Always keep in mind that your hand is here to put your horse in a correct position ; to release tensions and therefore enable the horse to find his good balance, according to the muscles and strenght he has - the stronger topline and hindlegs, the more collected.
Don't let your horse rush in an incorrect position, don't let him get heavy on the bit or tense in his jaw : it is your responsability to relax your horse and make him do a correct gymnastic of his whole body.

Here is a link to Dr Heuschmann drawings and short info about few different frames.

And here is a quote he is using from the German Military handbook (Heeresdienstvorschrift) from 1912 :

„You can tell that a horse is supple when the horse is in rhythm in trot, covers ground, steps forward without hurrying, swings out of a supple back and carries its tail without tension.“

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.