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Post by K8 on Aug 7, 2010 17:26:24 GMT 1
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mm
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Post by mm on Aug 7, 2010 17:56:14 GMT 1
Not Good im trying to work out what is on his t shirt??
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Post by K8 on Aug 7, 2010 17:58:44 GMT 1
Erm I think its anti rollkur!!!!!
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Post by merryberry on Aug 7, 2010 18:21:39 GMT 1
That looks really uncomfortable for the horse!
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Post by Catrin on Aug 7, 2010 18:39:59 GMT 1
As the text in the article says, "We have asked ourselves whether it is unfair to publish these photos on the internet, that may be a one off case and not the norm for the rider." It is very impartial in its comments, but does ask why he chooses to ride a remedial horse with such obvious 'force'.
In my view, he seems to be attempting to use lateral flexion with a horse that is very stiff and braced in the shoulders. However, if that is so, why he chooses to do so in a public demonstration, I don't understand. I would have thought in-hand work, to establish who is in charge and how to move laterally, would have been better though more time consuming options.
I think this demonstrates that he should stick to biomechanics and not try to fix every horse himself.
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Post by lizpurlo on Aug 7, 2010 18:41:05 GMT 1
Horrid, ugly, aggressive, bullying are the words that spring to mind. And I don't like the way he's sitting on the very back of the saddle, and he's a big heavy bloater too.
That poor poor horse. He must have been aching in every limb after that ghastly performance.
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Post by heather on Aug 7, 2010 19:42:23 GMT 1
We have had a big discussion on the Blue Tongue FB group and also Horse For Life FB group, Kate.
Heuschmann has disappointed me greatly this last year and this is just about the last straw. I have been saying ever since I saw him at the conference in Glos in April 2009, that he is a vet, not a very skilled horse trainer and that he should stick to what he knows best. I saw no real improvement in the horses at the clinic day he did after the conference, despite everyone else fauning over him and thinking he was the cats whiskers.
It seems, I was not alone- this is an article by well known and respected German journalist, Claudia Sanders, who gave me permission to reproduce it:
Gerd Heuschmann under criticism
The Xenophon society’s first press release w...as a bit cryptical, announcing that Gerd Heuschmann, veterinarian and founding member of Xenophon, had stepped down as deputy chairman at his own request because of irreconcilable divergences in substance. Shortly afterwards, he resigned from the society altogether, thereby forestalling a possible exclusion procedure. At the origin of the fierce criticism of Heuschmann is his way of riding in his clinics.
Xenophon chairman and Olympic Games winner Klaus Balkenhol is far from happy with the situation: “These past months, complaints about Gerd Heuschmann’s way of riding have been heaping up at the society.” For some time now, the vet and book author Heuschmann has been offering clinics that include not only his lectures on the biomechanics of the horse, but also a practical riding session. Heuschmann, who also completed a training as “Bereiter FN” (assistant instructor of the German riding association), corrects the often badly ridden clinic horses himself, trying to “make them fit by riding”, in loose interpretation of the Xenophon motto “Good riding suffices”. To achieve this, he uses elements (but not the complete systematics) of the methods of Philippe Karl (high hand) and Anja Beran (yielding of the haunches on a circle) and tries them out on the clinic horses. “During these ‘corrective riding sessions’ it came to ugly pictures, which gave rise to the complaints to our society,” Balkenhol says. In extensive one-on-one interviews with Gerd Heuschmann, the Xenophon chairman tried to dissuade him from riding the horses himself in his clinics – to no avail. Balkenhol went to see Heuschmann several times and had long talks with him: “Gerd achieved so much with his excellent lectures on biomechanics. It’s simply sad that he is now ruining all this with his way of riding. But unfortunately I couldn’t convince him.” As a result of these discussions, Heuschmann resigned from his office as deputy chairman at the end of May. Two weeks later, he is holding a clinic near Mainz. The vet climbs into the saddle of a Friesian horse which apparently is not permeable to the aids and accepts neither leg nor rein aids. Professional photographer Julia Rau documents the 25-minute ride with her camera and a large telephoto lens. Heuschmann does not let himself be bothered by her and “corrects” the Frisian. The picture series and the timestamp on the photographs show it very clearly: these are no accidental snapshots. When asked about the photographs by the editorial staff of the German horse magazine St. Georg, Heuschmann first showed contrition: “The error I probably made was to ride this horse in the first place,” he said meekly. But on the day of the publication of St. Georg, the vet declared via his website: “Since mid-June, I have been the focus of critical reporting. This witch-hunt has various motives, about which I don’t want to say anything here. I made no mistake and will therefore carry on my work unperturbed. For this reason, there is no need for any justification. Only the short advice that ugly situations can occur every day and under every rider when working with horses that need to be corrected.” Without making a fuss about it, the German FN cancelled the cooperation with Heuschmann completely, so that his clinics are not recognized as official further education courses for instructors any more. In future, he will thus probably not have his say any more, neither at the FN nor the FEI level.
When asked for comment on the accusations and pictures by Dressur-Studien, he first invited us to a clinic – only to inform us just a few hours before it was due to start that taking pictures was forbidden and that he would not ride anyway. The questions we sent him per email remain unanswered so far, but maybe he simply had no time to reply: in early August he started a three-week “USA tour” on which he is offering clinics – with practical riding sessions.
I am sorry to say, that his ego seems to have gotten in the way of the 'cause' of late. I sincerely hope he will now see the error of his ways and get back on track.
Heather
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steve
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by steve on Aug 7, 2010 19:52:19 GMT 1
Rather unfortunate set of photos in light of what he rightly believes is so wrong with RK!!
I do agree totally with Heather that he should stick to what he does best, being a vet and writing about biomechanics although I feel his credibility has well and truly flown out of the window however, I beilieve he was genuinely trying to ride this horse through some problems (although not the way I or most of us would!) and not like many of the 'top' GP riders that use this tool daily for long periods to force their horses into sumission. Although I again say that he was a total numpty for doing this and being at a demo probably talking against RK etc! I am sure his intentions were to help the horse although he clearly didn't succeed!!
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Post by jennyb on Aug 7, 2010 21:35:31 GMT 1
I do think the horse tucked himself behind the bridle rather than GH intentionally hauling his head in. Still photos are very hard to judge, but they are not pretty and I would have told him to get off if that was my horse being ridden that way. I agree, he should stick to lecturing and stop riding in demos!
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Post by rifruffian on Aug 7, 2010 21:50:32 GMT 1
A clinic, classroom session, conference, demonstration etc can be valued by posing the question........how much did (how many ?) people learn from this......?.....and photography, video, internet exposes our many would-be tutors as never before, for better or worse. Thus a demonstration of how to do it wrong may be quite valueable.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2010 9:07:48 GMT 1
I do think the horse tucked himself behind the bridle rather than GH intentionally hauling his head in. Still photos are very hard to judge, but they are not pretty and I would have told him to get off if that was my horse being ridden that way. I agree, he should stick to lecturing and stop riding in demos! I'm not sure about that, Jenny. In the 16:53 shots there's no slack in the reins, the horse's mouth certainly looks like there's pressure on the bit and to me the rider really does look like he's hauling him. Of course it's always hard to judge from photos but given this is the complete opposite of what I'd understood Heuschmann was supposed to be for, I find them quite surprising. K8 and I are going to spectate at a clinic of his next month. Even if it does turn out to be not what I'd expected, I'm sure it'll be interesting and we'll learn from it. And report back.
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Post by BJMM on Aug 8, 2010 9:22:13 GMT 1
To be honest, it would put me off even listening to him lecture, knowing that he rides like that!!
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Post by jennyb on Aug 8, 2010 9:33:16 GMT 1
LizP - what I meant was that yes, there is tension in the reins. It is quite possible that the horse was running through the hand and GH wanted the horse to yield, so did not release the pressure. The horse looks quite like it was trying every which way to evade. I do not think that GH's intention was to put the horse in rollkur - his whole career in recent years has been against just that! To me, looking from the position of his hands and the previous work, I think he is attempting some badly done and poorly ridden flexions with a very stiff, resistant and argumentative horse.
I have seen him ride in the flesh and he did not show work like this. I agree with Heather, it wasn't the best riding or training I have seen and I much preferred his lecture.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2010 9:48:06 GMT 1
Ok, I see what you mean Jenny.
I'm still looking forwards to the lecture - I've heard such good reports of it - and the photos haven't put me off that a bit. Someone can be brilliant at one thing and rubbish at another, or brilliant at theory and not great in the application (or vice versa).
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Post by heather on Aug 8, 2010 14:17:00 GMT 1
The lecture was great, Liz, you and Kate will enjoy it and learn loads. But Kate, as an EETT, I would like you to evaluate the riding and report back, great exercise for you!! ;D
Heather
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