August 25, 2006

World Equestrian Games Notes from Charlene Strickland

Warming Up with Steffen Peters
Text and photos by Charlene Strickland

A master rider, Steffen Peters is an expert at preparing his horses for international competition. Follow how he schooled Floriano in Warmup Ring 1 before his ride in the Grand Prix (and the highest score of the U.S. Riders).

Peters walks into the ring 40 minutes before his ride. For the first few minutes, he walks Floriano on a loose rein, and does a half-pass at the walk, both directions, and then shoulder-in at the walk. He trots on a loose rein, with the horse's back rounded and moving in an easy forward and down frame.

Klaus Balkenhol enters the ring, taking a seat on his seat stick at ringside. It's now 30 minutes before ride time. From the halt, Peters gradually shortens his reins to ask for collection. When Floriano is ready, he moves into walk, half-pass trot, and walk on a loose rein. He collects again at the walk, and then a transition to passage.

Throughout the warmup so far, Floriano appears calm, and light. He is moving in rhythm and straight, and the lateral exercises show he is supple. Even though he cantered a couple strides before passage, he is listening to his rider. Peters asks for extended trot, then passage, and from passage back to extended trot. Slowing to medium trot, he asks for bending of the neck to test suppleness.

He now has 20 minutes left. Floriano is very alert and focused on Peters. From the collected walk, Peters moves to medium walk, trot, and then canter on the right lead. He does a canter half-pass, then extended canter and the two tempis and one tempis. In the canter work on the diagonal, he keeps the horse straight and supple. He canters 10 meter voltes each direction.

From confirming the basics, he completes this warmup with canter pirouettes, and limited passage and piaffe. He's ready to move to the final warmup, close to the stadium, at the end of this 30 minutes.