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Bringing the Fun to Dressage! Lecture Demo is a huge success.
On Saturday 7th June Fiddlers Green Stud welcomed dressage enthusiasts from across the south east in joining Daniel Watson and the FGStud Team in celebrating their second birthday. The aim of the demo was to promote correct training techniques whilst making it fun for horse and rider!
The afternoon began with FGS Lukas, a 5 year old gelding, ridden by Alex Wyatt. Daniel expressed the importance of training youngsters from behind and over the back from the beginning of their career. Initially Alex was asked to work FGS Lukas in a stretch, working long and low but still working the horse through into a consistent contact. Daniel then introduced raised trot poles, not only working on therhythm and enhancing the natural engagement of the hind leg, but also as a way of adding interest to the youngsters training.
Next Daniel introduced Nick, an 8 year old Irish sports horse. Although not your stereotypical ‘dressage horse’, Daniel discussed how through consistent correct training any horse can be taught to engage the hind leg to push from behind and be a fantastic fun competition horse. Within the canter work Nick had a tendency to go crooked and so Alex was asked to open the inside hand, freeing the shoulder so the hind leg could come through and under the horse to improve this. Nick then finished with a jump, which further aided in opening the horses back and frame.
Then Daniel took to the saddle himself, working with Chanel and Wild Angel on the basic gaits and on schooling movements to Advanced. Emphasis was placed on the riders position and the ability to sit on the hind legs whilst positioning the horse through the riders elbow to enable the horse to lift up through the shoulder. The afternoon came to a close with Daniolo. Daniel began by warming Daniolo up in much the same manor as FGS Lukas showing the audience that the fundamental systematic training of the horse is no different whether it is a youngster or competing at international level dressage. Daniel finished with a dressage to music display and encouraged the audience to gain consistent training and stick with it, so they too could reach their ultimate goals and enjoy Dressage!
Thankyou to every one for coming we hope you found the demo informative and fun!
On 4th May 2008 at 7.55pm the 4 year old mare 'FGS Daisy' (Dimaggio - Weltmeyer) gave birth to a beautiful chestnut filly by Brietling W. We are very proud of our new arrival!!!