Lessons on a schoolmaster - UPDATED

[BigMama1]

So I’m writing an article about the benefits to low level riders of taking lessons on a higher level schoolmaster, which means I get the opportunity to do this, something I’ve never done. I’m totally excited and more than a little terrified that I will completely humiliate myself. As most of you know I still find First Level a struggle LOL.

First question - any advice for the actual lesson parts? The trainer is someone I have worked with on articles but have never ridden with.

Second question - have you had the opportunity to experience a correct half half, collection, impilsion etc on a schoolmaster? Was it helpful? Difficult? Worth it? Something you’d recommend to others?

TIA for your input

[poltroon]

Possibly the biggest idea to address in your article is how to find an instructor that has school horses, which seems to be the hardest part of the endeavor.

I was lucky enough to get some lessons on an FEI horse at one time. It was eye opening, taught me so much about what I was looking for and what I didn’t know. I felt like a million bucks and also a fool, with one-tempis and canter half-pass just flowing whether I asked for them or not but dang if I could ride a plain medium trot down the long side on that horse when I first got on.

I personally think it would do so much for American riding to get more people on schoolmasters, like maybe a destination training center where you could stay for intensive work for a week or two.

[tbchick84]

It’s a rather humbling experience to be on a horse who knows more than you. I rode one who would not move forward one inch if any part of your body was in front of vertical. He did teach me to sit up. I think you need a good instructor, an open mind and a sense of humor to ride a school master.

[J-Lu]

First question: Schoolmasters aren’t perfect horses, but they are going to make sure that you ask them in the way that they are used to being asked. They are humbling in that respect. Yet, when you ask correctly (to them), they’ll give you the movement. They are amazing in that respect. That feeling of riding a movement correctly is priceless. My advice - just relax and don’t try too hard. Enjoy every part of your ride. Also, work on things that YOU find hard.

Second question: The ease depends on the horse. Some FEI schoolmasters are more generous than others, in my experience. Also, some will help you with some movements more than others. For example, I was able to take some lessons on an FEI schoolmaster who was difficult for me to get an FEI-level trot from, but the horse was instrumental in giving me the feeling of a tight canter pirouette and the horse could collected canter/pirouette all day. Another was easy to get a phenomenal trot from but was confused with my flying changes aids. Different riders use different aids for flying changes.

Schoolmasters are invaluable but they are not easy rides. Some are more generous than others. By definition, all aren’t going to hurt you but they’re going to make you ride well and explore your aids. Otherwise, they’re just as happy to shuffle around like any other horse. That makes them invaluable.

[keysfins]

I have one of those blessed schoolmasters. I allow others to take a lesson on him, and have done several part leases with him.

I tell the rider, “He will go as well as you ride him. If you ride him like a training level horse, he’s happy to go that way, while leaning on the bit and falling out at the shoulder. If you know how to get him working correctly, he will take aids from your seat, move his body parts where you ask, and give you the upper level movements.”

I agree with
@poltroon , that we (g) would benefit greatly as riders if we had dedicated training centers with schoolmasters. I had the opportunity to ride in Portugal at Alcainça, and even as a lower level rider at the time, I learned and felt so much. Would definitely do that again, for a week of intensive work, if available in the US!

[Dutchmare433]

I have ridden several, including getting to lease one while I was a working student, absolutely priceless…especially the lease, as he was kind but very sensitive and very correctly trained. I love my young horse, but I would pretty much kill to keep taking lessons on schoolmaster to keep me honest.

For the most part, schoolmasters will do what you ask. Not what you mean to ask, but what you’re actually asking. If you stay relaxed and have fun, it’s no big deal, you can’t let it frustrate you, just laugh it off. Depending on age/tolerance level, it’s very important to remember the horse is teaching you, not the other way around…some of them will get pissy if you keep (accidentally) telling them to do something and immediately correcting them.

Some of my struggles (different issues with different horses): passage instead of canter (really a lot of things instead of canter…the canter transition has to be finely tuned b/c of the changes, so until you figure out the right set of aids, not so much canter!), once you get the canter, be prepared for tempis of various counts…when I started that lease I could get canter only from the walk and on a circle…if we went in a straight line it was 1 tempis…then once I figured out how to keep him straight and on the correct lead, I couldn’t get a lead change on purpose! On one horse I kept getting accidental extended trot to accidental piaffe…almost sent me flying the first few times. At least I’d sort of figured out the half-halt, just had to do less.

[luvmyhackney]

@tbchick84

It’s a rather humbling experience to be on a horse who knows more than you. I rode one who would not move forward one inch if any part of your body was in front of vertical. He did teach me to sit up. I think you need a good instructor, an open mind and a sense of humor to ride a school master.

This. As someone that had never ridden dressage before and rode an upperlevel horse, its amazing and frustrating at the same time. They can be very picky about signals and body weight. I learned so much about how to use my body effectively.

Only advice I’ll give is don’t tense up and stay relaxed, its easier to go forward the lighter and more relaxed your seat is. Use whisper aids unless trainer/instructor says otherwise.

[MojitoMare]

I’m a second level rider who is currently riding my trainer’s GP horse, because she just had a baby and isn’t riding. I’m learning so much! Mostly right now I’m just focusing on me, my position, my aids, etc. But this horse is very kind and pretty much bombproof, so I’m having a blast. It is so nice to have a horse that you can just put in a gait and they will stay there while you work on yourself. I take video occasionally and send it to my trainer, just to get a little feedback on how we’re doing. I’m also riding the horse in monthly clinics with my trainer’s trainer. I feel like I’m learning much more than I was when I was riding my horse in daily lessons (she’s rehabbing from an injury, so not being ridden right now.) The time I get to spend on this horse is invaluable.

[BigMama1]

Great advice everyone, thank you! The trainer actually wants to put me on three different horses.'im so excited! And terrified. But mostly excited!

[Obsidian_Fire]

I absolutely adore my schoolmaster, and I tell you he has sooooo spoiled me!! I agree with what everyone else has said; they are humbling, generous, and do what you actually told them, not what you thought you told them!! LOL. When I first got mine all he wanted to do was flying changes - because my legs were too loose. Oops. When I first got him, he was very generous with the movements, now - he makes me work and ask the right way. He “babysat” me at first, not so much now.
The first time I felt the REAL DEAL of sitting/collection vs. what I had thought, a big eye opener. It’s amazing.

You are soooooo lucky!! Enjoy every single moment!!

[BigMama1]

I’ll share the link when I blog about it…have a feeling there will be many amusing moments to share :lol:

[merrygoround]

I have for a long time used horses that were educated to teach students feel. I start with a longe, teach them no hand transitions, half halts, and spiral circles. From there under lesson conditions, lateral work,etc.

So good luck and have fun.

[chantal]

That’s very cool. Good luck.

Relax and don’t get tight or frustrated. That doesn’t translate well to the horse. And yes, you will learn to hold yourself up and use correct aids. Very exciting!

[emipou]

I really lucked out in finding a great instructor with great schoolmasters. The first schoolmaster which I have ridden several times now while great, did not connect with me the way this second, higher trained schoolmaster has. The first schoolmaster is a third level horse, while the other is a PSG level horse.
I have had a chance to feel a truly collected canter, to work on correct transitions, to break down each transition (aids), break down each step of the horse in the gait, work on my timing of aids, more effective seat. It’s given me a clean canvas so I can focus on fixing me, and learning new things.

The difficult part for me has been always finding a productive way to bring it back home. Sometimes I come back from these lessons with the wrong expectations in my rides, usually this is not the case though. Different pieces of my posture and my aids have matured as a result of these lessons.

I would say all in all, it’s a great experience. I really wish this other trainer was closer and a little more accessible. I would take lessons more often with her.

[JustTheTicket]

I’ve been lucky that every trainer I was a WS for had nice schoolmaster types to teach me. I definitely don’t think I would have advanced as well as I did without them.

The last trainer I worked for let me lesson quite a bit on her GP stallion who was a little lazy and very forgiving, which made it easy to figure out the movements and all that. She also let me be the primary rider for her retired Young Rider stallion who, also was incredible and taught me so much, but he made me work for it a lot more. So two different rides, but they were both great teachers.

I think schoolmasters can benefit riders at every level. If a training level rider gets the opportunity to ride a, say 4th level schoolmaster, even though the rider isn’t at that level, their training can absolutely benefit from the ride. You learn feel, you learn how to correctly ask, you learn body awareness.

[BigMama1]

Thanks everyone! Your answers are making me freak out a little less. Aside from the article my personal goals are to see what “right” feels like, whether that be connection, a really correct transition, or even just how to correctly apply the aids. This opportunity is a dream come true and if it goes not too terribly, I’m hoping to make a schoolmaster lesson with this trainer a regular thing, even if only on a monthly basis

[kpony]

Just Walking on a retired 4th/PSG horse and feeling my aids go through so clearly was a revelation for me. A schoolmaster lesson even a few times a year can give you a lot.

[theresak]

As someone volunteers to let other people ride my upper level horse occasionally - the first thing they say is they “don’t want to break him.”

You are not going to break the horse or the training in one ride if you are semi-decent and semi-sensitive. Especially since you’ll be in a lesson situation with eyes on the ground - you will not break the horse. A lot of people get on my horse and think - hold reins a bit, nudge for a walk, and voila an upper level horse. They are nervous to really feel the horse and quality he’s giving them and ride like they normally would.

My advice for you is to get on and remind yourself that you know how to ride, how to hold the reins and use them, where to put your legs, how to ask for everything through first level, etc. Don’t get on and be paralyzed thinking about all the things you don’t know how to do.

I’d also suggest either reading, watching some videos, or talking to the trainer or a more advance rider (whichever way you learn best) to get an idea on the aids for some of the movements you want to try. If you already know for the half-pass what bend you need, where your legs and weight go, etc. it will be a lot easier for the instructor to help you through the movement.

[BigMama1]

So I had my lesson on Friday and it really was a fantastic experience. Thanks everyone for all your great advice. Leah put me on two completely opposite types of horses so I could feel the difference.

The big Hanoverian geldingnwas an eye-opener. I truly thought I understood what a big mover felt like, and that I knew how much core strength was needed for dressage. I. Had. No. Idea. After the first trot step I literally screamed and said “is itnsupposed to feel like this?” LOL. Have never ridden such a big lofty trot and thought I might hit the rafters with every stride. It was hilarious and fun but so hard to ride. Can’t imagine how she does sitting trot, let alone makes it look effortless! Canter was DREAMY - so balanced and powerful and easy and comfortable.

The other horse was a little Lusitano stallion and he was a blast to ride. Made everything feel fun and easy. Not the kind of horse I would have given much thought to previously but now firmly believe would be a great choice for an ammy - especially one as bombproof, light in the bridle and responsive to seat as this awesome guy.

I definitely came away with a better feeling of contact and especially of half halt so that alone was worth the trip. Hope to do it regularly for my own benefit and not just for an article. Not sure when the article will come out in the magazine but I did blog about it if you want to hear more and / or see some pictures

[Engage]

@BigMama1

So I had my lesson on Friday and it really was a fantastic experience. Thanks everyone for all your great advice. Leah put me on two completely opposite types of horses so I could feel the difference.

The big Hanoverian geldingnwas an eye-opener. I truly thought I understood what a big mover felt like, and that I knew how much core strength was needed for dressage. I. Had. No. Idea. After the first trot step I literally screamed and said “is itnsupposed to feel like this?” LOL. Have never ridden such a big lofty trot and thought I might hit the rafters with every stride. It was hilarious and fun but so hard to ride. Can’t imagine how she does sitting trot, let alone makes it look effortless! Canter was DREAMY - so balanced and powerful and easy and comfortable.

That sounds like my schoolmaster lease haha. He is very difficult to ride, but hectically easy. By that I mean if you ride wrong, you’ll get nowhere. If you ride right, he is a champion. He has big movement and he is stubborn, but if you ask right, he will never not give it to you. His trot is h.u.g.e! I force myself to practice sitting trot by myself at least once a week, because it works me so hard. I actually got on a friend’s old mare the other day and burst out laughing at how easy it was to sit her trot. Then I got on another friend’s pony and could barely rise from her trot.

My gelding is frustrating and challenging, but when I get on another horse, I realize how much he has improved me. He is so exacting and precise and if you don’t ask exactly, he will.not.give.it. In one of my lessons the other day, he wasn’t bending correctly and was poking his nose. My instructor watched me struggling and asking asking asking (fyi there are periods in my lessons where she lets me figure out what I’m doing myself) and eventually said to me, “Slip your inside rein 2cms” Within half a circle, he was down and round and going beautifully. 2cms on my rein and he ignored me because of that.