Philosophy and Training
Philosophy
Perfect aesthetics and harmony cannot always be measured in numbers and grades. Nevertheless, in my life as a professional athlete, it is a daily incentive to constantly improve and learn something new every day. From my horses, from the best trainers in the world, but also through my daily willingness to change perspectives and explore new paths.
My professional training began at a very professionally run training facility in North Rhine-Westphalia. The correct training of dressage horses according to the classical German training system was the reason I left my home country of Belgium.
One day, as a spectator at an international competition, I saw Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff riding, and I was fascinated by how a sporty, petite woman could, with seemingly effortless ease, lead large-framed horses to top marks in the world’s most difficult competitions. I wanted to learn about the training system behind her success and acquire the knowledge of her trainers. My instructor at the time explained to me how difficult it would be to get a job at such a dressage stable. He hoped I would have that opportunity, and I succeeded.
For this reason, even after completing my master’s examination, which I received with the Stensbeck medal, I have not yet started my own business. I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to work continuously for several years at Olympic dressage stables, including Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff’s Schafhof stud farm, the Bechtolsheimer family’s dressage stable in England, and Elisabeth Max-Theurer’s Schloss Achleiten dressage stable, each of which has won multiple medals. I now want to pass on this condensed knowledge with passion for both horse and rider.
Every day, I enjoy connecting with the horses entrusted to my care, as well as with the developmental stage of my students. Trust and mutual coordination are key to supporting horse and rider physically and mentally on their path to harmony and success.
My training concept is based on helping the student and the horse find the right time and the right developmental step for their individual path.
From the beginning of its training, the young horse already learns small mosaic pieces every day, similar to many small apps, which later, when added together, create a beautiful overall picture.
Training
Dressage at the highest level always requires holistic management of horse and rider. Physical and mental fitness are essential. Below, I would like to give you a brief insight into my training concept for horse and rider:
A good horse should be given room to develop from the very beginning. In addition to continuous development of its muscles, suppleness, straightness, and ability to collect, the horse, as an athlete, also needs opportunities for physical exercise. This ensures that the horse, as a sports partner, remains healthy, physically fit, and capable well into old age. The better the muscles are developed and maintained, the better the health of the skeleton, as well as the ligaments and tendons, will be maintained and promoted.
That’s why it’s a given for me to offer every horse a varied daily routine in addition to the actual training.
Depending on the individual needs of each horse, there are many options for supplementing training: daily pasture access, outdoor galloping, free jumping or jumping exercises under the rider, handwork/ground work, physiotherapy, or aqua training. Social interaction with other horses and natural movement patterns support your four-legged friend’s well-being and thus contribute to important mental balance and emotional satisfaction. In addition to the quality of life for the horses, this aspect is also of considerable importance for the performance and willingness of our animals.
Through decades of working with dressage horses, including World Championships, the training system is optimally designed to prepare each individual horse for the upcoming competition. The muscles require phases of work to develop their full strength at the right moment during the competition, but also intervals of relaxation, with a greater focus on movement phases and training of the respective antagonists to ideally support the horse’s muscle tone.
The rider as an athlete:
Everyone thinks and acts differently, and has different strengths and weaknesses. As a trainer, I want to be able to empathize with my students as best as possible, so that I can mentally understand why the rider reacts one way or another in a given situation.
This allows me, through ongoing collaboration, to prevent student mistakes in advance and equip them with the tools to learn from their mistakes and increasingly understand how the human can adapt so well to their horse’s reactions that communication difficulties or mistakes can be avoided before they even arise or can be noticed by a spectator or tournament judge.
Working with good linguistic images to convey a certain feeling to the student, but also mental preparation for tournaments and specific goals, are a focus of my coaching work that should not be underestimated.
For a successful competition career and a stylish appearance at all events, the entire team around rider and horse must be in perfect harmony. This applies during training, the journey to the competition, on the show grounds, and during the final preparation for the test to ensure peak performance.