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Thursday, January 11 2018 / 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.

How do you retrain a horse that’s used to verbal cues? Are verbal cues ever useful or acceptable?

Verbal cues are acceptable as long as they are not substituting for fundamental aids. Noticeable verbal cues during a dressage test are penalized. I have not yet come across a horse that performs simply on verbal cues in dressage or jumping. However, I’ve seen some that depend on the verbal cues to confirm or support the rider’s physical aids. In order to retrain this dependency on verbal cues, it’s important for the rider to reinforce and confirm the understanding of technically correct physical aids. This takes time and repetition. As we all know, old habits are tough to break.

As a novice rider, how should I choose what shows to compete in?

First of all, a novice rider should never go to a show without being under the guidance and instruction of the trainer whose program the novice rider has joined. No novice riders should go to a show on their own; it’s not safe for the rider and other competitors in the competition. It’s important to listen to the expert advice of the trainer in the choice of the show. The show should not be too big as to where the warm-up arena gets very crowded. The warm-up arena is the most “challenging” place at a show unless you are in a specifically designated warm-up when competing in a CDI. The location and the environment of the show are important: It’s necessary to avoid a lot of noise and or busy roads next to the show grounds. The bottom line is, choose small shows (even schooling shows), stay local and listen to your trainer.

At Training Level, what are judges looking for in transitions?

I believe judges pretty much look at the same thing at any level: seamless transitions from one gait and tempo to the other gait and tempo. At Training Level, the judges look for a transition where the horse maintains contact to the bit and is out to the contact, meaning the horse is showing a seeking, reaching and desire to stretch to bit. Therefore, the transitions at Training Level are all from forward upwards (working trot to working canter) and forward downwards (working canter to working trot) as well as working trot to walk on a long rein. All the transitions should demonstrate the tension-free and supple way within which the horse goes to the contact and accepts the bit in its fundamental understanding.

What would you tell amateur riders who seem to be stuck at Third Level?

The jump from Third Level to Fourth Level is a big one: A more advanced degree of impulsion followed by collection is required. There are tempi changes, half pirouettes and shorter, steeper lines of shoulder-in to half-pass. This takes skill and timing to keep your horse through and in front of you, and to have half-halts to make it all happen. A lot of amateurs do not have the stability in their seat to be effective in that regard, which leads to the fact that they “chase” to the next exercise but have left their horse “behind” them. My question is: What is wrong with staying at a level until you have perfected your skill which enables you to move up? Nothing is wrong with that. There is nothing more dreadful to feel — and watch, for that matter — than the desperate navigation from letter to letter to get to the final halt and salute!

How important is a horse’s breed in upper-level dressage today? Can a horse excel at dressage if it’s not a warmblood?

Breeding is important because it’s a science which experts constantly try to improve upon according to the standard and trend in the sport worldwide. One must not be ignorant to that fact if a rider aspires to get to the top of the sport. In our country, the sport of dressage has many participants who don’t need the next grand champion. In order for a broad community of riders to enjoy and participate in the sport of dressage, a good temperament, nice gaits and soundness of the horse are important. For the rider who aspires more: Be aware of the worldwide trend, but recognize and do not ignore the “underdog!”

 

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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