Hartmut Schmidt Clinic

Hartmut Schmidt is visiting Australia and will be available for lessons.

He is a Certified Professional Instructor and Trainer who has specialized in dressage for many years. He teaches horses and riders up to Grand Prix level.

His successful career was founded when German Senior Willi Schultheiss made him his personal assistant and brought him to the National Centre in Warendorf. For several years Hartmut was able to gather experience with the German Olympic Commitee. He brought a number of horses up to Olympic and World-Championships.

The characteristics of his style of training are continuity and patience by which he appreciates and encourages the horse as his partner.

Clinic Details:

Dates: 19th to 22nd Sept 2008

Where: Anne Serrao Indoor arena (Mulgoa)

Give Glennis a call or email her to book a spot or down load a booking form, complete it and sent it to Glennis.

"BOOKING FORM"

Email: gbstud@ozemail.com.au

Mobile: 0412 431 192

Glennis visits Aachen

When I hear stories about fellow Australians traveling to Europe (especially Germany) to attend the most incredible and amazing horse shows Europe has to offer, it prompts me to think “I would like very much to return to Germany to not only attend these shows but to catch up with old friends and possibly make some new ones.

Well I took the plunge and decided to make the trip.  I thought to myself “work is here every day but Aachen is but once a year” so before I thought about all the jobs I wouldn't get done, I booked my flight and on the 30th June 2008 off I went...

As per usual, flights did not go as simply as the itinerary states. I had to change my airlines several times because of “strikes” and consequently I experienced numerous hours waiting in airports. One nice experience that happened was Qantas upgraded me to business class for the last leg home so I suppose it made up for the other hassles.

Now for the good stuff...

I was picked up by Bimbo Peilicke from the airport, my association with Bimbo goes back many years when I lived in Germany and trained with him.  It is always so nice to catch up with Bimbo and his family and it was nice to see he still cared for his lovely garden, which I might add is immaculate.  I can still remember over 20 years ago, Bimbo complaining bitterly about the local moles creating mole hills all over his lawns while running around with a hose flattening the lumps. It was nice to see that nothing has changed, Bimbo still runs around complaining and flattening.

We went for drinks the first night to Michael Ripploh's house and caught up with Rodney Martin, who was visiting at the same time. Michaels father used to do all the guided tours around the studs and DOKR in Warendorf, he was so nice and I don't think I have ever come across someone who knew Warmblood bloodlines like he did.

The next day we drove two hours (very fast too) to Aachen. Wow... it was way more modern than the last time I was there and there were so many people too. What a show, it is a spectacle. I managed to get accreditation so I was able to visit all the Australian riders at the show, it was so good to catch up with them. It felt really strange to not go and get changed and saddle up!

We watched a Grand Prix and it blew me away, the horses look good on DVD but they are way more impressive in the flesh! The highlight would have to have been Satchmo, those trot half passes are on a line somewhere between extended trot and passage, I would not say only spectacular, they are outstanding, but in reality the other riders half passes were pretty flashy too, these were just better. No wonder they scored a 10.  We then watched the freestyles and the GP Special. Again, outstanding there are some seriously good dressage.

The trade village was a bit like horse shopping heaven for me. I specifically took a limit of cash so I would not get carried away, (what credit card?) they have some very nice little bits and pieces we don't get here so I made sure the big suitcase was full when I went home... 

Bimbo and Glennis

Picture by Horse magazine

NEWS FLASH!!!!

Another GB Horse makes his mark!

          

Hartmut Schmidt

(Click onto either pictures to access Hartmut's website)

 

 

 

 

2009 Youth Olympic Dressage Coach 

Congratulations to Glennis!

 Glennis has been appointed the Dressage Coach for the 2009 Youth Olympic Dressage Team.  These games will be held in Sydney between 14th to 19th January.

 (click onto the Youth Olympic logo to access the AYO website)

With the first day of watching outstanding dressage and a good dose of retail therapy, we headed back to Bimbo’s home.  Bimbo was tired after the long day and since I was still charged from the day, he asked me to drive home.  I don’t know what was more scarey – driving on the wrong side of the road (sitting on the wrong side of the car), driving Bimbo’s BMW or constantly waking him up for directions.

On the Saturday night, we watched Isabel conducting a masterclass.  She used several horses at various stages of training.  She brought in her demo rider Haley Beresford on some up and coming future Grand Prix stars demonstrating some lovely work on changes and piaff and passage.  Again, some seriously super young horses. 

Ludger Beerbaum was on next on his showjumper.  He emphasized that educating a horse is no different between dressage and showjumping. He commented and stressed the importance of basic ground work and to ensure that the horse must be loose and soft.  He added that you need to check the “gas” and “brakes” and demonstrated this by galloping down the arena and stopping instantly.  Ludger’s horse added his bit by flopping his pink tongue out.  Isabel quickly commented to the crowd “oh! that’s not good for dressage” to which Ludger agreed and the crowds found amusing.  Isabel and Ludger continued to entertained the crowds by swaping and riding each others horse – Isabel jumping and Ludger piaffing, passaging and playing with sequence changes.  It was very entertaining...

On the Friday Bimbo took me to Holger Finkens stables and I was lucky enough to watch training all morning. Wow that man can wake horses up, I could have taken a couple of those horses home, don't know if they would have looked the same after a while as he can really get them firing...

Ton De Ridder coaching

I caught up with Ton De Ridder at Aachen as well. We first met when I was training with Udo Lange many years ago. He was the head rider at Udo’s stables and a very capable rider. He is married to Alexandria who rode the very lovely Chacomo at Sydney games. I went to look at his stables just outside of Aachen.  When I drove through the gates it was like driving into a page on a picture book. It was stunning and spotless. I was given a tour through the stables and saw some lovely horses as well as some stunning German riding ponies that would have fitted in my suitcase if I had not done so much shopping...

It was so nice to have a look around Warendorf, a place I spent quite a number of my younger years. Even the man in the Ice cream shop remembered me and still has the picture of Livius and I from 86 World Champs on the wall. (I did spend some time in this shop).

I also caught up with Debbie Winkler, the wife of Hans Gunther Winkler, they have a lovely property just near the Olympic training centre in Warendorf. I used to school a lot of showjumpers for Mr Winkler's wife when I lived there.

Well that was about it and I have another trip planned soon but this time the jodhpurs and boots will be going as well...

Glennis, Boy and Willy trains with Steffen Peters

In the recent "Day of Dressage with Steffen Peters" arranged by "OnTheBit.com", Glennis (riding "Willy") took part in the clinic in front of hundreds of dressage enthusiast.  Steffen took Glennis and "Willy" through movements and excercies to show his potential.

In addition to the clinic, Glennis and "Boy" also had a private lesson with Steffen.

This is what Glennis had to say about the clinic:

"It was nice to work with someone who had attention to detail yet allowed a horse to be a horse - if my horses made a little mistake, he allowed that and encouraged it so that we could fix it"

Pic by Roger Fitzhardinge

 Pic by Derek O'Leary

 GB Winchester and owner/rider Gary Lung at the "Dressage and Jumping With The Stars 2008"

Congratulations!

Glennis would like to congratulate the following riders (who are training with her) for making it into their State Squad teams for 2008:

* Stephanie Bryant - Dressage Young Rider Qld                    * Tyana Lawless - Dressage WA

* Anjanette Harten - Dressage Qld                                        * Susan Page - Dressage WA

* Tracey Round - Dressage Qld                                             * Sara Thean - Dressage WA

* Gillian Rogers - Dressage Qld                                             * Sally Trevenen - Dressage WA

* Claire Wallace - Dressage Qld                                            * Gabriella Robson - Dressage Young Rider WA

* Libby Welsh - Dressage Qld                                               * Stephanie Spencer - Dressage Young Rider WA

* Tori Welsh - Dressage Qld                                                  * Alison Rowland - Show Jumping WA

* Rory Hovell - Shom Jumping WA                                        * Deon Stokes - Eventing WA

* Belinda Isbister - Eventing Young Rider WA                       * Monica Bird - Dressage Vic

* Roonie Weeks - Dressage SA                                               * Julia Weir - Dressage SA