Classical dressage education is a valuable legacy for the sport of dressage. Preserving the heritage of teaching the correct seat, use of the aids and foundational basics to riders is essential to retain the horse’s mental and physical balance during training and competition. Classical dressage masters never rush a horse’s development, as they are guided by the masters before them. “‘I have time’ reminds the rider that the goal of the classical art of riding is to be attained only by the gradual increase of demands,” said the legendary Alois Podhajsky, former head rider at the Spanish Riding School.
One of the greatest dressage masters of the 20th century was Otto Lorke, and one of his most gifted students was Willi Schultheis. In April, along with Elskling Farm owners Sandra and Paul Wright, we hosted a clinic with certified German FN Master Dressage Instructor/Trainer Gerhard Politz, a former student of Schultheis’. Gerhard also trained with classical masters General Albert Stecken, FEI “O” Judge Brigadier Kurt Albrecht and Egon von Neindorff. Egon also taught the highly-respected classical dressage trainer and former owner of Elskling Farm, the late Dietrich Von Hopffgarten, for whom I was a working student.
Promoting these living masters with their old world approach to dressage training is my goal as they are agents of social change in the current riding culture. They bring awareness that the highest level of competitive dressage can be trained humanely if the rider becomes more disciplined and mindful of the horse’s mental and physical balance.