Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress work with Christoph Hess and show us stretching is for all horses, whatever the discipline…
“Once again, harmony, once again, the rider is schooling for trust – the horse knows ‘the rider is my partner’, Christoph tells us.
“The first goal with this young eventing horse is the same as the goal with the Grand Prix horse: STRETCH. This gives the horse a good body feeling, swing, use the body, and then we see the active hind legs.”
Rightly, Christoph is impressed with Megan’s riding: “Look to her hands. She does NOTHING with her hands. And see she moves to the half seat – the half seat in the canter is like rising in the trot. It is like saying thank you to your horse. Megan is the spirit of good riding, she is a very sensitive rider.”
And Megan keeps that same sweet connection, that same forward flow, never interfering with the mare: “Watch, Megan is waiting for the fence to come, she is letting the horse watch – she doesn’t help the horse, she puts the reins away. It is like free jumping and it is very important schooling for a young horse.”
Yes, that’s a lady from the audience lying on the chair – another strength of Christoph’s, keeping the audience involved…
