A group of French senior elite and FEI riders were invited to a two-day training clinic with German Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen in Jablines near Paris, France, on 28 - 29 November 2011. Supervised by French chef d'equipe Alain Francqueville
, the clinic was well attended by judges, riders and spectators as well as by members of the French Judgers Club.
The participating riders were Remy Issartel (Windshear), Catherine Henriquet (Paradieszauber), Claire Gosselin (Karamel de Lauture), Franck David (Tout de Suite), Marc Brulé (Archimede), Pauline Leclercq (Khalgazell du Maupas), Odile van Doorn (Wakensho), Sarah Casanova (Ulan), and Camille Judet Cheret (Fellini).
Each rider received individual instruction from Meyer zu Strohen for 40 to 45 minutes. The clinics were given in German with a French translator passing on the message. Riders who brought a second horse got the opportunity to train as well in groups of two at the end of the day. Three of the participating riders were under 26 years old and all horses were schooling or confirmed at Grand Prix level.
"Meyer zu Strohen focused a lot on the rhythm am activity of the horses, making sure they stay quick behind and in the right attitude during the whole session. He pays a lot of attention to transitions within the pace, collected and working trot or canter," said Judet Cheret. "He paid a lot of attention to the rider's position and reactions. He corrected leg positions, asymmetrical riders or tilted horses."
The German coach varies his training sessions over the two days, focusing on different elements and movements on the second day. Two of the tips he gave was to use quarter pirouettes and short piaffe sessions to keep the horse activated from behind. "He insisted that horses should be willing, forwards and reactive to the rider's aids," said Camille.
The same type of clinic with Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen will take place in two weeks at the same equestrian centre.
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