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The Anky way of training does seem to be the reason why the top international horses are so fluent and supple. The way that so many of us have been shown (as per the question) you must support your hands with the leg, and keep your legs on at all times, does leave room for confusion and resistance. Anky took her legs off the horse and was quite forward, and often did not have that 'wrapped around the horse' appearance that we have been told is the right way to sit a dressage horse! |
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The screen in the main arena
which, during the Mane Event, featured film clip of the acts or footage filmed from a
different angle so that all of the audience could see everything. The curtains through to the stabling area, are just under this screen. |
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Dirk Dijkstra on his very
talented stallion Just de Pomme. This imported horse with more of a reputation as a
showjumper, can really move and Anky took advantage of this talent to show how the
transitions can be used to engage the hind legs and make the horse more responsive. Anky and Dirk know each other quite well and there was a little 'Dutch thing' happening between them. Anky gave some cheek and got some back. |
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Anky took Dirk through a very
interesting and valuable lesson of putting the horse on a straight line and going into
shoulder in, then to shoulder out. The same idea from half pass to leg yield, which
has the effect of maintaining the straightness of the horse's body but moving his head and
neck around. After a few practises to get the hang of it, it was easy to see the
benefit of of this ability to move the horse's head and neck. From this exercise, Anky talked Dirk through the flying changes which improved greatly when straightness could be observed and maintained. Dirk finished with an explosive extended trot and boy ...can this horse move! |
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That's better Dirk, when you can
keep him straight, you can keep control of his hind legs and his balance in the changes. Everyone could see the differences Anky's help had been to the quality of Just de Pomme's flying changes.
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Kate Boyes and her Cleveland Bay
cross gelding, Octavius of Neika. This horse is just at the start of his Grand Prix
career. Kate has spend a great deal of time with Mary Hanna and is now working independently from the beautiful Hidden Vallen Equestrian Centre in Wallan in Victoria. |
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Anky went through her
explanation of the independence of the hands and the legs and helped Kate with an
effective warm-up. She then encouraged Kate to vary the canter work - forward and back to very collected. "Now put his quarter in, now straight ... quarters in, and straight" This exercise was the preparation for a soft and energetic canter pirouette, and after considerable preparation, Kate was able to ride some very nice full pirouettes, which demonstrated balance, rhythm and lift. |
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Now the other way, and
Kate is better able to understand just what Anky is looking for. Straight, quarters in,
straight, quarters, balance, rhythm and around. Well done Kate, and a big thank you
to Anky for showing us how to do it. Such a simple exercise and yet so effective in this, the most demanding of movements in the canter. So often horses lose their balance, and the rhythm slows to accomodate the stepping out action that the horse needs to employ just to get around - we see this so often that we lose sight of the fact that it is not correct. |
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Anky
Van Grunsven Masterclass - Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 |
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In the break between horses and riders, Anky gave every chance to
ask questions when the spectators seemed reluctant to do so, Anky joked, " that makes
me feel good, I must have been very clear" |
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