Driving the Trot Transitions in Driven Dressage

US Driving coach Thorston Zarembowitz Photo: © Mary Phelps 2017

During the USE Developing Driver Clinic held at The Grand Oaks Resort, a USET designated Training Center for Combined Driving in Weirsdale, Florida, USE Coach Thorston Zarembowitz in working with Margaret Shenker’s lovely Hackney horse “Cash” demonstrates the importance of creating clearly defined transitions in the trot.

In Driven Dressage the trot work, as well as accuracy is designated with 4 different paces: collected, working, lengthening and extended. In this brief video clip, you will see how the trot is shown at the designated letters, from lengthen, to working and collected.

Margaret Shenker and Cash Photo: © Mary Phelps 2017

Schenker and her talented gelding have been earning winning scores in the dressage this season in Florida at the Intermediate level. “There is a danger to this,” explained Zarembowitz at the clinic. “When things are going so well, the driver sometimes has a tendency not to take risks, not to ask for more, when they can.” He talked of famed Dutch Dressage rider Edward Gal, who goes for that extra points by asking for more and showing the judges what the horse is capable of. “There is always a risk,” added Zarembowitz, “but when the judges are looking a several good dressage tests in a row, it is important to show what extra pizzaz your horse has.”

It is clear the Shenker and Cash are on the right track. The USE Developing and High Performance driving program continues to thrive in it’s third year bolstered by donations and funding.