Studies in "The Academic Art of Riding" with Licensed Trainers

02/15/2024

I'm excited to participate in this wonderful clinic!

Never before in time knowledge has been so easy accessible as today. While many years ago, getting lessons from Academic Art of Riding by Bent Branderup was only possible once a year during the local weekend course, today we can livestream clinics to people all over the world. And this is what we do twice a year.

This weekend, Bent is showing us the importance of shape when we are working with our horses. He also explains us the difference in between a physiological shape, and an unphysiological shape. Courses with Bent are always a practical approach to learning theory: How can we teach a horse the aids in the softest way? How can we make a horse understand instead of react?

This weekend, we will team up again with riders from all over the world, sharing their journey with us. And you can watch from home, and enjoy the recordings for 14 lovely days for replay.

Get your ticket on https://shop.equidemia.com/s/Equidemia
and join Ember Johnson-Neuroth Meg Brauch Carrie Stem Kohlun from the US, Merel van Duijn from Canada, Søssa Jørgensen and me from Norway, Bri Kuch and Anna Eichinger from Austria, Stefanie Valline from Luxemburg, Claudia Wolters and Rebecca Hollenbach from Germany.
We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend!

09/26/2023

08/14/2022

Wow! Look at Marius Schneider and his magnificent Fleur De Lys

07/29/2022

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=491292252995925&id=100063454639645

07/03/2022

06/29/2022

In this video I am focusing on the neck position.

Starting with a big swingy walk I start with a lower position for stretching over the topline and striding well under with the hind legs. Next I ask for a higher neck position while maintaining the same big walk. Often human and horse will slow the tempo at this point. It is important to maintain the same tempo while switching to a higher neck position.

When asking for a higher position, have the idea of lifting the base of the neck and the poll, rather than lifting the nose. Lifting the nose or the head being above the hand often causes the back to drop and the hind legs to be a bit more behind the body rather than under the body. Think about maintaining the stretch over the topline while asking the neck to lift. Encourage a big step forward under the body with the hind legs. This is called stepping towards the hand. This helps the horse to carry itself better rather than falling on your hand. It will also help the horse to round itself and carry the head in a more vertical position.

You and your horse are searching for a feeling of lightness rather than your horse pushing you.

Don't worry if your horse pushes you, it is usually just a lack of understanding from both human and horse that causes this. With practice, and building up carrying strength and balance, it will improve.

It may also feel like your horse is pushing you if you are not able to walk backwards fast enough for the speed you are asking of you horse. Use a speed that you both are able to do and then increase it as you get better at it.

The same concept works in riding. I always practice on the ground first and then I do the same thing when riding.

This is the beginning of collection or in other words carrying. The horse is carrying itself without falling into your hand.

This is hardwork so give lots of breaks and praise for understanding.

06/28/2022

In each video I will show one easy step from my lessons with Christofer Dahlgren.

I tried to record the Skype lessons but it had a negative effect on the audio and video so I had to stop recording. Instead I will go through all the little steps that we discussed.

I know this will seem ridiculously simple but this truly is how you create clear communication with your horse and also create a light response.

The wonderful thing about this simplicity is that it is obvious that anyone can do this if you slow down and take the time.

I am recording with my phone on a tripod which makes it tricky to see the subtleties of what I am doing from that distance.

My explanations should make it easy to understand what I am doing even if it's hard to see.

In this video getting Jas to do a big swingy walk is not super easy. She is a slower older mare with very little training. Her back is long and is starting to sag a bit with age. This big walk helps her to step well under her body and bring her hind legs into function so they can take a halt. Since doing this big walk her back and body have gotten more supple and less stiff.

06/28/2022

Finally my very busy life has allowed me a little time to be an online week student with Christofer Dahlgren.

The reason I chose to work with Christofer is he has a very practical approach that anyone can do and as you will see in this video leads to fantastic results.

He breaks the training down into easy basic steps that the human and horse can easily understand.

https://youtu.be/YOxoKVcZ1x8

Videon handlar om Christofer and Ikaros clinic schoolhalt and schoolcanter

02/23/2022

During the international online clinic last weekend Bent Branderup had a lot to say about the pelvis and the seat bones.

There can be quite a variation in distance between the seat bones from person to person which has an impact on how well you fit your horse.

Ylvie Fros from Holland has an excellent video about measuring the seat bone distance and the impact this has on the saddle you use and the horse you ride.

This video explains an easy (but not very accurate!) way to measure how wide you are in your seat bones and how that affects the width of pad, horse and sadd...

02/20/2022

This is an introduction to my newest horse. He is a 6-year-old wild stallion that I have been playing around with on the Osoyoos Indian reservation since October 2021.

I will bring him home to live with my mares once he has been gelded.

I thought some might find it interesting to see him from the very beginning and follow his progress.

He is stepping wide on both sides with the inside hind. I will work on helping him to relax and stretch over his back and then start to work on his stellning and bending.

I was able to start playing around with the bending by using the inside rein aid. This helped the shape of his neck and head with the jaw going a bit to the outside. This started to help him step under better.

02/19/2022

It's been about an hour since I finished my 2 lessons with Bent Branderup in the international online clinic, on straightness, organized by Celina Skogan.

I feel such exhilaration! I'm walking on air! I love love love the intense subtle details in Bents' style of teaching!!! This knowledge and inspiration will carry me for months.

It's so cool what you can get out of 2 little lessons when you have such a talented teacher like Bent. 🙂🙂

Thank you, Celina Skogan, for all you do so we can be a part of this inspiring international online clinic! ❤🌷

02/16/2022

I appreciate the non competitive nature of Kathrin Branderup's approach to her own training and the teaching of others. There is never a feeling of not being good enough with her. She never compares herself to others to boost herself up. I feel very inspired by her genuine approach to helping her horses and her students grow. She is always friendly and encouraging. I took great pleasure in watching her teach during my last internship.

Her words here give a nice feeling for the kind of person she is.

There is a difference between an educated rider and a beginner, between a youngster and and educated horse. But you should not judge your and your horses development by what people can see, but by what you feel. The good feeling is the biggest reward and the most reliable judge. A good education helps you and your horse to develop your relationship, your communication and your sensitivity for each other. The physical aspect is what we all obviously work on in the Academic Art of Riding, but only the feeling that "both spirits want", will give us satisfaction.

Learn more about Kathrin by looking at her page and website.

https://www.facebook.com/kathrinbranderup

https://www.growtogether.today/english/what-is-it-about/

Photo credit: Lotte Lekholm

02/09/2022

The last time I went to Denmark as an Intern, it was the summer of 2019. I arrived just on time to take part in the annual Summer Academy held for the Knighthood.

To become a part of the Knighthood you must pass 2 tests, the groundwork test (groundwork and lunging) and the squire test (seat test).

It was a wonderful 4 days of learning and new found inspiration. Watching Kathrin work her horses was a highlight for me. Such beauty and grace.! She truly makes you believe in the art of riding. She is soft and light and elegant. She and her horses flow seamlessly together in a beautiful dance.

I remember David Lichman Parelli Professional visiting from the United States so very delighted while he watched Kathrin work her horses.

Learn more about Kathrin by looking at her page and website.
https://www.facebook.com/kathrinbranderup
https://www.growtogether.today/english/what-is-it-about/

Photo credit: Céline Rieck

02/08/2022

Kathrin Branderup is the first licensed Bent Branderup® trainer I will take online lessons with.

I live in Oliver, British Columbia, Canada. We still have ice and snow but it is thankfully starting to melt. I do not have a fancy indoor arena... haha.. just a flat spot down the hill from my house. That's okay, fancy is not needed, just desire. It should be nice enough by March to take lessons with Kathrin.

In the mean time you can get to know her better by looking at her page and website.

https://www.facebook.com/kathrinbranderup

https://www.growtogether.today/english/what-is-it-about/

This is an excerpt from her website. I love the way she thinks.

In the Academic Art of Riding I found a way to spent meaningful quality time together with horses. Over the years it developed and became my way to meditate. I calm down, feel my and my horses energy and can balance myself. The better I learn to balance myself, the further I can develop together with my horse. Each day we meet each other again, each day is new and different, and each day we grow together. This way to spend time with horses is rich and simple, amazing but very down to earth. It is nothing exclusive. It is open for every horseman and -woman, no matter what breed the horse is, no matter how crooked his legs are. Neither do you need fancy equipment, nor stylish clothing. The art and the handcraft as it's basic are committed only to the physical and mental wellbeing of the horse.

The art of riding can produce fantastic pictures, but the most amazing about it can only be felt by the horse and the rider, "when two spirits want to do, what two body's can do." (Bent Branderup)

To me this feeling is the essence of the art of riding. You can't win in a tournament and you can not purchase exclusive rights. There is no reason to defend it against others, as it loses nothing of it's worth if you share it. But if you want to find it, you have to go for it yourself. You have to travel the way. But you can ask a guide for some directions. When you start to see how your horse is mirroring you, the Art of Riding becomes an Art of life. No matter on what level of education you are together with your horse. What you need to proceed to a higher level is consciousness, awareness and love. If you are ready to listen to your horse and to accept whatever you will discover, you can grow together.

There are good riders and trainers with and without formal education, license and recommendations. I feel honored to be a member of the group of licensed Bent Branderup® Trainers since 2013. This license is both a reward for my work and a chance to further develop my skills as a trainer in close contact with a group of excellent trainers. Further information about the license and the other licensed trainers you can find on www.bentbranderuptrainer.com

Photo credit: Céline Rieck