Inside the Manège
Inside the Manège
Podcast Description
Discover Classical Riding with Inside the Manège, and dive into insights from classical riders, training concepts, and equestrian culture rooted in the art of dressage and classical riding. My name is Maria Cooke and I'm a Zurich‑based, Canadian classical dressage rider and equestrian writer, who began as a hunter/jumper and moved to Europe to learn and practice my passion, classical dressage.Join me as we explore:The details of classical dressage, from biomechanics to self-carriage and balanceBaroque influences such as from the Portuguese and French classical equitation traditionsTraining philosophies from classical masters (like Nuno Oliveira, François Baucher, and Gustav Steinbrecht)Interviews and training principles that explain classical riding for riding today
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into classical dressage, biomechanics, self-carriage, training philosophies from masters such as François Baucher and Nuno Oliveira, and elements of Baroque equitation traditions, with episodes covering influences from the Portuguese equestrian school and practical training applications for modern riders.
Discover Classical Riding with Inside the Manège, and dive into insights from classical riders, training concepts, and equestrian culture rooted in the art of dressage and classical riding. My name is Maria Cooke and I’m a Zurich‑based, Canadian classical dressage rider and equestrian writer, who began as a hunter/jumper and moved to Europe to learn and practice my passion, classical dressage.
Join me as we explore:
- The details of classical dressage, from biomechanics to self-carriage and balance
- Baroque influences such as from the Portuguese and French classical equitation traditions
- Training philosophies from classical masters (like Nuno Oliveira, François Baucher, and Gustav Steinbrecht)
- Interviews and training principles that explain classical riding for riding today
Sonja Weber, a classical rider and trainer with over 25 years of experience, shares how to keep the horse healthy long-term with classical dressage, through developing its carrying capacity.
Passionate about sharing how training can be used to develop the horse’s body to support its health, she has written two books, and produced several films on how to use collection to build the horse’s thoracic sling muscles, and establish a healthy posture.
Based in Germany, and originally from Austria, Sonja Weber has extensive experience using classical dressage to develop horses of a vast number of breeds, from Lusitanos and Arabians, to Icelandic horses and Haflingers.
Sharing her insights online in both English and German, Sonja has a wealth of knowledge about the connection between biomechanics and classical training – and continues to inspire students and followers from around the world with her simple and straightforward insights.
In this episode, we explore:
◼️ How to recognise Topline Syndrome and Abnormal Compensatory Posture
◼️ How the thoracic sling works and why it’s so important
◼️ How to use classical dressage for different breeds and conformations
◼️ How you can change a horse’s posture through training
For this special episode, we filmed this conversation in Sonja’s native German, to make it easier to dive deep into the topic, and what you see here is an English translation. If you’d like to see the original German version, you can watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/gSWwp-XCBBg
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:01 How can you use training to keep the horse healthy long-term?
04:41 Using collection to develop the horse’s carrying capacity
10:21 Why is posture important, and how can you influence it?
14:50 Analysing piaffe and passage & modern competition
19:05 What’s the role of the forehand in collection?
21:35 Abnormal Compensatory Posture & changing the horse’s posture
27:26 Developing piaffe with multiple breeds & stallions’ natural posture
31:13 How Topline Syndrome and Abnormal Compensatory Posture develop
33:00 Elements of collection, balance, & the horse’s natural shock absorbers
41:14 The role of the back, and analysing the long & low position
47:26 What does the correct rotation of the horse’s spine look like?
52:56 What Sonja Weber’s own path has been like & healthy older horses
57:31 Working with different breeds & using classical dressage to benefit them
1:01:47 Working with traumatized horses & flight animal instincts
1:09:48 Using classical dressage across breeds and disciplines
1:13:39 What do you want to see more of in the sport dressage world?
1:17:49 Finding your own path & staying with one trainer
🐎 Learn more about Sonja Weber and her training:
Website: https://www.sonja-weber-reitkunst.de/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonja.weberreitkunst
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonja_weber_reitkunst/
🎠 Follow the INSIDE THE MANÈGE Podcast:
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariacequestrian/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariacookeequestrian
Website/Blog: https://mariacooke.com/
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