Notes by Elizabeth on a classical dressage clinic by Col. Carde (taken in shorthand, but not seen or approved by Col. Carde):
CC's comments during this clinic (just held near Downington, PA) follow: He prefers to work with a stiff horse in hand to unlock the stiffness before the rider gets on because in hand the trainer's hand can be closer to the bit and used with more precision to get bending at the poll without the horse tilting its head. Even under saddle he showed that you can get somewhat more flexion at the poll (and regular, without tilting) by moving your hand closer to the bit. This is only a momentary thing, not ridden continuously. On the in hand flexions he kept the horse's head Up (not lowered) with O rein. Vibrate the inside rein if need to if the horse resists flexion (this is the same as the SRS clinic with Rudi Rostek) Snaffle is the bit for direction and balance; curb is the bit for relaxation and collection. (I was surprised about the curb being used for relaxation) Start work on the side that is easier for the horse. Try something at walk first. If you can't get it at W, don't move on to try it at T or C. (obviously this applies only to things that can be done at W, i.e. not lead changes etc) We need to train horses more at W. If the horse pulls down, use pressure Up (and forward, never backward). The horse should stretch down Only when the rider asks it, not before when it would be a resistance. Outside hand can be up more than inside hand at first to induce proper bending on a circle. If the horse is stiff to one side especially do this on a small circle to the hard side, using the outside hand/rein to prevent the horse from tilting its head or falling out. On straight lines your hands should be equal. Only use different height of hand if needed to correct bending or tilting of head. Use the hand forward in the direction of the opposite ear to correct tilting. Go always in the direction of collection including higher head carriage using higher hands if necessary to get the head up sometimes but still always reaching out to the bit forward never backward and never overbent or short in the neck. Lots of breaks with stretching the neck out in between doing exercises with higher carriage. When the horse does something good, let it stretch for reward. There is no collection without straightness. When schooling piaffe under saddle or in hand he always had the horse straight first. (He said that slight SF can be used to promote straightness with horses that tend to swing the hind in when asked to school piaffe) "of the day" Many things you are schooling have to be with reference to the day only. Such as the contact of the day today could (often will be) different than the contact of tomorrow or yesterday because the horse can feel or be a little different on each day. Regular geometric figures (circles, serpentines, etc) help the horse feel secure. Always follow the movement of the horse with soft permanent contact. Be precise with hands, like playing a piano not just stiff. Riders were often reminded to keep their shoulders back, hands down. He used a lot of the same exercises as in PK videos where you do figure 8 with true bending on one of the circles and counter bending on the other. (He apparently trained PK at Saumur) Often used low inside hand as a direct rein to I and inside leg to push hind out on circle for horse that was stiff, keeping the O shoulder from falling out with the O rein. Carde got on several horses with amazing results (he is 76 and said he is "allowed to ride but not to fall." Not a bad mantra!). On one horse that was curling badly he used low I rein and higher O rein but both always giving in the direction forward to bring it back out IFV again. He said you can also use both reins higher and still giving forward. When you get the result you go back to normal (low) hands and have the horse stretch. In particular you must not allow the horse to curl at a down transition when they anticipate this, keep the hands up and keep going forward out to the vertical. You might have to use shorter reins to do this because you keep your hands forward to keep the horse forward and out. Best is for the rider to anticipate and Prevent the horse doing something wrong. You do something first such as Before the horse curls you bring hand up or loosen the rein. Always keep regular cadence in the gait regardless of what you are doing at that gait and the frame up unless you deliberately ask for stretch. When change something (contact, gait, collection, whatever) always change it Progressively, not suddenly or abruptly. Bring the horse to the bit by lateral flexion not by just pushing the horse into the hand. Inside rein at the withers, O rein slightly higher for corners and bending. I hand lower than O hand for SI but = pressure in both hands. HP keep I flexion with I rein lower and close to neck with O rein higher. Get the flexion I on small circle before HP. After HP stretch neck. If HP is hard for the horse prepare with travers in W first. If still a problem in HP, keep the same flexion I and travers but do a small circle to the other direction so the horse is in counter flexion. Collect T before C. It's easier for a horse to keep balanced in C on a circle than the whole arena. Gradually strengthen the horse in C by slight spiral in, hands up and toward the inside. Do this only gradual spiral in and only a little at first if the horse is not strong. Counter bend in hand with hand by you still close to bit and up but horse bent opposite you with O rein. Use counter bend to improve balance and engagement. Not many times are side reins useful and then only with experienced person who knows the danger of side reins. Have to always associate lightness with Activity, not lazy or slow. Lightness without activity is not useful; activity without lightness is dangerous. When horse brings head up to resist against bit, flex more inside and push hind out. This puts the horse on the bit and teaches the horse to come under more from behind. When horse gets it right, give reins and relax but keep the activity when you let the horse relax. Keep activity when let horse stretch down. If you do not reward the horse Instantly, it is to the horse as if you did not hear him give the right answer. Some horses have difficult conformation to close at the poll. For these horses you need to supple the horse in a long frame, not tilting and not lowering. At first train in a normal frame, than can bring it up or down.
