Clinic with Helgstrand

Before Andreas Helgstrand started to work for Blue Hors, he worked at Stall K in Kongsberg, Norway.
He has been returning to throw clinics there even if his schedule is very tight, which of course is a treat for a dressage nerd as I am.
Tuesday this week he was here again.
And guess who was there? Lousy pics I know, but all I had was my cell phone (Sorry Anne, was so stressed so I forgot the video camera too!)

On other occations he has instructed Norwegian riders as well as been riding himself, but this time he did all the riding himself.
And it IS a treat to see him ride.
He has a seat to die for, always in balance - even through youngster jumps and tricks - and he is a very sympathetic and soft rider.
(Dear Santa, on top of my wish list for next Xmas is a Helgstrand-seat. Please, please?)
Together with the Norwegian horses shown (ranging from a nice 4-yo stallion to a GP horse) he brought his new star, Laetare. It is a 5 yo stallion (Bundeschampionatwinner I believe), which he bought at the PSI auction to the nice sum of 520.000 EUR.
And what a talented horse it was.
Still a gangly teenager, but in balance in spite of much movement and much legs (though I believe this also requires a talented rider) and they played with movements like flying changes, even in some series, half-pass and collection. It will be very exciting to follow them.

Andreas works very much with transitions within the gaits, and is always returning to the basics; to keep the horse in front of the leg, to work with a soft and steady hand, and get balance and hind leg activity by collecting with the seat and then soften and ride forwards again. And again. And again.

He plays with the horses and the excersises. It doesn't have to be perfect. If the horse has a talent, he might try a flying change or some collected steps towards passage even at an early age to see what happens. And at every seminar I've seen him ride, he just magically produces the most amazing results in all of the horses.

AAArrrghhh.

He is just one VERY talented rider, and it is a treat to see him work. I get very inspired and much of it is of use even for us mortals.

It has been a busy week.

Tuesday we first went to the hospital with Fame to have her tooth checked.
The result is that the tooth is not damaged enough to be removed. One piece is missing, one root is definitely good but they are a bit more worried that there might be a channel up to the other root, the x-ray wasn't clear.
The tooth sits firmly however, and as the removal is a bit tricky they don't want to remove it until it is absolutely necessary. She doesn't seem to be troubled by it so far.
We just have to follow it closely, and if it seems as if she has any problems we have to return. She is put on antibiotics for 5 days though. They didn't think she is bothered by the bit, so I can ride her as normal.

I will continue to use the sidepull as a change to the snaffle though.

Tuesday evening was the seminar with Helgestrand.

Thursday and Friday I was off with work, and on Saturday we arranged a regional dressage show at the stable, which required much work in advance in addition to a busy and long day on Saturday.

Today I could relax, and I decided to try out some of the Helgstrand things on Fame.
As I am still waiting for X-mas, things definitely didn't come as easy for me as for Andreas, but we worked with transitions and to get Fame a bit quicker off my leg. I believe we got some OK work out of it, and we'll continue in the week to come.
Jimmi, the Danish trainer, is coming this weekend again and I'll try to squeeze in two sessions before travelling to Sweden on Friday.