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For the first time in the US, an international trainer was brought to the US to work specifically with Dressage ponies. Cornelia Endres, who has been the Chef d'Equipe for the formidable German FEI Pony Teams, spent three days in August working with some of the best Dressage ponies in the US. The clinic was presented by Dressage4kids, Inc. and USDF Region 8 and was held at Gleneden Dressage in Bedford, NY.
Mrs. Endres was a very successful Junior rider, has a diploma as a sports coach, and in 1977 became the Head of the Youth Department of the German Riding Association. Her pony teams have won 17 team and 10 individual medals at the European Championships. In the past three years they have won all of the individual medals. She manages Gestut Eulenhof near Munster where there are many lovely ponies including breeding stallions.
Riders traveled to Gleneden Dressage in Bedford, NY, from as far as Georgia, Illinois, VT, and Maine. The riders ranged from age 8 to adult; the ponies from the most successful FEI pony in the US to lovely young German Riding pony stallions to Haflingers and Connemaras to “just ponies”.
One evening Mrs. Endres talked about the German system of developing riders and showed videos of typical German Dressage ponies. These included the not so typical Konrad who has taken 5 different riders to medals in the European championships.
Thirteen year old Margot Benedict trained by Rene Vanderwerken in Vermont rode her 13 year old perfect pony club mount of unknown breeding. Margot noted, “I had a blast at the clinic. It was great to see that so many other people ride dressage ponies! I also loved the way Mrs. Endres taught - even if you were in a group you got lots of individual time working with her on your problems. It was also lots of fun to see some of her horses and her barn, to see what other countries' riding facilities are like.”
According to 16 year old Emily Mitchell from Illinois who rode her German Riding Pony Till We Meet Again, “The week of August 4-9, 2003 was probably the most exciting time in my short dressage career. Mrs. Endres is petite and fairly quiet, but her passion for riding is both contagious and inspirational. I learned new skills and exercises to work on at home to improve the way I ride, and to improve my pony's responses
The youngest rider was Isabelle Liebler from Greenwich, CT with her lovely German pony, Get the Picture. Isabelle is trained by Lendon Gray. Shortly after the clinic she won the youngest division at the Northeast Jr/YR Dressage Championships, as well as the Reserve Championship in the Region 8 Dressage Seat Medal Semi Finals.Her mother Renee commented, “I thought Connie had a special way about her with the children and the ponies. She seemed to adapt herself well when dealing with the younger kids as opposed to the older teenagers and adults. I found her to be very empathetic towards pony and rider. She was understanding, yet firm when needed. I always applaud the trainer who understands the importance of the pony/horse, and gives them the respect they deserve. She was interesting in conversation regarding how she thought the child and the pony must find their way on their own with not much schooling by an adult and/or professional. I liked the way she respected the importance of the pony's job as teacher and partner.
“ Isabelle enjoyed her experience- and what a nice first experience with a trainer from Europe. I think Isabelle learned a lot and was lucky to be included. From Isabelle's perspective, this was a big moment and a milestone in her riding career as this was her first clinic ever. What a great learning experience it was. We all look forward to seeing Connie again.”
Nancy Ferrebee trailered all the way from Alpharaetta, Georgia, with her two lovely young German stallions, Benno’s Dream and FS Daily Hero. These ponies were ridden by their trainer Alison Faso and by pony clubber Jaime Martell. Nancy needed help with the long drive and Jaime’s family offered to assist. Jaime had never ridden these two ponies before and did a super job. Nancy commented, “What was really amazing to me is how Connie rode every pony every stride from the ground - she was like a dancer, following footsteps in perfect time with her lower body, with her upper body following the withers, neck and head. Those strides were very expressive, almost as though she was performing ballet. First she was thoroughly and consistently focused on correct basics as the foundation for further work with the riders. She stressed forward into a contact on both reins. And then, which was SO refreshing, "a soft poll". She immediately went for the root cause of the "behind the vertical" phenomenon and looked to root it out. Also, she was absolutely wonderful in her kindness and quiet yet intense involvement with the riders and ponies. She had such an intuitive relationship with the ponies, knowing what they needed from their riders in order to do their best.
One of the unexpected highlights of the weekend came during a barbecue given by the Lieblers. The younger riders found themselves doing “Grand Prix Pas de Deux Prix Caprillis” on foot over the little jumps in the backyard. Alison Sader Larsen, the rider of Noble Bach, a Grand Prix Pony, had come fromMichiganwith Noble Bach’s owner Carol Jacob to audit the clinic. Alison judged the performers who ranged in age from older teenagers on down to the young ones as they ballet-danced their way through the prix caprilli, hand in hand. It was wonderful to watch the kids' ability to express such advanced dressage movements with their own bodies and gracefully execute them between jumps. There was Lendon Gray with her former working student Alison watching 16 year old Emily Mitchell hand in hand with 8 year old Isabelle teaching her how to do two and one time flying changes on foot. That is now at least 4 generations of riders.
Ten year old Annie Gisslen rode her 20 year 12 hand Palomino German pony Nando. They have been showing successfully at Training and First Level. Annie noted, “The clinic with Connie was great, both my mom and my trainer (Carol Seaman) could see an improvement in my riding.”
Galina Pavel,age 15, trained by Marie Peterson, rode her 14.1 pony of unknown breeding. “The clinic was a wonderful, educational experience. The clinic opened up new horizons in the training of my pony and now I have larger and better goals then before.”
Two Haflingers participated: Applause, owned by Tudor Oaks Farm in Illinois and ridden by Kathryn Bettcher and Nordan, a 13 year old stallion, owned by David and Brenda Villeneuve and ridden by Jessica Falkenburgof Vermont. These ponies did beautifully in demonstrating that Dressage is not just for the German type pony.
There were two ponies who have been successful in FEI pony classes. Van Gogh, a Dutch bred New Forest who has been champion FEI pony every time he has competed with his owner Meagan Davis, trained by Julie Harris. Leah an 11 year old Welsh/TB cross is just starting to compete in the FEI classes with his owner 15 year old Julie McKean from Maine. Julie is trained by Willette Brown. A second Welsh/TB cross was Peek-a-Boots ridden by 9 year old Rachel Chowanec who will probably be lucky enough to be small enough to ride ponies as an adult. Last year they were the winners of the youngest Training level Division at the Northeast Jr/YR Dressage Championships.
The very successful Connemara stallion Ballywhim Ardan Mor who has competed successfully at Intermediare 1 with his trainer Jessica Rizzi was ridden by 13 year old Ana DiGironimo.
This clinic was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Daisy Hill Farm, The American Haflinger Registry and many of its members, The American Connemara Pony Society, Sharon Parella, The Horse Connection Tack Shop, Trevelyan Farm, and Performance Saddlery. Their support and belief in the need to encourage the development of ponies was wonderful.