ReinDancellc

02/05/2025

Why French Classical Training?
And within that - why the Ecole de Legerete?

In my last post I wrote about my personal preferences and how they don't imply I dislike other people's choices.

This is obviously with the continued caveat that there are some things humans to do horses in the name of training which I can't tolerate. You know - side reins; sticking their legs in bungees and then whipping them to create passage ; hyperflexion; normalizing riding behind the vertical; draw reins and any other crazy contraptions. You get the gist. That stuff.

However, mostly, with regard to those of us interested in ethical, horse respectful, mindful training - it is a matter or preference and taste. And for a variety of reasons this approach appeals to me.

Here are some aspects of the French school as translated though the Ecole de Legerete which have, and continue to, win me over. You may find some of these are familiar to you, even if you find yourself training in a different tradition. And to be clear, these are my translations of what I have learned. In no particular order...

- A belief in the horses incredible capacity to learn. That if we use our brains it enables them to use theirs. We are both thinking creatures; we can just forget that we are. This approach enables us to think through solutions, negating the need for force.

- A recognition that balance is a huge deal for horses and that understanding how to help a horse with that may be the solution to many of your problems.

- Using the bit and the hands as a precise, precious and incredible means to communicate and become a source of relaxation and comfort.

- Balancing out the need for slow with the need for go. A horse will benefit from changing their balance through slow, precise work. They will also benefit from using their body in positive tension through the power of neck extension and go.

- The exquisite ongoing conversation between balance - relaxation - impulsion provides many routes to solutions for very different horses.

- One aid for one response is something I learned from a horsemanship perspective and which is also a tenant of Legerete. How horses understand anything other than this is a little beyond me.

- No opposing aids. This is a big one as so many of us were taught to use our hands and our legs at the same time in a way that means the horse has to say no to one or both. When we live with horses and see what utter geniuses they are, it really makes sense to make sense to them.

- Developing a gymnastic program which is individual to the horse. What exercises does your horse need, how and when? This means schooling your horse is never a drill, it is always an interesting, ever developing two way dialogue . I have to set my timer so I don't spend too long in the school these days as it is infinitely fascinating.

- It is not the circle which schools the horse, it is the aids. When I first heard Philippe Karl say this I had to go away and have a big think. Endless circles are a pointless endeavor if your horse does not have the cognitive understanding of what that entails, And this understanding in turn helps us to provide him with the physical capability.

- The aim is that our aids get lighter and more intuitive and the horse offers more and more in response. This for me is a joy and I suspect is infinitely preferable for the horse than, 'More legs, more legs'.

- I just do like the way the horses look. I enjoy seeing horses who can move freely, who are more like ballet dancers than body builders and who are interested in what's going on with their rider.

And teaching as many people as I do - who often come to me initially because things have gone awry with their horse - I have so many answers for which I am infinitely grateful. And I believe the horses are too...

02/04/2025

This…

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!

01/19/2025

Dear human,

Do you ever think about the life that I live?

The hours of each day that I spend outside of your view?

Out of sight out of mind — meanwhile my reality really does continue.

Whether you think about me or not, while your life goes on, in your home or out with friends

Here I am, I still exist.

You see, a few hours of turnout may sound like a lot to you, but of much not does my life consist.

In your world, you see an abundance of choices, of paths you may take.

But my reality is much different than you may see, with 18 or more hours spent staring at the same 4 walls.

Not much of my life exists beyond stalls.

Yes, when I see you, it’s the highlight of my day.

Your presence provides an escape from the monotony of my life

But for your entertainment, confinement and isolation is a price I must pay.

Horses of years past, ancestors of mine, built the world you now enjoy, but this didn’t come without their strife.

Sometimes I feel like nothing more than an oversized toy.

Like a luxury vehicle, kept in the safety of a garage, patiently waiting, till you should come and play next.

The constant barrage of needs unmet leaves me frustrated and yearning to be heard.

The lines between love and neglect are often blurre

My such cries fall on deaf ears, for if my behaviour is unwanted, it is ruled as naughty.

The lines between love and neglect are often blurred.

For I know that you love me, in your own little way.

You don’t act with ill will, it’s ignorance at play.

And it’s no wonder that this is how it has become because most every horse loving child eventually does succumb

To a misguided perception of what the horse is to be

Its no wonder this happens, it’s almost a prophecy

These children grew up, with so much love in their hearts

Only to be delighted by the grimacing faces of carousel mounts or gaping mouthed horses, miserably pulling at carts.

They stood no chance, their impressionable minds shaping like the softest of clay.

While from their riding instructors, they are simultaneously told that the horse must always obey.

Before they know it, an adversarial relationship has been created.

Where I, the horse, is now an enemy, whose disobedience is a force that must be defeated.

It’s a war that I never signed up for, one to which I was conscripted.

And, thus, the horse must serve a sentence for a crime never committed.

As our wrongdoings are manufactured, by human misunderstanding .

Our pleas to be heard ignored, drowned out by the demands that we must be submitted.

For actions that the humans label as bad, for wrongs for which we deserve to be acquitted

When we say “no, I’m scared” or “ouch! That hurts!”

It is mistranslated by humans as an attempt to thwart a fictional power structure, one we never agreed to.

Where the horse is a foe, one who vies for power and control, one whose defiance must be defeated.

Empathy is extinguished, the energy reserves for it have been depleted.

And so, I find myself trapped, in a world where my voice goes unheard.

Where I’m told I have such thick skin, that I cannot feel it when spurred.

Where they say that I love my stall, that I am a diva who likes being alone to focus on myself

So that when in competition, I can give it my all.

Many parts of me are personified, but not the parts that matter.

My attempts to be seen and heard for who I am feel like useless chatter.

No one listens, so I go quiet and retreat inward. Feeling too much, being too much is all too exhausting.

I fear the damage on my mind and body the this stress might be costing.

They like me better, anyways, when I am not myself.

I am always too much, or not enough, when I tried to hold an opinion.

So, to you, my dear human, I offer you my puppet strings.

You’ve been holding them so tightly, anyways, and my continued fight does not come without emotional stings.

But, dear human, before I must go, please hear me in a final plea:

Loving me is not enough, if I may put it so simply.

For when that love is a selfish love, where your ambitions and goals are always first,

It leaves me no choice but to be stuck within a curse, where my need to feel seen and understood is not a priority.

Particularly when it conflicts with your goals, it seems like it is much too complicated for you to see we have souls.

But, my dear human, I leave you with this:

I know that your love for me really does exist.

If you can do me only one single favour, please let it be that you’ll continue your learning.

Even when it’s difficult, uncomfortable or hard. Even if it challenges what you’ve always believed.

Please do this for me, dear human, otherwise for your understanding, I’ll forever be yearning.

But if you accept my one simple task, from this stress, I’ll find myself forever relieved.

— original poem by me

See the spoken word poem and short film here: https://youtu.be/7AeCJt8wIJc?si=9vdmHBqzFOW4WWRs

01/16/2025

Why trainers PUSH horses TOO FAST

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.

Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."

Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.

Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."

Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."

Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."

Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."

Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

📸 Max & Maxwell: Equestrian Photography

12/18/2024

Slow Down
For decades, human athletes have understood the benefits of slowing down. The complex orchestration of muscles, fascia, closed kinematic and kinetic chains, involved in gaits and performances is easier to coordinate slowly. Our equestrian linear concepts of forwardness and balance are simplistic and false. Scott Grafton (Physical Intelligence) discusses ordinary people trying to walk on a balancing beam versus ballet dancers. The ballet dancers perform better because their education has developed muscle synergies that are not specific to the problem of walking on a balancing beam but allow them better balance control. Just stay still for a few seconds on a balancing beam. You will make numerous and minute muscle adjustments, maintaining the forces above your center of mass. You will remain in balance as long as your physique controls minute shifts. You will be off balance as soon as the shifts become larger movements. You might give yourself an illusion of balance running through the beam. You will be off balance and crash at the end, but if the video is edited to show only the run, you will show the same illusion of balance as a horse rushed on the forehand, leaning heavily on the bit.
Now, go back on the balancing beam and walk slowly. You will not be able to control your balance on the first day. For each leg moving forward, your whole physique will have to complete minute and numerous adjustments as does the horse walking slowly in balance. Indeed, it is more difficult than rushing through the beam with a hand supporting you, but your mind and physical intelligence will identify and develop muscle synergies and fascia work, improving your balance. The horse needs to do this when performing in balance while carrying a rider. For each leg movement, the back muscles need to center the forces above the center of mass. This education demands that we create an atmosphere that gives confidence to the horse to explore further. The horse must feel respected, encouraged to explore, and given the time to process. Concentrating the forces above the center of mass is complex and involves the whole physique. The education is easier if the horse performs slowly and we work at the level of minute shifts that we channel between our upper thighs. The second we bend the horse’s neck or shift our body weight back to front or from one seat bone over the other, we alter the horse’s mastery of balance.
We can go fast and inject or slow and educate. Teaching the horse to master balance does a lot more than balance control. Mastering balance reduces the intensity of the forces stressing the lower front legs and cervical and thoracic vertebrae at impact. We can lead the horse to better hoof placement as we do by controlling our back on the balancing beam. Better joints’ placement at impact includes knee and hip joints. At a slower frequency, our physical intelligence can reach mastery of forces that our consciousness cannot master. Tai chi and other martial arts further the capacities of the human physique. The science of slow motion furthers the capacities of the horse’s physique.
Dressage boot camps will urge you to go fast because a boot camp aims to numb critical thinkers and make them obey stupid orders. When dressage returns to its original function, which is to educate and coordinate the horse’s physique for the athletic demand of the performance, the horse’s mental processing is the primary asset. The horse needs to process questions and have the time to explore solutions. Our understanding of the horse’s body function and the performance’s athletic demands allows us to assist and eventually redirect the horse’s processing.
Jean Luc

12/14/2024

This!

12/09/2024

11/25/2024

11/22/2024

"The Biomechanics of Jumping Position" by Alexis Soutter DVM

"There is much debate these days about the “best” jumping position. For over thirty years now, it has been very common for riders in the hunters, equitation divisions, and even the jumpers to favor a position in which they lean their upper body well forward onto the horse’s neck. The most common explanation for this position is that it in some way allows a better release of the horse’s mouth. Very little attention has been paid in many circles as to what this does to the rest of the horse, however."

Click on the link below to continue reading 👇

https://www.myvirtualeventingcoach.com/articles/guest-blog-48-biomechanics-jumping-position-by-alexis-soutter-dvm

11/20/2024

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀

Have you ever wondered how gear like nosebands impacts your horse’s comfort? A recent study* reveals some important facts about the effects of very tight nosebands on horses. The findings show that nosebands tightened to the extreme can cause stress and stop horses from showing natural behaviours. Here’s what the study discovered and why it matters.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁?

Twelve horses wearing double bridles and crank nosebands were part of the study. Researchers tested four levels of tightness:

1. Unfastened (UN): The noseband was loose.
2. Two-Finger Space (CAUN): Room for two fingers under the noseband.
3. One-Finger Space (HCAUN): Room for just one finger.
4. No Space (NAUN): Noseband tightened all the way, with no room underneath.

During each treatment, they measured heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), eye temperature, and how often horses licked, chewed, or yawned.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱?

Stress Levels Went Up
- Heart Rate: Increased significantly when the noseband was tightest.
- HRV: Decreased, showing the horses were under stress.
- Eye Temperature: Got hotter, a common sign of stress in horses.

Natural Behaviours Disappeared
- Licking and Chewing: These behaviours stopped completely when the noseband was tightest.
- Swallowing: Horses swallowed half as often with the tightest noseband.
- Yawning: Rare during all treatments but increased after the nosebands were removed.

𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀
When the nosebands were taken off, the horses made up for lost behaviours. They yawned, licked, and chewed more than they did before the nosebands were put on. This rebound suggests the tight nosebands left them feeling deprived.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻?
The study shows that very tight nosebands cause stress and stop horses from acting naturally. Researchers recommend:

- Keeping It Comfortable: Ensure at least two fingers of space under the noseband.
- Checking Tightness at Competitions: Gear stewards should enforce rules against overly tight nosebands.
- More Research: Experts need to explore how nosebands combined with rein tension and a rider affect horses.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
Your horse’s well-being is key to a good partnership. This research reminds us that gear like nosebands should always prioritise their comfort and health.

📸 Pic: An example of an infrared image of the eye region. The cross indicates the position of the maximum temperature within the area of the eye used for analysis.

* "The Effect of Noseband Tightening on Horses’ Behaviour, Eye Temperature, and Cardiac Responses," by Kate Fenner, Samuel Yoon, Peter White, Melissa Starling & Paul McGreevy (2016)

11/11/2024

This…

11/10/2024

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅
Everyone likes to talk about the harm caused when a horse is ridden behind the vertical... but have you ever wondered why?

One (of the many) problems with a BTV position is that encourages incorrect flexion in the neck. In a healthy horse, the head will flex up and down at the first cervical vertebrae. This bone is known as the atlas or C1.

In an effort to avoid excessive pressure caused by a harsh bit, rider or gadgets (especially draw reins) many horses will begin flexing at the 3rd vertebrae (C3). "Broken at the 3rd" creates incorrect movement throughout the body and will quickly lead to pain and damage. Once a horse begins moving in this manner, it is extremely hard for them to unlearn and they may continue this harmful posture even when at or above the vertical.

11/09/2024

In a collaborative arrangement ReinDance LLC and High Point Equestrian Center are pleased to offer a limited number of stalls beginning November 1st, with options for full-service or basic boarding.

Join me (ReinDance LLC) for training/instruction/rehab tutelage packages while you and your horse enjoy a wonderful boarding experience provided by High Point Equestrian Center in Patterson, NY.

About ReinDance LLC

Trainer Deborah Bollman specializes in teaching you how to train your horse by breaking down Classical Dressage theory and methodology, and turning it into a working experience. You will learn how to cultivate feel, while learning techniques that incorporate healthy horse/rider biomechanics, Functional Anatomy, mindfulness, and relationship building. All while developing your intuition, mindset and feel to deepen your relationship with your horse.

About High Point Equestrian Center

The facility features 12x12 stalls,
large outdoor arena with premium Lawton Adams footing and jumps, Round pen, an attached indoor that feels heated for winter months.
Two heated tack room with a viewing area.

Our premium amenities include high-quality hay, dust-free shavings, and premium grain, and daily turnout

Ask us about our horses available for lease/lesson arrangements.

Located Patterson/ Brewster line
15 min to Old Salem Farm

To learn more or schedule a tour of the facility, please contact Adriana at 914-299-4004. 😊

To learn more about our training system, please contact Deborah (ReinDanceLLC) at 845-821-3881 or drop me a pm.

11/09/2024

In a collaborative arrangement ReinDance LLC and High Point Equestrian Center are pleased to offer a limited number of stalls beginning November 1st, with options for full-service or basic boarding.

Join me (ReinDance LLC) for training/instruction/rehab tutelage packages while you and your horse enjoy a wonderful boarding experience provided by High Point Equestrian Center in Patterson, NY.

About ReinDance LLC

Trainer Deborah Bollman specializes in teaching you how to train your horse by breaking down Classical Dressage theory and methodology, and turning it into a working experience. You will learn how to cultivate feel, while learning techniques that incorporate healthy horse/rider biomechanics, Functional Anatomy, mindfulness, and relationship building. All while developing your intuition, mindset and feel to deepen your relationship with your horse.

About High Point Equestrian Center

The facility features 12x12 stalls,
large outdoor arena with premium Lawton Adams footing and jumps, Round pen, an attached indoor that feels heated for winter months.
Two heated tack room with a viewing area.

Our premium amenities include high-quality hay, dust-free shavings, and premium grain, and daily turnout

Ask us about our horses available for lease/lesson arrangements.

Located Patterson/ Brewster line
15 min to Old Salem Farm

To learn more or schedule a tour of the facility, please contact Adriana at 914-299-4004. 😊

To learn more about our training system, please contact Deborah (ReinDanceLLC) at 845-821-3881 or drop me a pm.

High Point Equestrian Center