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Trainers/Riders Videos

11/21/12 - Susanne von Dietze - Rhythm

Rhythm, seatbones, leg aids, body position

Part 1: Ms. von Dietze observes the riders warm up and determines that both riders in this semi private lesson need to work on maintaining a rhythm . As they trot on a circle, the challenge is to have the same number of strides for every quarter of the circle. The rhythm becomes much better, and they repeat the exercise at the canter.

Part 2: They reverse direction and repeat the same exercise in trot and canter. Ms. von Dietze gives a terrific explanation of why accuracy on the circle can improve the rhythm. The next exercise aids the riders in finding their seatbones.

Part 3: They now become aware of what happens to their seatbones as they use their leg aids, and do an exercise trying to keep the weight even in the seatbones while moving the legs and freeing the hips. In the rising trot, they think about where their seatbones touch the saddle, and then move where they land. As they go to short spurts of sitting trot, they next concentrate on moving their hands to prevent locking their hands and arms.

Part 4: Ms. von Dietze asks for walk to sitting trot to walk transitions while thinking about how their bodies ask for the transitions.

Part 5: In the rising trot, they allow the horses to stretch, and the previous work has lead to better moving horses with improved rhythm.

Biographic Overview

Published author of Balance in Movement, How to Achieve the Perfect Seat, Susanne's expertise as a trainer through Grand Prix and as a physiotherapist, combine to give her an amazing capacity to help riders become harmonious partners to their horses. Germ read full bio

Susanne von Dietze-GER Videos

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