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Developing the Canter through Counter Canter.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:09:05 +0000

Since one of the secrets to a great canter is through “balance” it should come as no surprise that the best way to improve your canter is through the counter canter. One can’t just start riding 20m counter canter circles though, and expect their horse to stay balanced, rhythmic etc. The counter canter needs to [...]

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How to ride a perfect circle.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:07:47 +0000

One of my pet peeves at shows is to see otherwise splendid riders and horses spoil an otherwise excellent test by riding terrible geometry! Circles need to be circles! This simple exercise will teach you how to consistently ride a perfect circle of any size, anywhere, even out in a field without dressage letters and [...]

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Counter Pattern, change of rein into the corner.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:06:30 +0000

Counter Patterns are exercises ridden in a fashion that is counter (or opposite) to the norm. Examples include “counter” bending, “counter” canter, “counter” change of hand and the focus of this article, “counter” change of rein into the corner. This is a rather simple exercise and a rather short article, however, the athletic developmental value [...]

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Warming Up - Part 3, at the Trot.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:01:44 +0000

Now that you have stretched your horse laterally, from side to side, it is time to ask for some stretch longitudinally. This exercise over trotting poles is wonderful for teaching your horse to reach over his back and stretch into your hand. The transition between canter and trot and back to canter is developed using [...]

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Warming Up - Part 2, at the Trot.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:57:41 +0000

The last post I made on this subject we had completed the walk warm up, stretching our horse from side to side and initiating some lateral stretching of the abductors and adductors. Now we will use the same series of patterns for the trot. It is important to confirm these exercises at the walk before [...]

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Warming Up - Part 1, At the Walk.

blogmeister — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:32:43 +0000

This exercise plan is primarily for horses that are showing Training Level and above. For young horses just starting one must be careful not to use much rein contact at the walk for this can ruin the walk quickly. Since the walk has no natural impulsion, too much work with contact at the walk can [...]

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More Pas de Deux!

blogmeister — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:43:27 +0000

I have just returned home from a week and a half road trip. On this trip I visited Huntsville Alabama, twice actually, and worked with my students there, Debi Gilbert and Donna Barnes. Debi and Donna ride two beautiful half brothers, a black purebred Arabian named Serr Rafiq and a black Anglo-Arabian named Prince Bashir. [...]

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USDF National Award for Pas de Deux!

blogmeister — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:54:41 +0000

Originally posted Nov. 2006 Big congratulations to Krowchuk Dressage students; Donna Barnes on her Black Purebred Arabian gelding Serr Rafiq and Debi Gilbert on her Black Anglo-Arabian gelding Prince Bashir! This wonderful team won the 2006 USDF (United States Dressage Federation) Pas de Deux National Level Award, besting teams of all breeds. Once again, good solid [...]

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Training Techniques

blogmeister — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:34:38 +0000

I have been asked to share some of the training techniques that I use, so I have created this area for that very purpose. I will try to post a new exercise here, with graphics, as often as the mood strikes me. If you have a favorite exercise that you would like to share, please [...]

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GDCTA Sponsored Kudzu Klinic

blogmeister — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:07:45 +0000

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching the April 2007 Kudzu Klinic for the GDCTA. Details follow below: Originally published on the GDCTA website. GDCTA Sponsored Kudzu Klinic April 14-15, 2007 Dressage with Chris Krowchuk at Camelot Farm in Moreland, GA The Kudzu Klinic program is an opportunity for GDCTA members to participate in low cost clinics [...]

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