Reitinstitut E. von Neindorff

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We arrived in Karlsruhe, Germany, the home of Egon von Neindorff, on Wednesday evening. We stayed at the Hotel Berliner Hof on Douglasstrase, an easy drive of a few blocks to Nancystrasse and Reitinstitut E. von Neindorff. Frau Oehlert met me at 9:00 on Thursday morning for a lunge lesson (in English). "Duchess" was prepared.

We started without stirrups at the walk. My legs seemed to concern Frau Oehlert the most. She wanted my lower legs to remain in light contact with the horse at all times so that any aids they might deliver would not disturb or upset the horse. My legs, however, had other ideas! She also had to call for "toes up" more than a few times. As usual, I was also told to "sit still" at the walk. If I understood what I was doing I would probably be able to describe it better for you here and unfortunately, until I can recognize what the problem is, I am not going to be able to do much about correcting it. For now, the movement seems to be minimized if it make a conscious effort to sit up very tall, chest out, shoulders back, elbows down and in.

Our session included work in both directions at the trot and canter. Among other things, I was instructed to ride with one hand holding the front of the saddle and the other above my head. I managed right canter from walk without incident. Frau Oehlert cautioned me to keep my upper body still so I didn't "disturb" the horse. Left canter, however, didn't come quite as easily but I did finally manage it. At the end of the session I was instructed to take my stirrups and contact on the reins.

Frau Oehlert suggested that my riding lacked "confidence" and she felt I would benefit most from riding in the classes with Herr von Neindorff. I returned in the afternoon to join the class at 3:00. I was assigned Galant, a very large and long bay warmblood gelding. The staff at the stable helped me to prepare Galant; grooming him, applying boots to his front legs and collecting his saddle and bridle. All the von Neindorff horses are ridden with dropped nosebands.

A class may contain riders of varying levels, with the more experienced riders being assigned the less experienced and more difficult horses. Those of us less experienced were provided with very reliable and experienced school horses. They were not necessarily the easiest horses to motivate but they were eminently ridable. The lack of a common language (von Neindorff is German, I am not) didn't prove to be as big a problem as I thought it might as von Neindorff's horses would do the talking for him. If I didn't use my legs properly his horses simply would not go forward. If the legs were over-used, the horses would buck! Galant made me very aware that I have much work to do on my legs.

There is time provided during each class when each student is expected to decide for himself what exercises would most benefit the horse he is riding. We are instructed to use the mirror to monitor our position and to use the inside track for slow and uncollected work. Von Neindorff obviously intends to produce students that become independent, responsible, thinking riders, riders that are able to function on their own and not riders that are dependant on another for constant feedback about the state of themselves and their horse. He reminded us to ask ourselves if our horses were more collected at the end of the class than they were at the beginning. I expect Herr von Neindorff learns a GREAT DEAL about his students during these times or independent work!

I returned on Friday morning to join the class at 9:00. Herr von Neindorff assigned me Fantasia, a lipizzaner gelding, for my lesson this morning.

Fantasia attempted to teach me about collection. Fantasia was more willing to go forward from my uneducated and weak legs but he certainly didn't volunteer anything extra. Fantasia also made me aware of my hands. His contact was very polite and he invited me to receive him. I experienced several moments on Fantasia that I was most satisfied with. On the whole, however, I did not manage to engage and collect him satisfactorily because I didn't combine my aids properly. It was largely due to my lack of confidence. I was uncertain how much to ask with my legs and how much to close the door in front and I didn't particularly want to experiment in an arena full of people including Herr von Neindorff.

During this class one of the other students provided English translation which was helpful. Von Neindorff doesn't say very much and most of what he says, even if it is originally directed at one person in particular, really does apply to everyone. He seemed dissatisfied with the level of collection the class obtained in general. He also reminded us frequently to maintain the tempo. He did not want the tempo to change during voltes and lateral exercises.

All of the students wishing to ride at 9:00 gather near the tack room at around 8:45 and wait for von Neindorff to arrive. His arrival at the stable is announced by his dog, Nina. Herr von Neindorff surveys those gathered and assigns horses. As each name is uttered people begin to scatter as they prepare and collect their horses. For those of us not familiar with the horses, the routine and German, the stable hands essentially collect our horses for us. However, by my third day, I was simply being shown where things were and was then left to prepare things on my own.

Von Neindorff assigned Rusalka for my final lesson on Saturday. I was told Rusalka is a gelding of Romanian descent, unknown breeding. I think he looks like a lipizzaner/andalusian cross. I liked riding Rusalka most. My confidence was growing by the third lesson with Herr von Neindorff. I was becoming more comfortable and relaxed. This translated into a better seat and better riding.

Rusalka was (is) a teeth grinder. There is nothing better than a teeth grinder to remind one not to ride with their hands!!

Von Neindorff called for a ride in formation during this class. I enjoyed that the most. I ride more responsibly when I have clear sight of the goals and a formation ride provides me with clear goals - rather like riding a test. I tend to ride the horse instead of worrying about each and every little detail.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Reitinstitut von Neindorff. I learned more about riding in three days on von Neindorff's trained horses than I have learned in some ten years riding inexperienced or green horses at home. I fully intend to return as soon as I can. Next time I will spend more time at von Neindorff's and I will attempt to learn some basic equestrian German before arriving. In the meantime, I can study the video tapes of my lessons and continue to learn from those. I am finding that much of what I learned wasn't necessarily obvious at the time but is only revealing itself now. It was such a thrill to be able to sit on schooled horses. I have always heard about how valuable schooled horses are for a rider's education but I had really didn't appreciate the full scope of that value until having the opportunity to sit on those horses in Germany.

Those interested in visiting or riding at Reitinstitut E. von Neindorff can contact Kasette via email or get more information on the Web in the classical area of Dressage Unlimited.

From Karlsruhe, we drove north along the Rhine, turned west at the Mosel and headed for Trier at the border of Germany and France. From there we headed for Paris, stopping in Chantilly to visit the horse museum and Versailles along the way. We turned in the car at the Charles Gaulle Airport in Paris and took the Chunnel train from Paris to London, England ....

Or, if you prefer, skip England and return to ....

Piber
or


the Spanish Riding School in Vienna
(virtually, anyway)

created November 16, 1999 by Barbara Dodington-Huis
Revised January 24, 2000