Thursday January 15, 2004

2004 NADTC Symposium at Dressage Center International with Ingrid Klimke and Dr. Volker Moritz

On the Lunge Line with Ingrid Klimke

The mounted sessions began with Jackie Paxton's 3 year old stallion, Picarde, by the Hanoverian sire Picaro. Picarde was just beginning his education on the lunge line and had been ridden 3 times prior to the symposium. He was quite excited by his new surroundings and the large crowd. Ms. Klimke took over the lungeing in order to make him more obedient. "He must be obedient from the beginning," she said. "If he runs over you, get in front of him and stop him quickly."

Ms. Klimke wanted the aids (whether on the ground or under saddle) to be quick and definite, especially with a stallion. She wanted him in front of her aids from the very beginning, even on the lunge line. She likes to use long side reins or long running reins from early on to encourage the horses to stretch down. Picarde improved very much on the lunge line, and Jackie got on and did a little walk, trot and his first canter under saddle, on the lunge. Klimke wanted active, forward gaits with very soft, even contact. Jackie then walked him briefly off of the lunge line before dismounting. Klimke reminded the auditors that the horse's education begins on the ground, with good manners. "The horse must work for you and with you from the beginning," she said.