Johann Hinnemann on Submission
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VOL. 23 Johann Hinnemann on Submission Tips from Top Dressage Grooms Brought to you by Amy K. Dragoo SUBMISSION is the GOAL at Every Level Johann Hinnemann 6–7 conference held at the Del Mar welcomes Adequan Fairgrounds. “A supple horse is not USDF FEI-level necessarily a submissive horse. But a German dressage trainer Johann Trainers Conference submissive horse is for sure supple.” Hinnemann finished each day He defined a submissive horse as one riding his client’s horse, Dark attendees to his who “does everything you ask from Dynamic, a Grand Prix veteran inner circle. behind to front, front to behind, left owned by U25 rider Sarah Runge. to right and right to left.” He em- A student of his in Germany, she Story and photos by phasized transitions because they are and the 15-year-old Hannoverian Kim F. Miller exercises that teach obedience while by Don Vino came to California for building suppleness. the Adequan West Coast Dressage ermany’s Johann Hinnemann described the horse’s Festival that surrounded Hinnemann offered intelligence and willingness to work the conference. attendees of the as “inside suppleness,” and stressed 2018 Adequan® U.S. that it was as critical as physical one year I asked him why they were Dressage Federatioin suppleness for success at every level. sold so fast. ‘They had no culture,’ he GFEI Trainers Conference in Del Mar, The opening halt on centerline and told me. If they stepped on his feet California, a glimpse into his train- immediate trot that follows in most in the barn aisle or something, they ing philosophies. With Steffen Peters dressage tests showcase the rider’s were gone.” and Kathleen Raine among the ability to attain the highest degree The conference began with two demo riders and Christine Traurig as of mental and physical suppleness. 4-year-olds, Raine’s Westfalian geld- Hinnemann’s assistant and translator, “First, the horse trusts us to stand ing Figaro and Emily Miles’ Rhein- the event had a family feel. The rest there, then he goes immediately into lander stallion Sole Mio. Both em- of the demo riders and the mostly the trot. That’s a point where we can bodied the clinician’s most preferred upper-level trainers watching and par- show how good our training is. That young-horse traits: intelligence and ticipating in post-ride discussions got is the art of all riding.” culture. It’s a look in the eye and a two-day immersion in Hinnemann’s the face indicating “there’s some- methods. A former coach of the Ger- Young Horses: Culture and thing going on between the ears,” man, Dutch and Canadian teams, the Telling Tails Hinnemann explained. He likes “an German Reitmeister is a sought-after Hinnemann first learned to gauge open eye with a trustful look. It’s a instructor and continues to ride, breed young-horse suitability from his window to the horse’s character and and develop young horses in Germa- grandfather, who worked with the temperament and to how he con- ny and California. family’s horses at their home farm nects to people.” “Submission is the most impor- in Germany. “Every year, one or two The two 4-year-olds received strong tant goal in every stage of train- youngsters were gone quickly after praise. “They carry their riders hap- ing,” Hinnemann began at the Feb. being brought in from the fields, and pily, wait for their riders and listen to 3 DRESSAGE TODAY EXTRA | VOLUME 23 “I’m into intelligence,” said Hinnemann when asked about his favorite traits Secondly, there’s that “second trot” in a young horse. The 4-year-old Rheinlander stallion Sole Mio embodied that didn’t exist in the German master’s that and another trait, culture—a willingness to listen to and work happily early days. “When Reiner Klimke’s Ahl- with his rider Emily Miles. Sole Mio is owned by breeder Leslie Waterman. erich won the 1984 Olympic Games, his normal working trot was like a carriage them. They have inside [mental] balance. lect, especially for an amateur rider, and horse,” Hinnemann recalled. “Today, They’re not against anything and they a smooth, relatively flat back with a place breeding has developed the ability of the try to work for us.” to put the saddle. trot, and as trainers we have learned to After culture and intelligence comes The tail plays a role in Hinnemann’s work more with it. Even with a young overall impression and rhythmic basic analysis. “I never bought a horse without horse, at 5 or 6, we can develop the gaits. A working hind leg and supple- touching the tail to find out about its muscles and train the horse in a way ness through the body are among the thickness,” he said. “I like a big, thick that does not at all go against classical desirable characteristics of a horse that’s tail. The theory behind that is that most training. I had a horse who trotted for “naturally closed up” in his body. At the of the time if there’s not much hair or a 5, but once he learned the passage, he same time, ground-covering strides are bone going into the back, you cannot trotted quite nicely.” Much of that work good, too. A short cannon bone in the expect much in the middle of the spine, to improve the trot is done at the canter, hind leg is a preferred conformational so there’s not much room for muscles. Hinnemann noted. trait because it enables the horse to bend I want to see a strong enough bridge to Another reason to prioritize canter more in the hock. carry me.” quality in a young horse is that the gait A longer body is appealing. “If there’s Questions from attendees were a makes up about 35 percent of upper-level more distance between the ribs, it’s easier big part of the conference and an early tests, Hinnemann estimated. “And, espe- for them to bend through the rib cage.” example was, “If you had to choose cially at my age, I go more to the canter That’s key to lateral suppleness, as was between a good trot and a good canter, than the trot!” demonstrated later in the clinic as the which would it be?” Hinnemann wanted The ideal starting process at his home older horses learned or refined zig-zag “both,” of course, but chooses canter if stable, Krüsterhoff in Voerde, Germany, half passes. He prefers a shorter neck needed. A good canter usually goes with begins when homebreds come to the because that’s easier to control and col- a good walk. training stable at 2½ years of age to “play 4 DRESSAGE TODAY EXTRA | VOLUME 23 around with them.” They are saddled, Kathleen Raine and 4-year-old Figaro, a Westfalian by Fürstenball, exempli- longed, groomed and taught to lead and fied the culture and intelligence Hinnemann likes in a young horse. Figaro load into the trailer, everything except also has a short cannon bone, which helps a horse bend more in the hock. riding, and they spend their days out- doors. Intense training sessions at any age are limited to 20 to 30 minutes, cou- Tack Talk pled with as much active, light-contact ermany’s Johann Hinnemann is not a fan of a few new-fangled walking as possible and maximum time Gthings in the sport. Short girths and saddle blocks that lock the rider spent freely moving in pastures or turn- into place are among them. out. Hinnemann shared several instances Of short girths, he questioned how it’s possible to maintain the of horses greatly improving their fitness, saddle’s centered position on the horse’s back when the rider must lean relaxation and “inside suppleness” by over so far to adjust it. During his riding demonstration, he summoned more time spent walking and simply be- help from the ground to adjust his horse’s girth. ing out of their stalls. Hinnemann said he loves his own Passier saddle that “was invented The idea of brief intervals of intense just after the First World War.” He wondered aloud, “Is it possible to training was applied to horses of all ages buy a normal saddle anymore?” By “normal,” he meant a saddle that and experience during the conference. allows the rider enough room to move as needed to get and maintain his Whether introducing or refining a move- balance, rather than be “just stuck in the saddle.” ment, riders were coached to maintain it He acknowledged the young riders in his yard are very happy with for just a few strides before moving out in their modern saddles. He also shared the results of a visit from a saddle a relaxed, yet forward stride. fitter determining which saddles needed reflocking and where they needed it. “He had a blanket and a big computer and, putting the blanket Canter Depart on each horse, the computer showed where it needed to be restuffed. He Among the thousands of transitions tested 15 saddles and, at the end, I said, let’s try my old model. It was the executed during the weekend, the can- best and there was nothing wrong with it!” ter depart received the lion’s share of attention. Peters shared his experience 5 DRESSAGE TODAY EXTRA | VOLUME 23 Hinnemann liked Lehua Custer’s 8-year-old KWPN, F.J. Ramzes, and while “Too often, that happens and the horse he expressed his loyalty to German-bred horses, he offered Custer his cell- thinks ‘Oh, now the walk.’ His back, phone number “in case [she] wanted to get rid of that one [horse].” belly and head go down.” He coached continuing 10 to 15 meters with contact getting Hinnemann’s help with the pas- down to the trot and repeat the canter and active walk aids to establish that as sage–canter transition during his heyday depart at the same spot on the next habit.