“Your Leg Is Too Short!”
What am I doing here? And by here, I mean in small-town Germany working my butt off for a man who is regarded as a world famous rider, but who I
fondly like to refer to as the Lord of the Manor.
After three weeks here I am fed up. I’m working twelve hour days. I get one day off every two weeks. I’m not learning anything. Mr. Hinnemann is hardly even talking to me, much less helping me. I’m not getting paid. And I don’t speak German.
After four weeks here Mr. Hinnemann has finally talked to me. He said, and I quote, you ride like a fucking rabbit. I’m not sure if the expletive is a verb or an adjective, but either way it’s not a compliment. And it’s not really that helpful either.
After five weeks here I am still getting sent back to the barn. If I have the wrong saddle pad, if I forgot to oil the feet, if the horse isn’t clean enough, if I’m not clean enough, or if the bandages are crooked I am ordered out of the ring.
I went and talked to the Chef. (Easier said then done.) I asked him if there is anything more I should be doing to be getting the most out of my time here. He stopped short of actually ignoring me, which he does sometimes, but he wasn’t that generous with his words either. It turns out that I’m not doing badly, considering he thinks I have completely the wrong body type to be a rider: a long back, and short legs relative to my height. I think what he actually said, when I asked him how I could have a nice, long leg like Steffi, the head bereiter, was: “But you don’t have a nice long leg. Your leg is too short!”.
I didn’t really know what to say to that. I told him I would work on it…
I want to make the most of my time here in Germany. The best riders in the world train here. Jessica Kurten, who has been the top ranked female jump rider in the world, lives and trains just down the road. And what-do-you-know, she comes here for dressage lessons. She thinks it will help her jumping. As if her jumping needs any help.
Another rider I want to meet is Ingrid Klimke. I don’t think the Klimke name needs any introduction. If I have heard of them, then you should have too. Ingrid is carrying on the family tradition of winning Olympic gold medals, which she managed to do in Beijing. Her stable is in Munster, about 70 km from Mr. Hinnemann’s stable.
I wrote her, asking if I could visit her stable and meet her, and maybe one day become a working student for her. Three times I emailed her. No response. I assumed she must be a very busy lady. So I called her. She was just rushing out, but in two days she would be having an open house and I would be welcome to stop by.
Two days is not much time to borrow a car, trade my day off with somebody, figure out directions and set my mind to go. But I did. And although Ingrid barely had time to meet me, in between meetings and lessons, I think I made a good impression. But more importantly I also made some good friends. What are the chances that she would have two Canadian working students there? And both from BC! Jamie Szestopalow from Vernon, and Eiren Crawford from Vancouver. We got along famously and I promised to visit again. (I have since been back and we stayed up late at a German all-night dance party). I was jealous of the situation they had at Ingrid’s. They seemed so… happy. They received instruction regularly, and they got along with Ingrid. They even talked to Ingrid. But Eiren said it wasn’t always like that for her. She explained she had worked for years in unrewarding, punishing conditions before she found this equestrian oasis. We keep in touch; and she is always ready to offer me advice when I need it.
Her hints are insightful: “As the weather gets worse and you spend more time walking in the indoor, really watch the other riders. When they do transitions - any transitions - watch the seat, the elbows, the lower-leg placement, everything. Try to develop a critical eye by comparing riders. Though Mr. H may not be the prettiest on a horse, I bet he has the best seat. Compare his position (and I mean you have to learn about details, like elbows) to the other riders and see what the better riders do differently.”
They are practical: “ When you're walking: Drop your stirrups and really stretch your jumper legs down with your feet parallel to the ground (forget the heels down crap for now, just don't point your toes). This I'm sure you know. Now LEAN BACK in the saddle, farther back then you think you need to. Feel when you're straight, then feel when your body is behind the vertical. If you can, check the mirror to see what's accurate, because I will bet that you will be almost straight when you feel you're too far back. Really explore this positioning by going too far and past your comfort zone (this is why we start at the walk). Then you can find balance .”
And they are funny: “ Finally, always remember - don't round your shoulders. A lot of men who ride dressage do this anyway, but jumpers are terrible for it. Don't think of pulling them back, that often will hollow your back which ends up giving you the hunter-rider "duck ass" instead of a good seat. Instead push your shoulders down. Once your shoulders are down, then imagine you're a girl with big boobs and you're proud of them. Not like a cheap ho strutting the corner, but just like you want someone to notice. You will not look like a transvestite, don't worry. You'll have good posture in the saddle (and you don't have to tell anyone what you're thinking).
And isnt' it true that every guy has wanted to know what it's like to have boobs, so now you can legitimately think of this!”
But I am still curious if my experience is typical or not. I thought I would be getting more help from Mr. Hinnemann, especially since I’m working for free. Leonie Bramall, who spent seventeen years working for Mr. Hinnemann, had this to say: “The problems you are having getting help with your riding are the same every where over here. The German mentality is that you should feel priviliged to even sit on one of their horses. … It will be much the same everywhere else. Don`t expect too much.“
Her advice: learn by doing!
Everyday I still wonder what I’m doing here. But this week, six weeks after arriving, I finally feel like I’m riding. I’m still riding the young horses, and I’m still not getting much help. But I am surrounded by excellence: expensive horses, amazing riders, and a perfectly kept stable. I think it’s hard not to learn something. Maybe it’s sort of like osmosis. I’m sitting up taller, my leg is longer, my hands are stiller, and my aids are subtler. I try to remember: learn by watching and learn by doing.
Mr. Hinnemann does not teach me regularly. He actually spends a remarkable amount of time not talking to me. But when he does help it is remarkable. Everything he says is backed up by years of training countless horses and riders. When he says something, let me tell you, I listen. And I usually go write it down later as well. I guess if his was a style, it would be minimalist. And maybe less is more.
