Rosemarie Springer was one of the most elegant of dressage riders. A graduate of the Willi Schultheis school that preferred sensitive Thoroughbreds, Rosemarie was also a formidable trainer and an advisor to young riders, always gracious, always encouraging, she showed over and over again that stylish, correct riding could also be effective riding…

Australian dressage riders were fortunate that she visited back in the 1980’s…

Half Pass – “Give the horse a chance with your hand to develop the movement. Take and give and push the horse together. You must bend and send the horse. Be full of energy and strength.”

Rosemarie’s fellow team member, Liselot Linsenhoff
and her 1972 Olympic gold medalist, Piaff

“This is the main thing to remember – if the horse has confidence in you, and you must know that you are really asking him a lot, but always with gentleness, with niceness – then the horse will never lose his calm temperament, and never lose his confidence in you. Then he will give his best. This is the same with dressage horses as it is with showjumping horses.”

Changes – “You must put calmness into the horse, pretend quietness, not ping, ping. Every stride must be forward with calmness and lightness. Don’t swing your body, and excite the horse, be very collected and calm, but still forward, forward motion stops the swinging. Be elegant and sit elegantly in the saddle. Always collect before changes.”

Rosemarie demonstrates on Rozzy Ryans’ 1990 WEG ride, Stirling Wilton

Pirouettes: “Don’t think of a spot and try to pull him around – think of a tiny circle and ride each stride. Don’t let the horse turn himself around. Think of walnuts on the ground – you want the horse to crack them with his feet. Put strength and vigour into the horse. Pump each stride. Put the horse’s head down and give with each stride. Ride as if you want to carry the horse with your legs. After three strides, remember you have to ride more! But the main thing is the first two strides, you have to start off properly.”

“You have to collect, take, give. See the way I play with the rein. I never pull, I can do it with two fingers. It’s my back which I really put into the saddle. I don’t excite him. I ask him to produce a stride without tilting the neck, then I can give away the rein completely. Go straight out of the pirouette. Push him home, back to the track, when you have finished the movement…”

Rosemarie and Lenard working with Rosemarie’s long-term trainer, Willi Schultheis

Passage – “You have to set the horse on his hindquarters. Never work on the wall, your horse may become accustomed to the wall, and that can create problems. It is all a matter of engagement of the hindlegs. Don’t swing, always maintain the forward pushing motion.”