90 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Bethany Peslar
It was so much fun watching the
Olympics, counting one tempis
and two tempis and inspecting the
quality of the piaffe and passage.
Many dressage riders aspire to
ride the grand prix movements; but
simply don’t have the opportunity
to learn the feel and aids for these
movements. That is where the
beloved schoolmaster can be the
perfect solution.
Schoolmaster is the term given
to horses that have advanced
training; but also have the
temperament to tolerate a rider
learning the movements. Many
highly schooled competitive
horses become schoolmasters in
their late teens after their brilliant
show careers are behind them.
Schoolmasters provide riders with
a unique educational experience
that only a well trained horse can
provide.
A wise teacher, the schoolmaster must be very solidly trained
and very experienced at its level of training. A good horse doesn’t
just do the work for the rider or perform when the wrong aids
are given; instead a good schoolmaster teaches the rider by
responding only when the correct aids are given. The horse must
also have patience in allowing the rider to repeat exercises while
they are learning them.
There are several misconceptions that may come to mind when
some people think of a schoolmaster. Some think schoolmasters
just carry the rider around and do the job for the rider. Actually,
most horses won’t respond or do what the rider is asking unless
they are ridden correctly. This is what makes a schoolmaster such
a valuable part of the rider’s education; they teach the rider to ride
correctly. For this same reason schoolmasters are not necessarily
easy to ride either. In fact, it can be a frustrating learning process
for the rider while they fgure out how to ride correctly and give
the correct aids. Some may also think if they’ve ridden and
learned from one schoolmaster they won’t beneft from riding
others. However it’s important to remember a rider’s education
never stops and you always learn from every horse you ride no
matter how experienced you are. Especially with schoolmasters,
the opportunity to ride more than one only broadens the rider’s
education.
Where to fnd the valuable and elusive schoolmaster is the
challenge. Many riders may not be able to afford to purchase a
horse of their own and aren’t sure where to gain access to one. It’s
not always necessary to purchase a schoolmaster. Depending on
the area you live in, there may be a trainer that has a schoolmaster
available for lessons. If you ride at a boarding barn, someone may
have a schoolmaster that they don’t have enough time for and
are willing to arrange a partial lease on the horse, or they may be
wiling to let you ride or take a lesson on the horse when they don’t
have enough time. This type of scenario can be common with
older serviceably sound horses. And if you are a working student,
many trainers have a schoolmaster for you to take lessons on as
part of their working student program.
So even if you don’t aspire to ride in the Olympics you may
want to investigate opportunities to ride a schoolmaster to take
your riding to a new level. It is worth the effort to seek out an
opportunity to ride this special horse. The schoolmaster is truly
an “equine dressage trainer” and offers riders a unique education.
About the Writer: Bethany Peslar is a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold
medalist and was a former Reserve Champion in the National Young
Adult Grand Prix Championship “Brentina Cup” at Gladstone. She
operates out of her own Everglades Dressage, in Wellington, Florida,
where she offers training at all levels, from beginners to Grand Prix, and
has developed a lesson program featuring both upper and lower level
schoolmasters for clients and students to ride. For more information visit
www.evergladesdressage.com.
Charlotte Weiss takes a lesson on Zoey, a dressage
schoolmaster
Photos by Johnny Robb
e
Trainer Talk
Dressage trainer Bethany
Peslar holds her two
schoolmasters, Zoey and
Amia