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Friday, November 04 2011 / Published in Weekly Feature

A Few Minutes with Axel Steiner

Axel Steiner is a genuinely gracious, unofficial global ambassador of dressage.  His riding began at the age of nine in Germany where he later attended two schools:  Warendorf, which conducts tests of trainers, and Neindorff, founded by Egon von Neindorff, author of “The Art of Classical Horsemanship.”

After Axel’s move in to the US 1961, he competed his own as well as horses owned by the US Modern Pentathlon Team (fencing, shooting, swimming, cross-country running and riding) until his duties in the US Air Force called a halt to his competitive drive.

Axel has judged in 35 countries from shows in remote equestrian outposts to the World Cup Finals, Pan Am and Olympic Games.  Granted his first National judge’s license in 1968, his status was elevated to FEI-O, now designated FEI-***** (five star), in 1988, the year he retired as a Lt. Colonel.  Popular as a teacher and clinician, Axel is a long-time member of the USEF Dressage Committee, a judge-examiner, and serves on the faculty of the USDF “L” program.  He lives in California with his wife, the well known equestrian artist and photographer, Terri Miller Steiner.

Axel Steiner

Sidelines:  How has dressage changed for the better?

AS:  The quality of the horses has improved greatly, certainly in the last 10 years.  It’s getting better each year that new horses and new young three and four year olds are coming out:  they’re getting better and better for the simple reason that they are now being bred for the sport.  They’re not the all purpose type horse that could probably do most anything. They’re now carefully bred for the dressage, and it really shows.  The riding and training over the years has gotten much better, recognizing some of the bio-mechanical principles.  So everything has become much more sophisticated.

 

Sidelines:  Is horse quality the main reason we’re scoring better internationally?

AS:  No, I don’t think that’s it.  The world’s horses are getting better.  It isn’t just our horses.  Horses in general around the world are getting better, especially in Europe.  Most of the horses we get come from Europe.  The reason why we are getting closer to the European standard is because we spend quite a bit of time competing and training in Europe, picking up the European training ideas.

 

Sidelines:  What are the challenges of judging the best?

AS:  Judging is always a challenge because you put your career and your reputation on the line every time a horse comes down the centerline.  So you’re trying to do the best job you can.

 

Sidelines:  Do you fancy riding a superstar horse and who would it be?

AS:  Everybody would love to sit and feel what piaffe and passage on Totilas would feel like – absolutely!  I would love to get the feel now with one of these three and four year old horses of how much different they are than the older traditional horses that I grew up with – absolutely! Would I do it?  No.  But I still work with a lot of riders and horses from the ground.

 

Sidelines:  What good has come out of the Hyperflexion debate?

AS:  Anything that is forced is no good.  At the same time I see the pendulum swing the other way, and we have some people so hypersensitive that anytime a horse comes a little bit behind the vertical they’re screaming “Hyperflexion!” which is total nonsense.  For a horse to be properly gymnastically worked they have to be worked a little low and behind the vertical to really be able to loosen the back.  It just has to be done properly and humanely with lots of breaks in between.

 

Sidelines:  What do you think of the partnership between Moorlands Totilas and Edward Gal?

AS:  That’s really what it was: it truly was a partnership.  They’d known each other quite a while and because anytime you know each other quite a while, you may be able to communicate your wishes without everybody seeing it and do it relatively quietly.  The horse understood he had the confidence that the rider would let him do it and not interfere.  It looked sometimes like Edward was sitting there passively and letting the horse do his dancing:  it was just a nice relationship, the same that a good couple should have on the dance floor.

 

Sidelines:  Will Mathias Rath develop a similar partnership with Totilas?

AS:  Mathias is a very nice rider, and I think he’s a bit overwhelmed.  All the pressure they put him under probably took its toll a little bit.  I’m sure it will be a different partnership with the different training methods, but eventually he will do a fine job with Totllas.  Will it be as Edward had?  Maybe not.  Maybe less brilliant in some ways, maybe in some areas technically more correct.  I wish them well.  I feel a little sorry for Mathias, in that kind of a pressure cooker.  I’m sure he would like to ride and get to know the horse without everybody watching.

 

Sidelines:  What about our Pan Am team?

AS:  Steffen Peters is right now the leader on both teams:  the leader on the small tour team for Pan Am [with Weltino’s Magic] and certainly right now the leader with Ravel, the potential engine [for the Olympics], but we need a few more cabooses.  Heather Blitz is a good rider on a very imposing horse [Paragon] and he’s very impressive in St. Georges.  He’s relatively young and I’m sure he will be great for the Pan Ams.  For Grand Prix we have to wait a little bit.  Cesar Parra has had consistently good horses and tries to be very competitive.  Whatever horse he has at the time will make or break it for him.  Right now he has a nice horse [Grandioso] and he’s on the small tour team.  Marisa Festerling [Big Tyme] has been around for quite a while.  She really shone at Gladstone: very solid rider, very nice horse, very consistent over the three days. That’s what you’re looking for when you send a team to a major competition, consistent horses.

 

Sidelines:  How do you feel about the helmet rule changes?

AS:  People are working on a safety top hat.  My question, right now, is do we really need it?  It’s so difficult to have a safety top hat with the edges that are necessary for a top hat.  Some of the new safety helmets coming out are really attractive and a number of the riders look really good in them.  You just have to get used to the look.  I’d go a step further:  I would like to change our riding uniform a little bit.  It doesn’t make any sense to ride in 100 degree weather in a shadbelly.  We should have a summer uniform.  Some of the little jackets that people wear at auctions are very attractive, cover what they need to cover and look smart.  We have to get away from the old fashioned somewhat stilted ways we have of presenting ourselves.

 

Sidelines:  What is it about dressage that still captivates you?

AS:  I started riding dressage as a child:  we had to ride a little jumping, a little cross country, vaulting, dressage.  We had to become all around horse children, horse young people (laughs):  it’s kind of stuck.  Dressage is never the same:  every day is different.  I like the challenge, I enjoy working with the people – they’re normally very dedicated.  If you do it right, you can see the progression in the horse.  To do it right is the key.

 

Sidelines:  Do you still ride?

AS:  If I have the chance to get on something that’s nice and friendly and it’s a trail ride, I never say no.  A couple years ago I rode a Paso Fino in paso gait across a field with a champagne glass in my hand:  that was wonderful.  We don’t have our own horses anymore:  with my wife’s travel schedule and mine, we ride airplanes more often than we ride horses!

 

Sidelines:  If you’re teaching a clinic, what three ‘lessons’ do you want riders to take with them?

AS:  Listen to your horse.  Try to make him the best he can be.  Have fun doing it.

-Lauren Giannini

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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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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

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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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https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

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 🦄

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