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Wednesday, May 03 2017 / Published in General

Christine Traurig on Riding & Dressage

A sought-after trainer and clinician, American Olympic dressage rider Christine Traurig was born and raised on her parents’ breeding farm near Verden, Germany. She rode and trained for the Hanoverian Elite Sales in Verden before moving to the United States in 1982, where she assisted Bernie Traurig in operating an import and sales business of dressage horses and jumpers. Christine and Bernie were instrumental in establishing the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Team and Federation. With her equine partner Etienne, Christine was a member of the 2000 Sydney Olympic bronze medal team. She now operates Christine Traurig Dressage Stables, Inc. in Rancho Santa Fe, California. She conducts clinics and symposiums all over the U.S. and in 2015, was appointed to the position of USEF National Coach for Young Dressage Horses. Do you have a question you want Christine to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

What tips do you have for conquering nerves before a competition?

The best way I dealt with nerves before competition was that I stayed in my “bubble.” I always had a detailed schedule for how to get myself and my horse ready, right up to that very moment I would get on my horse for the warm-up. Everything was laid out to the minute; I stayed very involved with my horse, like hand walking, grooming, braiding or cleaning my tack and my boots. I would make time to sit ringside to do my imagery (memorizing the test and then visualizing myself in the arena and riding the test in my mind from movement to movement). I would not watch other riders or talk to them about their rides and let their performance affect my plan of how to ride the test on my horse. I always stuck to: Don’t think negative thoughts like, “What if I have a mistake in the two tempis!” Think the positive and good into being and stay in your “bubble.”

How do you suggest riders keep from getting “burnt out” on the lower levels and giving up? 

Burnout at lower levels can only happen if the rider has unrealistic expectations about herself/himself or the horse. Nothing in riding is about instant gratification; everything is about development and progress over time. I often hear students talk to each other saying, “My lesson was so boring, I stayed on a 20-meter circle doing transitions the whole time. I didn’t even get to do a shoulder-in.” That’s where the problem starts.

Who was your inspiration when you started riding and why?

My inspiration as a kid was Mrs. Helga Koehler, the wife of the former director of the Hanoverian Elite Sales in Verden, Germany. When I was 13, she took me under her wing. She was an amazing horsewoman, a fantastic jumper rider and dressage rider to grand prix. All her jumpers could piaffe and passage. She had an immense passion for training young horses and there was never a day where she would not sit at the dinner table talking with excitement about how the horses were developing.

Do you do off-the-horse exercises to help with riding fitness? What do you do?

I think stretching is important to loosen my back, shoulders and hips. That is what I do every day. I don’t believe in heavy weight training; riders should have long and lean muscles. Stamina and flexibility are very important; these need to go hand in hand. If there is one part of the rider’s body that I feel needs to be strong, it would be the core. Exercises to strengthen the lower back and the stomach will achieve that.

What are some of the most common mistakes you see in novice riders?

The most common mistake I see novice riders make is that they don’t spend enough time on their position. One must not forget: The function of the aids depends on the correct form in the rider’s position.

What can riders do to make the most of every lesson?

Students need to be responsible and accountable in their lessons. The success of a lesson is not the teacher’s, but the rider’s responsibility: Be on time, be prepared and apply yourself. Take initiative and apply what you have learned in previous lessons. In that way, a rider will be able to add another piece of information to their already-achieved skill. Over time, the sum of these pieces make a well-educated rider.

For a hunter rider who wants to try dressage, do you think they should use their own familiar horse and learn together or learn on a different horse?

A hunter rider who is exploring the sport of dressage should most definitely ride a trained dressage horse to form an impression and get a feel. Dressage horses feel very different from hunters. The levels of impulsion, collection, engagement and connection are very different. Then, if the rider is going to stay with hunters and wants to upgrade hers/his flatwork, the rider must understand how much of the dressage training is applicable for the horse. Suppleness, adjustability and self-carriage most certainly are directly applicable. If the rider wants to change his hunter into a dressage horse, he/she has to be realistic about what is achievable in relation to the horse’s talent for dressage.

 

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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