„Mit dem Pferd“ – Podcasts

Die Ausbildung eines Pferdes ist ein langjähriger Prozess, der nur mit Ruhe, Besonnenheit und Schritt für Schritt erfolgreich genommen werden kann. Hier gibt es Einblicke in Abläufe die sich hinter den Kulissen ereignen, die durchaus Mut machen sollen sich an der Ausbildungsskala zu orientieren.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1914013

(Natürlich gibt es diesen Podcast auch au Spotify, Apple und anderen Podcastprovidern zum anhören)

Alle Condé PODCASTS auf Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/691Mfxr87oWxZx3GQI0Fmy
Veröffentlicht unter Ausbildung, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für „Mit dem Pferd“ – Podcasts

Pferdekult.de Interviewt Christoph Ackermann

https://pferdekult.de/inspiration/pferdemenschen/christoph-ackermann-im-interview

Das Lockere , die elastische Dynamik der Bewegungen des Pferdes darf uns nicht verloren gehen sonst verlieren wir die Reinheit des Gangs!

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für Pferdekult.de Interviewt Christoph Ackermann

„Die Schule des Sehens“

(Foto: Lisa Rädlein – Cavallo)

Die Systematik der Reitkunst
Rezension aus Deutschland vom 27. Dezember 2022

Christoph Ackermann widmet dieses Buch all seinen Pferden, besonders aber Scirocco : “ der alle guten Eigenschaften seiner Vorgänger in sich vereint.“ Das größte Lob schreibt er : “ wird uns immer das Pferd selbst erteilen.“

„Mit dem Pferd entlang der Ausbildungsskala“ ist ein großartiges Buch beseelt von der Liebe zum Pferd und zur klassischen Reitweise, die wie Egon von Neindorff einst schrieb: „Natur und Kunst zu einer lebendigen Einheit verschmelzen lässt.“ Ein hoher Anspruch, der nur gelingen kann, wenn man sich immer geistig vor dem Pferd befindet und das reiterliche Vermögen dazu besitzt.

In Wort und Bild erklärt der Autor, wie er das mit seinem Pferd “ Scirocco “ umsetzen konnte.
Für mich ist es quasi ein Ausbildungstagebuch, das eine Lücke in der klassischen Reitliteratur schließt.
Ich kann vieles aus dem Buch mit in meinen Reitalltag nehmen und lese regelmäßig darin.
Dieses Buch ist nicht nur eine Hommage an die Pferde des Autors, sondern auch an seinen Reitlehrer Egon von Neindorff. Christoph Ackermann hatte aber außer diesem prägendem Reitmeister noch andere namenhafte Ausbilder. Unter anderen Gert Schwabl von Gordon, der ihn und seine Eltern unterrichtete.
Veröffentlicht unter Blog, Was andere sagen | Kommentare deaktiviert für „Die Schule des Sehens“

Erfolge von Christoph Ackermann auf FN Turnieren

Anbei können Sie meine FN Turniererfolge einsehen, die seit 1976 digital gespeichert wurden. Siege und Platzierungen, in den Klassen E, A und L vor dieser Zeit stehen mir leider nicht zur Verfügung.

Coronabedingt bin ich, so wie viele andere Reiter auch in den Jahren 2020 und 2021 fast gar nicht mehr gestartet. In 2022 habe ich mich entschieden meinen schönen Pferden das Turnierreiten, das inzwischen immer pferdeunfreundlicher geworden ist zukünftig zu ersparen.

Hier ist der Link zu meinen Turniererfolgen – die Kurzübersicht dazu befindet sich auf den letzten beiden Seiten des Dokuments:
https://www.conde-reitseminare.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CA-Summenerfolge-FN-Turnier-bis-2019.pdf

Goldenes Reiterabzeichen Dokument:
https://www.conde-reitseminare.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Goldenes-Reiterabzeichen-CA.jpeg

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Blog | Verschlagwortet mit , , , , , , | Kommentare deaktiviert für Erfolge von Christoph Ackermann auf FN Turnieren

Quest for balance – now available in english as e-book

In harmony and balance with the horse – this is every rider’s dream. Physical and
mental balance are the fundamental prerequisites for a sound partnership of animal
and human on any equestrian level.
There is, however, also the opposite: Why do we see so many beautiless images of
animals in Rollkur and with unclean gaits? Voices criticizing today’s equestrian sport
and training methods geared toward quick successes are getting increasingly loud. Is
this criticism justified? How can we turn the tide in the horse’s favor?
Let us start with ourselves! Christoph Ackermann explains how we can bring any
horse – healthily and happily – to its respective top performance by schooling the
correct balance, handling the horse with affection, and applying consistent, systematic
training according to the Training Scale.
Christoph Ackermann himself actively competes in equestrian sports. In this book, he
presents a courageous and searingly honest critique of the established way the sport
operates, which will give any horse lover food for thought.

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für Quest for balance – now available in english as e-book

Mit dem Pferd – Podcasts

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Ausbildung, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für Mit dem Pferd – Podcasts

Web riding lessons for everyone and every level. Leisure riders, show jumpers, dressage riders, eventing riders and all other equestrians too.

We use ZOOM as a meeting platform. The relevant data will be provided by Condé Reitseminare. The mobile phone that is filming must have the Zoom app installed! Combinations with DJI, PIVO and PIXEM don’t work!

By default you need 2 cell phones. One cell phone is filming and the other is used for communication with the rider.

But it also works with just one cell phone, without an extra cameraman. You need Bluetooth 5.1 + air plugs (range 100 m) you can put your iPhone „in the corner“ on a tripod!

Publiziert am von Christoph | Kommentare deaktiviert für Web lessons – exercises and impressions – simple and easy to use

Interview with Christoph Ackermann – by pferdekult.de

To ride with and not against the horse, that is Christoph Ackermann’s highest priority. Unfortunately, this attitude is not always seen today in equestrian sports, not even on the part of the “officials.” Instead, training methods aimed at rapid success often seem to be put first. The more important question is how we can turn the tide for the welfare of the horse, rather than putting primary emphasis on competitive success.

This is precisely what Christoph Ackermann does, and not just as a trainer in demand throughout Europe and the U.S.A. In his new book, “The Quest for Balance (in the Spirit of Ethical Horsemanship)”, he points out the sore points of competitive dressage. He bravely and mercilessly dishes out an honest critique of the business of the dressage establishment, because as a successful national and international dressage competitor he knows what goes on “on stage” at dressage shows, as well as what’s happening in the wings.

Christoph Ackermann
Setting a good example of ethical riding (photo: Christoph Schaffa, Munich)

That’s why Christoph Ackermann, a former master student of Egon von Neindorff, is driven in his work with horses by concerns like preserving the physical health of the horse through gymnastic exercises that comport with its nature. He never tires of repeatedly emphasizing that we are supposed to be helping our horses to do what we ask of them without disturbing or hindering them. So how are we to go about doing that? This is what we wanted to know – and a lot more besides – so we asked him a few questions:

Pferdekult: Mr. Ackermann, the current state of equestrian sports is receiving more and more criticism. Where has it gone off course?

Christoph Ackermann: As far back as the 1980s, competition riding was a beautiful thing to behold, even though initial spectator turnout was lower than one might have wished, and lower than it is today. I still remember fondly my rides at the CHI in Donaueschingen or at the Bavarian equivalent in Munich. These competitions had already developed a great atmosphere and were making quite a stir.

At the end of the ‘80s and the beginning of the ‘90s, I was a member of the Federal Association of Professional Riders (DRFV e.V.). Back then there was a lot of talk about the umbrella organization for riders needing urgently to recruit more members so they’d have greater prestige in the sight of the Association for German Sport. They wanted to create more public awareness of equestrian competitions in order to be more attractive to potential sponsors.

At the time, I was happy for riding in Germany to become more visible. We wanted to attract more people; starting immediately, we needed to make learning to ride quick, easy, and convenient. So that’s exactly what trainers, judges, riders, breeders, and officials began to organize to accomplish. Initially, I didn’t think the basic idea was off track.

At the same time, almost simultaneously, the breeding of horses made enormous progress toward the goal of producing horses that are easy to ride, have great athletic ability, and take less time to train. Unfortunately, as we can see today, this math didn’t exactly add up.

The result is that we now have horses whose appearance, with their skinny necks and fault-laden movement, accords directly with the stereotypical expectations of both judges and spectators. The basic requirement of every fundamental training principal, namely the preservation of the purity of the gaits, no longer seems to exist. Everywhere we see “spectacular,” hovering trot steps that are supposed to amaze us. And the less observers know about the time-honored fundamentals of training, the more they like this style of showing.

Christoph Ackermann
“Ethical riding” requires patience (photo: Christoph Schaffa, Munich)

And that’s exactly the problem! By now we all know that the training of these modern sport horses doesn’t work out so well after all. The horse is too often made “fit” for the path to success using harsh methods. This torture is then rationalized on the basis that the horse has to let himself be “taken hold of.”

As a result of this opinion, we see tense horses as well as riders who no longer learn to sit properly and sit half off to the left; we see the poor animal goose-stepping and hovering, running away out of discomfort and pain; only a strong hand can hold it back. It is so sad that it has come to this. Many horse enthusiasts turn away from the sport because they find no beautiful images or rides at competitions any more. There are only a few spectators left at these shows. Unhappily, the fact that the attraction factor of such events has greatly diminished can no longer be overlooked.

Pferdekult: You’ve made it to Grand Prix and have trained all your horses yourself. What do you find most valuable in your work with your horses?

Christoph Ackermann: As a young man, I had no notion of setting myself the goal of entering a dressage test at the advanced levels, let alone winning it. And my mind was light years away from the “international Olympic movements,” as Egon von Neindorff used to call them. I had absolutely no plan to ride Grand Prix with “Duke,” my Trakehner gelding; I couldn’t even imagine such a thing.

But as it happened, over time I’ve become a better rider, and I’ve grown into these movement through my own mental discipline, my perseverance, and the support of those closest to me. In addition, my love for this work with the horse has increased, kindled by the great teacher Egon von Neindorff. The beauty of his kind of riding captivated me from the start. From him I learned how crucially important a good seat is in the education of the horse. Because a good seat is an absolute, fundamental requirement for having a conversation with my horse that he can understand.

Every unconscious movement or wobbling with our own body means that we have mistakenly and incomprehensibly asked for a response from the horse’s “reflex zones,” which [in German] we also call “effect buttons.” This immediately disturbs the horse’s balance – which can never give rise to harmony. That’s why I attach the highest value to that which is supple and relaxed in the horse. These render the horse willing to perform to the best of its ability, and from there we can develop the horse’s desire to cooperate with us.

Christoph Ackermann
Finding one’s place on the horse (photo: Christoph Schaffa, Munich)

That makes it clear that the horse’s training has to be adapted to the capabilities of the individual animal. As a result, the horse can retain its rhythm and tempo in the trot. They establish the horse’s balance, making possible the development of the cornerstone of further progress: rhythmic, dynamic, elastic movement—which we then designate with the technical term, “purity of the gaits.” This purity is the surest sign of a proper “back mover.” I’ve always attached particular importance to this. Add to that daily, precisely targeted and intensive work with the horse. And that is the irreversible foundation of all further training up to Grand Prix. Keeping my unwavering eye on these objectives, together with the horse – that’s how I make progress.

Two riding instructors in my early youth especially valued classic methods of training; I hadn’t previously found that focus with any of the others. Vefore the start of my competitive career – which was non-existent at that point – I took lessons from Gert Schwabl on my first Grand Prix horse, Duke, a big, black Trakehner gelding that belong to my mother. And after him, from Egon von Neindorff. For him, the focal point of all the work was the quiet, calm Seat. We never stopped working on the basic elements of correct equine movement.

I freely admit that it took a lot of mental fortitude and staying power to keep to this path, because it was more fashionable to take shortcuts. But as soon as I thoughtlessly strayed from this path – the constant work on the basics, I suffered repeated setbacks. Over the years I just forgot about it. It was simply a waste of time. Back then people would ask me – as they still do today – when I was going to make progress just by working on the basics. Nevertheless, with the passage of time I internalized this approach, so they gave me credit for staying on the right path, the one that leads to advanced training of my horses. I ended up overtaking all those who constantly drilled certain movements but didn’t care about the preparatory exercises for them.

Duke was my personal four-legged professor. He was big, very long in the back, a bit heavily built in the hindquarters, and on top of that he had a neck that was set on low and called heavily on the rider’s horsemanship. Intensive work on the fundamentals, in which both Egon von Neindorff and my mother, (using the longe line and longe whip) supported me, gradually brought Duke to the point where he could carry more and more weight behind. And so by 1987 he was so well prepared that he entered his first Grand Prix.

With the same mindset and the same training in the basics, at the same time as Duke I also brought “Champus,” who was three years younger and with whom I later had much success, along the road to Grand Prix readiness. In 1990 he won his first place score in the Grand Prix Kur. After that, other horses followed: “Elektron,” a Trakehner; “Maestoso Amistosa, a Lipizzaner; and “Elevado,” a PRE, all travelling the same path.

Not all of the horses I trained achieved at the same level. My consideration and concern for their individual abilities with regard to their performance set limits for me here. Training for the horses that were able to get to Grand Prix took eight to 10 years, start to finish – which, by the way, is in keeping with the teaching of the classical training texts. My current horse, named “Scirocco,” is an 11 year-old Hanoverian gelding who will be debuting at Grand Prix next year.

Christoph Ackermann
Making allowances for the horse’s individual abilities (photo: Christoph Schaffa, Munich)

Pferdekult: If someone wants to be successful in equestrian sport today, what advice would you give him or her on the way?

Christoph Ackermann: I want to start by saying that from my current perspective, entering competitions is almost no longer desirable. You can be a good rider without necessarily being out there competing publicly in order to compare or improve yourself.

Competitive riding now has its own laws. The focus is centered on quick success at the really big shows, devoid of any fundamental training. In contrast, good riding that is fair to the horse and the serious work that is associated with it used to be the focus of success. It used to be considered a lofty goal to successful present a horse at the L- level or even the M- level. Getting that far meant you’d traveled a long and difficult road, and that used to be acknowledged. But today, if I want to bring home a significant ribbon in today’s competitive environment, then I have to immerse myself more deeply in this circus, with its own [unwritten] rules…above all the rule that I have to present my horse in the outline that is now universally required of if you want to get a high marks [from the judges].

But maybe we should first redefine the word “success” to accord with current usage. For me, in any case, success is measured now, as always, by the way my horse follows me on foreign terrain, in unfamiliar surroundings, ready to perform the required Test with pure gaits and with relaxation and willingness! This is what I aim for whenever I enter a competition. I’m delighted with everyone who is with me in this athletic mindset towards horse, so that we can turn the page again, to improve the reputation of riding as a sport, and for the betterment of our horses’ welfare.

Pferdekult: Horse are your world. How did you get started with these wondeful animals? And how are things going with them?

Christoph Ackermann: On my mother’s side, I come from a family of riders and so naturally I came in contact with horses very early on. I started to learn to ride as a child. Riding was considered good form, particularly in my early childhood, but I didn’t become enthusiastic about it until the time when I was allowed to ride with Egon von Neindorff. Around the time that I began to ride Duke, I started to feel drawn to horses, and especially to Duke. My passion grew from there. The more progress I made, the more I finally understood what Dressage was all about.

In my mid-20s I recognized that I would never be able to exhaust the possibilities for learning this profession. I became more and more humble with regard to the importance of treating the ridden horse fairly. Competing in dressage tournaments interested me less, because of the on-going way horses were ill-treated. It was my parents’ ambition, though, that led me to compete. For myself, I wanted the horse to produce what I was asking for in keeping with its own abilities; I never wanted to ask too much, so as to stay in a relaxed frame.

Judges and spectators like particularly approved of my refined seat, which Egon von Neindorff saw as a sign and a synonym of good riding. Even the warm-up of my horses looked completely different from what was then – and still is, even moreso – common practice. Because of their training, my horses all delivered the goods – without any kind of resistance – and that strengthened the emotional bond between us. I could, very simply, rely on them.

Christoph Ackermann
Christoph Ackermann (Picture: Kirsten Fleiser)

But precisely this harmony, this warm feeling of being able to “play” with my horses, that allowed me more and more success as my riding advanced. That’s why I am today of the opinion (as I was then) that our horses are such incomparably wonderful animals that they deserve appropriate respect and the very best treatment. And we all have the responsibility to step in when we see the opposite happening. So I agree with Marc Aurel:

Often he who does nothing does an injustice.
Whoever does not forbid injustice when he can, commands it!

Pferdekult: Who in the world of horses inspires you most. And more importantly, why?

Christoph Ackermann: At the very top of the list is Egon von Neindorff, because his riding was exactly like what I imagine when I think of very good classical horsemanship. Whether during his daily, goal-oriented work with horses or during performances, he always exuded friendliness, discipline, great harmony with the horse; these attributes alone gave rise to a visually impressive presence the likes of which I have never experienced or seen again. His artistry remains my goal as a horseman.

Pferdekult: You have achieved a great deal of success as an equestrian, you are in demand as a trainer, and you’ve already published widely acclaimed books. How do your plans for the future look?

Christoph Ackermann: I often ask myself the same question, and the answer is always the same: as von Neindorff demanded of all his students, I wish to “preserve the artform.” By this he meant to keep focualways on the correct, professional training of our horses — in the classical sense, of course – always as the center point of our vision. I will continue to put this into practice with my students and for myself, so as to demonstrate how beautiful riding can be, especially without having to go to a major competition or having to create a theatrical spectacle around the horses. Therefore, my plan is to change the mental picture that is now so common everywhere, and I can only do that if I continue to stand against that picture and to stand up for good and ethical riding.

Pferdekult: Mr. Ackermann, what concluding advice would you like to give to other people who love horses?

Christoph Ackermann: Let’s concentrate on the essentials. In my opinion it’s not important whether you consider riding a sport, or if you’re a classical rider, or a recreational rider. These kinds of categories aren’t helpful. Because the danger is far too great to reject a broad spectrum of different equestrian disciplines without having first acquired a deeper knowledge of the details of ethical horsemanship.

When we do that, we consider our own superficial perception as the only correct way to see things. The fundamental need, set forth by Nature as a necessity, remains the same: to treat horses fairly and to ride them ethically! We can’t just select a riding system that seems fine to us, and then maybe even promote it by claiming that it is the only true one. To my mind, this is only seeing part of the picture, and it prevents us from being open to seeing the whole universe of correct training of the horse, which is so urgently needed.

Christoph Ackermann
Practice creates masters (photo: Christoph Schaffa, Munich)

In this context, I would also advise strongly against getting all of your information about how to “train your eye” from webinars or videos on the Internet. Since their advent, it has been established that what is available there (about “training your eye,” for example), has a polarizing effect on the viewer, because the “expert” isn’t in a position to explain or even demonstrate classical principals of riding and horse-training. Opinions are promoted in this way that are not based on fact, at least not in the classical sense.

Isn’t it rather the case that we should get our horses to love us, and to comply with our direction with pleasure, diligence and also with a certain effortlessness. I need your [help or support], as a rider and as someone who is knowledgeable about the art form that is classical horsemanship, no matter which kind of riding you are into, in order to revive every aspect of this amazing art.

Pferdekult: Thank you, Mr. Ackermann, for giving us such an interesting and substantial look into your life and work. We wish you all the best down the road, and beyond that, continued success in making the world better for our horses.

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Blog, Was andere sagen | Kommentare deaktiviert für Interview with Christoph Ackermann – by pferdekult.de

Condé Internet Lesson

Now it is possible to have your horse moved according to my instructions via the Internet. I can give professional riding lessons via a Zoom Meeting. The requirements for that are: The rider dials into the ZOOM meeting with the phone and only hears the sound, A second person downloaded the ZOOM app on his mobile phone and joined the session in the „Video“ mode. He / she is filming! And the rider hears my commands or instructions. At the end of the riding lesson, which is 45 minutes long, the rider will receive the recording for self-examination. The Zoom Meeting, with the associated login information, will be set by me beforehand and sent by email.

To make this virtuel lesson happen, I need your complete contact data and suggestions when it could fit for you. Please send these data to my e-mail adress: christoph.ackermann@conde-reitseminare.de

The costs are 85€ (about 100$ plus bank transfer costs) per 45 minutes. A trail lesson costs 60€.

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für Condé Internet Lesson

Condé Internet Lesson

Es besteht nun die Möglichkeit über das Internet Euer Pferd nach meinen Anweisungen bewegt zu bekommen. Über ein Zoom Meeting kann ich dazu professionelle Reitunterricht geben, welche Voraussetzungen dafür gegeben sein müssen beschreibe ich hier.
Der/die Reiter/in wählt sich mit dem Telefon in das ZOOM Meeting ein und hört dort sozusagen nur den Ton. Eine zweite Person hat auf seinem Handy die ZOOM App heruntergeladen und sich mit „Video“ ein gelockt. Er/Sie filmt! Und der Reiter hört meine Kommandos, bzw. Anweisungen. Nach Abschluss der Reitstunde, die 45 Minuten dauert bekommt der Reiter auch noch die Aufzeichnung zur Selbstüberprüfung zugesendet. Das Zoom Meeting, mit den dazugehörigen Anmeldeinformationen wird zuvor von mir eingestellt und per E-Mail versendet.

Now it is possible to have your horse moved according to my instructions via the Internet. I can give professional riding lessons via a Zoom Meeting. The requirements for that are: The rider dials into the ZOOM meeting with the phone and only hears the sound, A second person downloaded the ZOOM app on his mobile phone and joined the session in the „Video“ mode. He / she is filming! And the rider hears my commands or instructions. At the end of the riding lesson, which is 45 minutes long, the rider will receive the recording for self-examination. The Zoom Meeting, with the associated login information, will be set by me beforehand and sent by email.

Veröffentlicht unter Allgemein, Ausbildung, Blog | Kommentare deaktiviert für Condé Internet Lesson