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Von Neindorff on Dressage

On riders and riding:

"As a rider, I am not allowed to interfere with the horse. I would be interfering if I had a bad seat."
"It is important to have not just any horse, but a well-trained school horse. This takes time and effort and requires constant continuing effort."
"When you have ridden from home only one horse, it is impossible to understand what the horse is telling you."
"The correct sort of rider has to keep in mind not only dressage but the character and conformation of his horse. No rider should be desperate because he cannot obtain perfection in classical dressage. He may reach it. At the least, he can open the door and look in."
The good rider knows not to disturb the horse. The result will be the rider sitting on the horse [who is] flying underneath him in harmony -- a horse that dances with his partner."
"You can ask the horse to do maneuvers, but the important part is how you ask."

On the goals of dressage:

"Where we lose sight of classical dressage: Some modern competitive horses can mechanically do the movements; but if the movements are not from a supple, carefully gymnasticized horse, the movements are not correct. This way is very time - expensive."

Riding with von Neindorff

I spent five days last summer riding with Egon von Neindorff. For an adult beginner rider, most of whose dressage experiences have been aboard my sixteen - year - old Quarter Horse mare, Diala, the opportunity to ride six very different horses in seven lessons was the experience of a lifetime.

My first day, I was assigned a seventeen - hand Rhinelander/Belgian - cross mare, Duchesse (also known as "Mommy" because she arrived at the Reitinstitut in foal). I am only five feet four inches tall, and Duchesse was the tallest horse I had ever ridden. I was sure I would not be able to sit her trot, but I could. On my second day, Duchesse even gave me the gift of a true extended trot.

The following morning, I rode Charly, a handsome gray Lipizzaner (see picture) who is so light, responsive, and cooperative that he tries to give his rider anything she requests -- even if he has to guess at the aids! As we worked on walk - canter transitions, I gushed, "I love him! I wish I could take him home." Von Neindorff smiled and reminded me, "All aids must come in unison. Javol! (Yes, correct!)"

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That same evening, I had a longe lesson on a beautiful bay Spanish stallion, Alamarente, who is featured in von Neindorff's video. His gaits are smooth, easy to sit, and rhythmic -- perfect for a longe horse. Alamarente helped me to understand the "seedlings" of the dressage seat.

My next lesson was aboard Reosa, a 14.2 Lipizzaner mare, whom I rode through the pillars and then half-passed to the wall.

The next day, my last at the Reitinstitut, I rode Schneeman, probably the most experienced of the horses I was assigned. Schneeman gave me the gift of passage and, seeming to know that no introduction to classical dressage would be complete without a few "airs above the ground," gave me the tiniest taste -- probably his way of expressing his dislike of my seat!

I returned that afternoon for a final longe lesson the beautiful four - year - old, dapple - gray Romanian Lipizzaner mare Rulaska. My instructor was Tom, a trainer from Belgium who was himself taking a "refresher course" with von Neindorff. "Try to lengthen your leg, keeping it whispering to the horse's sides," Tom told me. "As your leg becomes longer, you appear more regal, making your horse appear more regal, too."

Even now, months after my trip to Germany, I am trying to absorb everything von Neindorff and his horses had to offer. I take comfort in one insider's comment that students come to ride at the Reitinstitut, but a true understanding of what they have experienced may not come for weeks or even months.

Her Own Classical Tradition

Writer Kyra Beth Houston, who until the fall of 1997, led America Online's Dressage MiniForum, rode with Egon von Neindorff on her first visit to Germany last summer -- during which she also interviewed rider / trainer Klaus Balkenhol for our November 1997 "Insight" article.

Kyra Beth returned to the Reitinstitut in October for its 50th - anniversary gala, attended by the mayor of Karlsruhe and featuring quadrilles, in - hand airs above the ground and sidesaddle dressage riding.

On her return trip, Kyra Beth spent a week at the Reitinstitut as a "simulated cavalry recruit." She fed, cleaned stalls, groomed, and swept aisles, but "didn't have to polish boots or salute." With another week's worth of longe lessons under her belt, she returned home to Oklahoma to begin working with her new horse, a Grand Prix schoolmaster.

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