The Ultimate Masterclass, held at QSEC in November, was a fantastic educational experience for the horses and riders who participated, and for onlookers of all levels!

Lientje & Jaybee Ryana

Steffen's assistant coach Lientje whom has been working with him for the last 7yrs and rode Nicole Mcgoffins absolutely stunning mare Jaybee Ryana.  Lientje displayed simplicity and effectiveness of the aids and explained how corrections need to be made immediately, that timing is everything for any horse to understand a correction. Jaybee Ryana was to be ridden tomorrow in a Med 4A test which involves beginning flying change of lead.  In todays work out the walk canter transitions were tested.  Ryana was not doing her best with these transitions and it was fantastic to see trainers that looked for the "why" and asked questions and looked for answers in the horse rather than blame the mare.  Lientje suggested to Steffen that she first try removing her spurs and then possibly look at maybe a simple tap with the dressage whip for the transition.  After removing her spurs the mare improved BUT both Lientje and Steffen agreed not to put Ryana though the Medium test with Steffen saying " We never say we have to get to a particular level by a particular time, let your horse tell you when he/she is ready"

Gary Lung & GT Winchester

Gary Lung started out talking with Jonah Oliver about riding & competing in Gary's OWN journey!  How to not get panicked mentally by looking into what other riders and competitors are doing or where they are - one should not make comparisons with others to themselves but focus on their own journey and keep competition panic down with this focus.

Gary then began his second lesson with Steffen Peters, today looking at his and his beautiful chestnut gelding GT Winchesters canter pirouettes.  Steffens opening advise "The more complicated you think of the pirouettes the more complicated you make them, think about it more as the perfect balance between turning and going forward"  Steffen asked Gary to access what he is feeling in his and Winchesters pirouettes his answer was "his quarters are in to much".  Steffen suggested that Gary "ease up on the outside leg and after the first quarter of the pirouette take over with the inner leg".  Following this Chester fell into trot during his pirouette and Steffen said "coming out of collection into a lower gait is not negotiable, in this case leave the pirouette and send him forward"  He stated "Simplicity is so important -  energy (the horse always in front of your leg), suppleness and willingness to turn (always being able to control the placement of the hind legs and the shoulders), be sure to test the collection more often".

Winchester and Gary performed some fantastic pirouettes after taking onboard what Steffen advised and Gary had that GARY SMILE!!

Quick Link

• Read the full report and more great articles in the December/January issue of Local Horse Magazine