Jean Bemelmans encouraged every rider to be more demanding during the 2008 KBIS British Equestrian National Convention at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Bucks, 15-16 November.
Belgian-born Bemelmans, who won 50 international grand prix classes during his competitive career, is best known these days as the trainer of the Spanish team for the past 15 years.
During the two days, the German-based trainer worked on the six “guinea pigs” to achieve more expression in all the movements, asking for more energy in collection through to more forwardness in the half-pass.
“To have more expression can be the difference between a seven and a nine,” he said.
The other fundamental thread running through the convention was having the horses reacting instantly to the leg aids and for them to be in front of the leg at all times.
“You need to sort engagement and submission when you are doing the easy exercises; be demanding with the little things,” he urged the riders.
Bemelmans commented on the different ages of the horses: “Between three and six years it is important to let horses develop their character, they should have positive contact with humans and need to enjoy the work. Between five and eight is when horses learn the quickest.”
During Charlotte Dujardin’s sessions with the six-year-old Valegro, he warned against asking for too much: “The horse is so talented and can do what he needs to do for a six year old. His talent is not going to run away.”
Bemelmans also gave an insight into the lifestyle his horses lead: “They are out of the stable four times a day for about six hours in total, either in the field, on the horsewalker or training. I believe it is punishment to give the horse a day off and leave him in the stable.”
The most important quality he looks for in a horse is a co-operative mind as he feels this is what gives a combination the winning edge.
“At the Olympics, all the show jumpers taking part are capable of jumping every fence clear. To win, the partnership between horse and rider needs confidence and understanding, which comes through good training, and the horse’s willingness. It is the same in dressage,” he said.
Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Dornroschen
Michael Eilberg rode the six-year-old British-bred mare by Dimaggio, Woodlander Dornröschen: “It was nice to work with a trainer other than my father [Ferdi] but also nice that we were more or less working on the same track. He highlighted that it’s not just about riding the movements, but the quality of the work within the movements.
“I particularly enjoyed watching Jean teach the others because he was so clever in the way he didn’t interfere with the training of any of the horses, but became involved in improving the work the horses were secure in.”
Judy Harvey and Fitzcerraldo
Judy Harvey rode the 10-year-old German-bred gelding by Feuerbrand, Fitzcerraldo: “Jean knows what he wants and how to get it. He is single-minded in achieving his goal. I need to have more self-discipline, focus and concentration to not let my horse become numb to the leg. The most important lesson I learnt was that it is not so much the horse’s reactions that are slow but mine. It’s all about timing – split-second reactions – to get your horse to respond to your leg aids all the time.”
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro
Charlotte Dujardin rode the six-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Negro, Valegro: “I liked the way he asked me to work Valegro on the first day when he was really excited; he hasn’t been out since the national championships. I usually canter him when he is like that because he finds the canter work easy and make him accept the leg by collecting him. To work him straight off in sitting trot and do shoulder-fore made him accept the inside leg immediately, but I think it shocked him. The second day he was much better and accepted the leg a lot more. I think it is nice for people to see that he is not a “perfect” horse and that we do have our problems.
“Jean also made me ride the half-pass so much more forward and it felt completely different, with more lift and expression. It made me realise how I’ve got carried away with riding ‘safe’; he’s shown me how you can turn a seven into an eight.”
Garry Williams and Showmaker
Garry Williams rode the six-year-old German-bred stallion by Showstar, Showmaker: “I’ve had trouble all year with his flying changes. Jean showed me how to achieve more engagement by riding walk/canter transitions quickly in succession: literally one stride of canter, then walk and back to canter. Practising the transitions like that made his hindlegs take more weight and quicker to react without sending him into orbit. His changes were coming through from behind after a couple of attempts. He also taught me to make him wait for me to give the aid for a change and then it all gelled.”
Charlie Hutton and Abira
Charlie Hutton rode the eight-year-old Danish gelding by Don Perignon, Abira: “He made me ride with more impulsion and submission. He concentrates on the way of going throughout the movements. There are many things I am going home to work on such as the quickness of reactions within transitions, downwards as well as upwards, to have the horse in front of your leg all the time, so you don’t have to ride so strongly.”
Jackie Beaven and Donner Dancer
Jackie Beaven rode the 13-year-old British-bred mare by Donnerhall, Donner Dancer: “This is the first time I have done anything like this and it was amazing. I have trained with Carl Hester for the past 14 years and would have been at sea without the basics he has taught me. I was a bit scared, but Jean was diplomatic and in tune with the way I work. He gave me some good exercises to work on our weaknesses, such as improving the piaffe and passage. He made me ride collected trot to piaffe and then passage, which worked a treat.”
Text and Photos courtesy: British Dressage
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