De Noir - French National School 
         Former French Team Coach - International " I " Dressage Judge

When: Sunday October 11 to Wed Oct 14 , 2009
Where: Waterbury Dressage Center  19 Telsar Lane, Warwick, NY 10990

Christian Carde is renown globally for his "old world " principles and techniques regarding correct classical training for competition dressage horses. He is an expert at in hand and long reining but most noted for his ground work in piaffe and passage. His academic education from Gen. Alexis Francois L'Hotte and Gen. Albert Decarpentary are among his greatest directives. But he cites Nuno Oliveria and Willi Schutheis (both whom he trained with) as the two most influential horsemen in his life. Come see this true equestrian artistic master at work and train your eye towards " the classical way ". 


For more information: rider / auditor application contact :
Margaret K Boyce /MKB Dressage at : (201) 248 - 5538 cell or (201) 262 - 3257 home 
MKBDressage1@verizon.net

 
 

Click here to read the full report I did for the Association Allège-Idéal.

That was really an amazing week-end, with a lot of great people, including of course the three dressage masters, who did not hesitate to take strong positions : "ban the drawing reins" (Heuschmann), "you don't need side-reins", "terrible influence of dressage divas who are more interested by medals than by classicism" (Carde), "it's very sad to see the 3/4 years old on the auctions catalogs pictures, they are already put to piaffe and look like 8 years old" (Balkenhol)... And so on ! Please read the report, it really worth it, as it is very unfrequent to hear such things in a big public event.
Balkenhol, Carde and Heuschmann are very precious people !

 
 

 "*Equitation, just like other activities does evolve, particularly competitive Dressage*

What is specific about this evolution is that we are changing the way in which Dressage is conducted but the rules stay the same.  In other words, as with music, the same notes can be played, but in a different manner.  This poses problems in judging the tests and what is more these training methods are copied from those who win, which is quite logical.  So if the judgement regularly poses different points of view, the methods also will not be unanimous.  The recent upsetting cases are proof of this.  The new world came to us with this idea:  what about giving a point on what is done and what should be done? 

Klaus Balkenhol , a dressage rider with an impressive record and US Dressage Team National Trainer together with Gerd Heuschmann, a world famous vet, agreed with your servitor to take part in a symposium.
This aims at taking stock on this matter as well as to propose some ideas to ensure the continuation of the discipline and will take place in New York on October 18th.  German and French people discuss together about the high school.  Here is an all passionate challenge about to start.  I warmly thank these people for their involvement.  I am proud to be part of it."

Colonel Christian Carde   


Here is the link to Maplewood Warmblood website.

It takes place October 18th and 19th.
The Colonel Carde, Klaus Balkenhol and Dr. Gerd Heuschmann (see Readings) will be the main speakers !
There'll be great riders for the clinics.