U.S. Tokyo Olympic Team Silver Medalist – Sabine Schut-Kery and Mr. Spielberg. Photo by Kim Miller / The West Equestrian.
Ingrid Klimke’s Masterclass in the Wine Country drew 700-plus enthusiasts Dec. 2-3 for a fantastic, fun weekend of learning from the 5-time German Olympic eventer and international dressage rider.
Ingrid’s love of the horse was palpable all weekend and she shared Classical dressage and training principles, the multiple benefits of cavalletti work and much more. It was wonderfully staged by Kelly Artz and her organizing team at Entrigue Consulting. All the riders and horses were amazing and it was great to see Galway Downs gussied up again just a month after the Eventing Championships.
Photo by Kim Miller / The West Equestrian.
Divided into six sessions with two horses/rider pairs each, the Masterclass saw Ingrid share her expertise and advice with everything from young dressage horses to those close to Grand Prix level. A session with three eventers – Chloe Smyth, Taren Hoffos and Grace Walker – closed each day.
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The versatility of cavalletti work was evident in every session. Cavalletti work is one of many training tactics Ingrid inherited from her father, the eventing and dressage master Reiner Klimke. She has refined the work with successive editions of the book Cavalletti for Dressage and Jumping, 4th Edition. The evolution includes creating her own cavalletti that were used at three heights in a wide variety of gymnastic exercises to fulfill various strengthening, suppling and training objectives.
Arranged in straight and serpentine patterns and set in different distances and striding options, the cavalletti served many functions. They helped horses learn to sit into their hind quarters and develop the strength to articulate their knees, shoulders, stifles and hocks.
Photo by Kim Miller / The West Equestrian.
Circle and serpentine work helped riders prepare for turns — whether they occurred in a jump course or dressage court. They taught suppleness and responsiveness to bend and to change that bend smoothly and on short notice. Stride extensions and collections were yet another area where Ingrid’s cavalletti exercises helped participants advance their partnership, whether that was played out in the dressage court, the jumping arena or on cross-country.
This was really a treat and privilege to have Ingrid in California. She clearly loved the sunny winter weather and Galway Downs’ ability to host both educational opportunities in an elegant, comfortable setting.
Here’s hoping Ingrid will return soon!
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