The Olympic arena at Kill International Equestrian Centre, Co. Kildare was brimming with people who were all there for one reason only - to see Herr Schumacher and hear what he has to say some 12 months after his last seminar in Ireland - and I don't believe I saw anyone leaving disappointed.

Conrad Schumacher, is a true gentleman and showman - he was very very unwell, having been struck with a nasty cold but it wasn't going to stop him this evening - and I don't think there was a person in the room who did not feel for him - so thanks must go to Conrad - others would have cancel and he did not!

The evening began with a brief history of Dressage Ireland - and quite frankly it can only be brief as they became a formal organisation only in 1989 and their gain in strength has shown no doubt that there is a huge interest and great strength amongst the Dressage enthusiasts in a country far better known for its Showjumpers and Eventers. The Irish determination was never more evident than this evening as the future of Dressage was discussed in all corners of the impressive arena and seating areas.

Conrad began the evening by praising the facility at Kill saying that in his experience (which is vast) of such facilities all over the world this would have to rate as "one of the best I have ever seen" which is high praise indeed and thanks to the Flannelly family for making it available for this evening. It is also understood that they will be holding Dressage events here in the future so look out for them on your fixtures list - the surfaces alone will impress!

And so the evening began - the first horse we saw was an eventer and Conrad explained briefly how Eventing has changed and riders can no longer rely on cross country and showjumping to pull them up from a less than ordinary dressage test - the dressage standard has been raised in this discipline and with this change has come a distinct change in the "type" of horse and this evenings example was perfect. Gone are the "greyhound looking" horses which so often were referred to in the Press Rooms of the world as the "skinny dressage" horses.

This particular horse is just beginning his career and doing preliminary tests. He has only been in dressage work for just one year and Conrad declared him to be a "good mover with a very good walk".

The horse showed quite some tension but Conrad felt that this was more a tension from "an inexperienced horse" and that it showed in his neck carriage - so it is of utmost importance to improve the neck and to do this he must be

This very inexperienced horse coped well - he was standing in front of a stand full of people and had a "strange man" holding his reins - the horse responded in a very short space of time and was willing, without huge pressure from Conrad, to bring his neck down into a better place. All the while he was playing with this horse, Conrad's eyes were scanning this horse for his character - this is something which comes with years of experience and years of getting to "know" the look in the horses eye, the set of his jaw and so many other signs.

The description of this horse was "he is a tough guy - but not naughty"! It was obvious from the defensive way the rider was riding this horse that he had perhaps been the cause of quite some grief to her - she was here looking for answers - and she got them.

Herr Schumacher explained that we can control the neck with our hands but this "is not the way we want it - when he (the horse) has a steady neck we can do with the horse everything - the transitions/lateral movements and with this we form the horse. But we must always "keep the hands quiet - reward the horse for a good walk by moving him out to a trot". Conrad went on to explain his own philosophies "never be rough - even if the horse gives the rider a hard time - solve the problems with skill". Conrad went on to explain "with a young horse we must trust the leg aid (yielding) - the minute we use the hand we make it interesting for the horse and we encounter resistance".

In conclusion for this horse Conrad explained that he wanted the rider to stop "pushing" for the canter but rather talk to the horse and be quite with the hands - if the neck comes up go on the circle and ask for the bend and lowering - don't ever punish the horse.

It is Conrad's opinion that working with the green horse shows so easily where the problems is - and it usually all starts with the neck.

We then moved on to horse number two for the evening and this was a 4 rising 5 year old chestnut Irish gelding ridden by Christiana Manoras a member of the first ever Irish Dressage Young Rider Team to go to the Young Rider European Championships. The first thing Conrad did here was have a discussion about the Irish horses in general and the conformation. Conrad was quite obviously delighted with the Irish Draught as a Dressage horse and explained that in Europe many are now rising through the ranks at a rapid rate. With Christiana's horse he explained how much he liked the conformation - the horse is "constructed on a perfect rectangle and has great strength behind the saddle and much power in front" - if there was any criticism of the horses conformation it is that the neck is set deep from the chest and this makes for a horse on the forehand" but he was quick to point out that this was only a "small issue as the work must be set to keep the horse up in front and this is easily done with a few changes to the work from what would be done with a German horse for example, who is built higher in the neck carriage". He liked the fact that when this horse moves his "hocks go forward and under which is correct for later collection".

So with the horse which has his neck set deep in his chest it is best to avoid too much long stretches while moving as this encourages the horse to "fall on the forehand" - instead Conrad recommended that any stretching work be done at the halt. "All horses work in slightly different ways - this horses neck requires him to be ridden up - without hurting him"!

Throughout the evening Conrad's main point was to make sure that we praise horses and avoid punishing them. He also explained that in his own dressage stable he would expect that a 4 rising 5 year would be "in balance, working the bit, relaxed and at this age working primarily on transitions and lateral movements".

happy and then he will always do a good job".

I am not going to discuss each and every horse as my suggestion is that if you have a chance to see this man in action do so - the information he imparts is invaluable to all riders of all disciplines for the betterment of the horse.

Left: Anne-Marie Dunphy and her medium level German mare. This horse is quite different in its neck set to the Irish horse above and again

Conrad talked about the different way of working horses. Sometimes this high neck set can cause a horse to "make a hollow back and lose impulsion" and again different work is needed for this horse - but the principles remain the same "an obedient horse who understands what is asked - and reward the horse in the moment".

Conrad was so eloquent and passionate in his way of expressing what a horse needs to get to the top and one of the most telling quotes would have to have been "learn to control yourself on the horse - the rider must be able to relax and feel all parts of their own body to become one with the horse - learn to be able to roll your neck while riding, curl up your toes inside your boots - feel your own body - all this makes a flexible rider who can feel what the horse is".

Riders need to "make the horse excited - not crazy excited - but excited to do the work". Herr Schumacher also explained that with young horses we must learn what the different types of tension are - a young horse which is trying will exhibit some tension - but the bad tension - rather it should be seen as "proof that the horse is trying" - and we must always remember to reward the horse, of any level, for work well done - this reward can be by way of "sugars or a giving of the rein - both reward the horse". For example "when the horse is learning the flying change - reward the horse when he is in the air by giving the rein".

Anne-Marie Dunphy is a tiny woman both in stature and in build - in fact in Conrad's own words "she is a skinny little thing" and yet she works her horses with tact and kindness using her seat and leg with her hands almost featherlike in their approach - and she proved that strength and brute force have no relevance when she cam out later in the evening on her 18hh advanced Hannovarian gelding - she was so tiny way up "there" and yet she rode him with lightness and correctness using no force only encouragement.