important for loosening the horse’s topline. another of Pape’s favorite exercises are what he called “wake-up calls” with the leg, often in the form of quick walk-trot transitions: applying the leg when the horse is behind the leg and then becoming passive with the leg when the horse gives the correct reaction. it is not good to ask with the leg all the time, he said. he starts this exercise when the horse is three VARiETY: Clinician Scott Hassler helps Erin Shea introduce her three-year-old KWPN stallion, Foster RW, to years old so that he learns cavaletti during the Sport Horse Prospect Development Forum to respond to ever-lighter aids. to help the horse On Balance understand what is desired of him, Pape rides the walk-trot transitions in the same place in the ring, using lighter aids on the frst day of the forum, as each horse fnished his session, he was unsaddled so that the audience and the each time. as erin Shea warmed up her three-year-old KWPn stal- clinicians could evaluate his conformation and physical lion, Foster rW, the horse started with good balance, relax- development. hassler used the opportunity to access each ation, and contact in trot and canter. Shea’s question to the horse’s weight, explaining that he has seen too many overclinicians: What now? Pape recommended not lateral work, weight three-year-olds; and to look at the balance of each but work on straightness, transitions within and between horse from withers to hindquarters. if a horse is growing at gaits, and adjustments to the stride length. he advised Shea this stage and quite high behind, it may be better to wait for to vary the work while ensuring that she does not overface a while before resuming training, he said. one of the highlights of the forum was the opportunity the horse—perhaps a lunge-line session one day, a ride the to ask questions during the training sessions. Te audience next, and a hack the next, for instance. Because Foster rW was able to take a good contact, Pape of professional riders, trainers, and judges made fascinatfrequently instructed Shea to let the horse go long and low in ing comments and asked intelligent questions as each horse the trot and canter—not on loose reins but with contact. a was worked. hassler concluded the forum as he began, reminding all proper stretch, he explained, shows the correctness of one’s training. Pape had each rider end the session in a long and in attendance to focus on starting horses correctly. “have a low stretch, with the horse swinging forward into the contact. clear purpose for everything you do. Te best training of the as we progressed in the training scale with the four- horse is a good decision, end of story. respect the horse,” he year-olds, Pape advised always thinking forward, not quick- said. “We are our horse’s coach, so we have to make good er. Keep the rhythm, he said, remembering that the work is decisions and guide them along the way.” s easier for the horse when he is straight. he commented that there is a short time window on every forward driving aid: never compromise on the up transition; it is oK to comPeggy Halpin is an adult amateur dressage rider and trainer. promise on a down transition, but never up. She is currently training two young Dutch Warmbloods, Eza as Pape worked with the more balanced three-year-olds Vita SSF (UB40 x Contango) and Finley MG (Navarone x and the four-year-olds, he started requesting half-halts, Burggraaf ), at her home in Vermont. She contributes articles with inside fexion to outside rein followed by a softened to the New England Dressage Association and Dressageinside rein to improve the swing and relaxation in the back. MeetingOnline.com, among others. USDF ConneCtion
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