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Trainers/Riders Videos

04/05/13 - Colonel Christian Carde - Lightness

Colonel Christian Carde schools an accomplished rider in the piaffe and canter pirouettes.

Part 1: Colonel Carde describes the lightness he is looking for and what the rider needs to do to achieve this. As they encourage the horse to stretch, they look for suppleness and elasticity. After a warm up they work on a correct walk before going to the piaffe. The Colonel assists from the ground for a walk with more activity and lightness in the front.

Part 2: With Colonel Carde assisting from the ground they work towards piaffe. It is a great chance to see a trying horse make the connection in training between the use of the whip and the desired action. (Some French included!) They continue until the mare offers a few steps on the spot without the assistance from the whip.

Part 3: The mare becomes more reactive to the whip, and they are able to accomplish some steps on the spot. Colonel talks about his method of training for the piaffe and passage by training the transitions in and out rather than the steps.

Part 4: The rider requests to work on the canter pirouettes next. Colonel Carde uses the spiral to collect the canter to work into the pirouette, and the rider gives a great demonstration of the effectiveness of this method.

Biographic Overview

Colonel Carde, the former director of the French National School at Saumur, Christian Carde is an FEI I judge and founder of ALLEGE-IDEAL, an international organization for promoting classically correct horses (with superb piaffe/passage transitions). read full bio

Colonel Christian Carde-FRA Videos

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