Training Philosophy and Techniques

Classical but Competitive Be it for your competitive FEI dressage horse, pleasure riding or jumping, Dave Thind would like to help you learn how to better communicate   with your horse(s) to achieve that harmonious and beautiful ride we all  strive for.  Biomechanical and psychological approaches are used for a  finishing polish on a beautifully harmonious dance between horse and rider.

BIOMECHANICS - Your Key to Balance and Harmony Equine locomotion We all know that in order to keep our horses sound we must ride from "back to front," feeling our horse thrust and carry with its hindquarters, over a raised and swinging back, into a receiving contact.  This of course is easier said than done when the rider does not have a thorough understanding of basic equine locomotion.  Part of Dave’s training techniques involve ensuring that his riders are well versed in both the theory and feeling of footfall and other components of equine biomechanics.  Only then, will riders begin to follow their horses properly and avoid rider created resistance. Human Locomotion and Body Awareness Maintaining a good position with the correct mixture of suppleness and tightness is a good start, however this is not enough to accurately influence one’s horse.   In addition to a good basic knowledge of equine locomotion, Dave’s system requires that riders develop high degrees of body awareness and attain an advanced knowledge of correct human movement  -a skill that anyone can learn. Although some riders are naturally gifted when it comes to organizing their body’s movement, this knowledge combined with appropriate physical activity is, according to Dave,  the key to leaning to ride like the top riders in the world. PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING Considering each horse as an individual, the horse’s mental wellbeing must always be considered when designing both long-term and short-term training plans.  Horses must be kept interested and their work must be well thought out, but varied. Overtaxing a horse physically will have obvious repercussions on their mental state.  In an attempt to “push through”, too many riders rattle the sensitive mental state of their horses – this is not correct nor is it fair. With patience and empathy, horses can reach the highest levels and still display obvious pleasure in their work. However since horses are prey animals, they remain highly aware of those around them.  Riders must take charge of their own worries and breathing patterns in order to instill confidence in their horses.   Riders who are overly confident should be weary of taking advantage of a horse's trusting and submissive nature..

Classical Training Scale:  Riders should  always use this scale as a general guide. One must pay close attention that   above all, the horse maintains Rhythm/Relaxation/ Regularity throughout his work which will almost automatically create step 2 - Suppleness. This in turn will allow the horse to come over the back  into a receiving contact. This scale is valid for both immediate and  long-term training goals. With patience and  logical training, most horses can develop the musculature   and understanding for powerful and beautiful collection at the highest  levels.

The Building Blocks of Successful Training           German pyramid of classical training

1) Rhythm/Relaxation/Regularity      2) Suppleness      3) Contact      4) Impulsion      5) Straightening of the horse's spine      6) Collection

This photo displays the beginnings of high level collection (step 6)      with Steps 1-5 clearly being art of the puzzle

Dave is fond of  another scale hardly ever talked about - Conrad Schumacher's Progressive  scale of development for the rider.

Dave insists that  his students remain patient and do not skip any steps in their horse's  training. This can often be a humbling experience as most problems arise from rider-errors originating from a faulty seat. Dave insists that his  riders consider Conrad Schumacher's Rider Training Scale - consisting of six  parts.

Conrad Schumacher's Progressive  scale of development for the rider 1) Establishing balance in the seat 2) The seat becoming an active but non-disturbing influence 3) Understanding and applying the basic aids in combination 4) Increasing control of the horse through lateral movements and bending 5) Finely tuning the aids in situations of reduced speed 6) Using the horse's natural tendency to anticipate for the rider's own purposes

Sitting Light

"The seat becoming an active but nondisturbing influence.  Even more important when dealing with sensitive horses." It is important to follow as apposed to pushing with the seat,  ensuring that the horse is able to offer a lifted and swinging back. Rider's  must keep their center of gravity aligned with the ever moving centre of  gravities of their horses.

Please see Important Dressage Quotes/Advice from the Masters

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