Development of the FEI Dressage Horse Workshop

Hubertus Schmidt, Mariette and Raymond Withages & Linda Zang Headline Dressage Workshop in Florida March 7-8

Jupiter, FL—Several of the world’s top dressage authorities headline the Dressage Workshop on March 7-8, 2005 at Dr. Cesar Parra’s Performance Farm in Jupiter, Florida. 2004 Olympic Team Gold Medalist Hubertus Schmidt, FEI O Judge and Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee Mariette Withages, Former Civil Bereiter at the Spanish Riding School and international coach and trainer Raymond Withages, and FEI O Judge Linda Zang will present a workshop that focuses on the development of the FEI horse. This is an unrivaled opportunity for North American riders, trainers and judges to participate in two days of intensive interaction with some of the sport’s most influential people. Attendees will analyze, discuss, comment and make conclusions on both judging and training the horse to FEI.

“This is simply an amazing opportunity for anyone seriously interested in the art and sport of dressage,” said Dr. Cesar Parra, one of the event’s organizers along with Gabriel Armando. “I have been very fortunate in my career to work in Europe with some of the sport’s luminaries. I wanted make this available to my friends in North America. We are very fortunate that these wonderful panelists agreed to participate.”

The event will begin with a four-hour session on the daily training of the FEI horse. Hubertus Schmidt will demonstrate how to prepare the horse for FEI movements. He will also coach demonstration riders. Schmidt has trained numerous horses to grand prix and his expertise will address many of the common concerns of the rider and trainer. Throughout this session Mariette Withages will comment, explain and score movements. She will also ask for participants’ marks and comments. Dr. Parra explained, “This will be an extremely interactive workshop. Participants should come with questions.”

After lunch a three-hour session will focus on preparing the young horse for the FEI levels. Raymond Withages and Linda Zang will share their expertise on selecting, training and moving the young horse to the FEI levels. A discussion of different approaches in the training as well as the importance of keeping the correct musculature will be included. Mr. Withages will coach riders with young horses that are currently preparing for the FEI levels. Ms. Zang will reveal what a judge wants to see in a young horse. “And that’s just the first day,” said Dr. Parra of the extensive workshop.

Day two begins with a four-hour session on elaborating the freestyle. Mariette Withages will review the concepts behind the freestyle and explain the rules. She will offer insight into how the judges award the marks for a kur, specifically expounding upon the differences of the technical and artistic marks.

A final two-hour question and answer session will round out the program after lunch. “A workshop of this kind is valuable not only for the aspiring FEI rider or trainer, but also for the international level rider,” said Katie Riley, USDF Gold Medalist, Assistant Trainer at Performance Farm and one of the workshop’s demonstration riders.

The event is begins on March 7, following the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI*** March 4-6.

The two-day event is $250 per person. For more information and to register please email DrCesarParra@msn.com or call 410-977-8352.