To the 16 horses and riders of all levels and ages who attended a spring two-day clinic near Baltimore, Maryland, with Alexa Schulten-Baumer, the German trainer's main message was the same: No matter how old or how advanced the horse is, he must be supple over his back at all times.

	Alexa Schulten-Baumer

To accomplish this, Schulten-Baumer, daughter of famed German trainer Dr. Uwe Schulten-Baumer, tried to create an awareness of how it feels when the horse goes properly over the back--when he engages his hindquarters, stretches into the rider's hands and establishes a correct contact. The horse must engage behind so he doesn't end up on the forehand, she said, adding that exercises, such as flying changes or piaffe, are used to enhance the suppleness process, but they can be harmful if ridden just for their own sake.

Schulten-Baumer encouraged riders to understand that the tools for engaging the horse's hind legs are the rider's lower legs. Only a horse that responds properly to the forward-driving influence of the calves can engage his hind legs, allowing him to stretch into the rider's hands and establish a correct contact.

The rider's seat must be correct and balanced. Schulten-Baumer wanted riders' seats to be independently balanced in a three-point position with their centers of gravity over their horses' all the time, regardless of the gait. Only then can the horse move naturally and freely. The forward-driving aids must exceed the halting aids. "More leg and seat, less hands," she said. "Ride with your seat and calves. The hands are just there to build a soft, gentle connection."

The same advice was true for the half halt. When riding a half halt, some riders blocked their horses' hind legs with their hands. The concept of the half halt is often misunderstood, Schulten-Baumer said. "You use [the half halt] in order to put the horse more on the haunches, and you don't just give it from the reins. Half halt with both legs in the knees. Imagine you want to lift your horse into the air." The idea of half halting in the knees, she explained later, helps the rider to rely more on his legs, bringing the horse's hind legs under himself, and his seat, which actually gives the half halt, rather than relying too much on his hands.

One young, bay gelding was rushing at the rising trot, and his steps were short. Trying to slow down the horse, the rider used too much hand, making the horse tight in his neck and putting him on the forehand. "It's not a question of short," Schulten-Baumer said. "You're too fixed on your hands. Don't concentrate on [his head] down. When he's too quick, you must be more quiet." When the rider had a good moment, she said, "Yes, this is a contact! Do you feel this connection?"

Activating the horse's hind legs has nothing to do with increasing the speed, was the message for another rider. "No, that's the wrong kind of activation. Just the hind leg! More phase!" More phase referred to a longer pace, increasing the moment of suspension. Once the rider became aware of the difference between speed and activating the hind legs, the horse became rounder, more engaged behind and relaxed. "Jawoll!" she said.

The whip is an important tool for activating the hind legs. Schulten-Baumer asked a rider to use the whip to engage her horse's hind legs at the trot. When using the whip behind her leg, the horse fell into the canter, and Schulten-Baumer reminded her that the whip is "a long finger," which asks for the hind legs to step more under the body, so that, with each stride, the horse develops more phase. "But it's not an aid for the canter or to make the horse go faster." She advised always carrying the whip on the side where the horse has the most problem using his hind leg.

Another training tip is to do frequent changes of gait, rein and pace. About the horse's frame, she said, "It is like an accordion. When you pick your horse more up, he must let himself pick up. When you want to make him longer, he must willingly stretch into the contact--in a relaxed manner." Also, frequent transitions help a younger horse engage behind. "[Transitions are] a very useful tool to engage the horse and straighten him," she said. When you feel your horse doesn't come through with your aids on one side, no matter what you do, change reins. "Many riders make the mistake of continuing to work on the difficult side for hours on end. But his makes your horse only more resistant."

Praise and understanding toward the horse is important to Schulten-Baumer. "And now pat your horse," she frequently said, when an exercise went well. "Never mind, try again," when the horse made a mistake. And when a horse was unable to finish an exercise correctly, she urged the rider to ride "forward, forward and try again."

Alexa Schulten-Baumer teaches and trains near Bonn, Germany. She was the youngest rider ever to win a German gold medal, and for 10 years she was in contention for a place on the German Olympic Team. She resumes her dressage-riding career after taking time off for the births of her two daughters.