Why I invented the Uberstreichen Exercises
Dec 3rd, 2009 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Hi there. Before I get into today’s post, I wanted to remind you about the call I am doing on Sunday at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern on the subject of the use of rollkur in dressage and why I think it’s not only wrong but unnecessary. You can find out more about the call by going to the DressageDisgrace site. Here is the link: http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/teleseminar-carolyn-resnick
I invented the Uberstreichen Exercises to help me train dressage horses and then Arabian show horses for my junior students. They helped me produce more relaxation, performance and consistent collection at the shows for my junior riders. Libby Ouellette suggested the name Uberstreichen Exercises and I thought it was appropriate. She was a Hilda Gurney student at the time who was also a student of mine and is now a long time family friend.
Uberstreichen is a term used in dressage that is a test to see if your horse is in self-carriage or leaning on the rein for support. You release the contact rein and if the horse stays in frame without the reins for a few strides he is in self-carriage. If he falls immediately, he is leaning on the rein. If he stays in the same form they call this behind the bit or contact and that is also considered not desirable because the horse is not through. By using this test you then know where to put your focus in order to repair the situation. Since the exercises are teaching a horse to respond with out a contact rein, the name was perfect. Thank you again Libby.
Before I had invented the Uberstreichen Exercises I thought the there must be a way to train a horse to be more responsible, enthusiastic, reliable and motivated for dressage and my junior riders and this had to be accomplished through the horse have a clearer understanding of what was being asked. The biggest problem that is occurring in the equestrian world is simply that the horse does not understand and the equestrian world needs the courage and trust to get out of a horses way and leave the horse alone in order to dance. If you are holding a horse to his performance you are admitting that is not trained, seasoned or willing (like in rollkur). I knew horses and the one thing about them is if they understand you and are bonded they are willing, dedicated and energetic creatures. I also knew that a horse on his own doing these movements that we ask for in dressage and classical riding has a great sense of self, presence of mind and feeling of courage. These are expressions of joy, celebration and ego and a show of strength. These movements cannot be recreated through the entrapment of tack or intimidation. The answer to getting these expressions must occur in the moment of sense of power, freedom and safety and knowing.
My development of these Exercises came from the slow journey of communicating with a horse on the ground. Through small minuscule requests I began to develop the true arching of the neck. In those moments working together with the horse as a team I understood how to follow and lead to be able to partner while performing. From my search for this, I discovered the Uberstreichen Exercises.
For fun let’s look out for pictures of horses in nature in movements that are free and beautiful and powerful. Then become the horse and put on some music that brings you alive and then dance like the horses in the pictures you have admired. In those moments pay attention to how your movements direct your thoughts and how your thoughts direct your movements. Notice that the one thing that is causing you to bow your neck and act like a horse is your enthusiasm and interest in the program I am suggesting you to do. Without enthusiasm you will not want to do what I am suggesting you try. You could be motivated though if you had the right circumstances and dance partner and music and that is the way it is for the horse. It boils down to your partnership, your enthusiasm and the connection to the music that leads you to the desire to dance. We need to lead horses like music leads us. Music inspires. So if were are the music that leads the horse we need to spend more time in learn how to ensure the horse is open to wanting to understand what we are asking him to follow.
Have a lovely weekend, speak to you Sunday.
Carolyn
No related posts.
You have a good blog. Looks like you have put in a huge amount of work on it. Here is one of my favorite sites. Flameless Candle Warmer
Hi Carolyn,
I think the topic of relaxation is so important! I like how these exercises are not only relaxing for my horse- but they really help me out too!
Thanks!
Lori
Hi Carolyn
If possible, I rather sign in for the next UE as I won’t be able to exercice a lot during the christmas holidays.
Have a nice week! Tine
Ah there it is, #115. I think there is a time difference on when the comments get on the website and when they come in email.
Now that I have re-read the post, I will probably not do the call this time. Here in northern Wisconsin, it is very cold and I am not able to work with my horse as consistently as I think would be needed to fully do these exercises. Which is not to say that I am not continuing here, but I think I would get more out of a call if it were a warmer time of year and I was getting more practice time in.
As it is, I am going at a slower pace and I am fine with that. My goal is to learn the exercises, the theory behind them, and learn from others experiences right now. Then in the spring, I will have a more concentrated time to apply them with my horse, and the shared knowledge to do so. I will continue to be involved here and let you know how I am doing, but I think someone else could get more out of talking with you personally than I would at this point.
It sounds like I’m not the only one who feels this way right now, so may I suggest that you record the call and perhaps offer a collection of the recordings at a later date? I continue to re listen to the WHR calls we had and learn something new each time.
Thank you,
Evergreen
I would also like to be part of this tele class, but it will depend on the time. I will be gone over the Holidays between Christmas and New Years.
August and I are doing very well with the exercises so far. It is her language and she has been taught to have manners, be soft, hobbles, ground ties, self loads etc…and we ride often in a halter. She is a very bold mare though and sometimes will use her strength (mental and physical) if things don’t suit or she is not into doing something. She does respect me, but I’m talking about things like the few dressage lessons we had or the brief rodeo I had this spring when her back was out. VERY expressive.
We do have a very close relationship and she does live right outside my back door. My main problem with her is that she gets into trouble when I don’t give her enough time. Question 112. This would be my question in the tele class.
She would like to be around me often and has come into my house looking for me when I let her roam around out of the field in summer and the doors are open. She has stood outside looking in the windows in winter.
Dear Carolyn,
Signing in. I loved watching the clip of Alessandra and her TB mare. It helped me enormously. A group session over the phone is a very good idea and I would like to be part of that, though I would be quite happy to just listen.
Thank you so much for your generosity.
Hallo Carolyn
Thank you so much for this offer. I would love to attend the sesson but this will depend on when it is, since I want to be able to work with my horses at the time of the call. But this time of next one.
If you do not attend, can you listen in ? (like the telecalls).
My intention is to sit with my horses during recovery
) and I will look forward to it.
Didnt feel like I wash pushing for a result with my horse – simply asking with focus and quite ok if he didnt reply or didnt understand at the time being. Last time you wrote that I shouldnt focus on getting a result straight away but on the process. Message received
Wishing everybody a happy December and Xmas
Tonnya, Denmark
CLASS-For the quetions I do not answer
I will help you by doing a group session over the phone this way the cost to you would be affordable. Let me know if you are intrested. I will set up a session were the cost is 50.00 per person for a hour and 45 minuets with the group. I will keep the class to the first 25 people that sign up.This way the group with be small so you can get personal time if you what it. Some people just like to listen.
In this time I will answer your questions and some of you will learn you are not yet read to apply the Exercises and that you would learn more from the study of them. You might learn that you want to develop your skills further through the Waterhole Ritual classes in the spring that will prepare you better to be able to train the Uberstreichen Exercise. Others will get a clearer picture in how to apply the Uberstreichen Exercises with their particular horse and many more insights into horse behavior. You will learn how I personally go about communicting with horses and training them. I would suggest that the whole class would benifit from this open confrance call. I will continue to have this class so if you do not make it in the first you can join the second.
It is imporntant to understnad that these exercises are for people who can read their horses well and knows how to handle problems that come up and have some training experiance. I do not think I was clear on this point going into the program. Please except my appoligy.
The questions many of you are asking would be answered from the Waterhole Riutals.
Some tips- Don’t work your horse if he is unfocued, scared or does not want to listen, you use the waterhorse riutals to create a connection that you can train from. If you loose willness or what even, go back to the Waterhole Rituals and regain the connection. If you do not have a willing horse you must stop. Remember no more that 15 minuets. Ask the horse to drop his head down where you want it not where he wants it. We are removing resistance in the horse but first we must start with his permission and try to keep it. You can be strong if it works and if it does not you then must focus on reparing the partnership. I am happy to answere all the questions that I am not answering at this time in the Waterhole Rituals class or in the confrance call but not with this advance program of the Uberstreichn class on line.
Some of you are too concerned in hurting your hores feeling. You maybe too concerned and this could lead to a horse that takes advantage of you. The Waterhole Rituals teach you how to judge this. A rule of thumb if you are conscered that you may be abusing your horse don’t push your horse. Follow your heart. Choose another approach. Or push ahead and see if it works. Use tryal and error and listen to yourself. Remember you are only practicing. Give up the results, just practice. Don’t expect results. In the begining it is good never to push. Just go thorugh them and spend 15 minuets like a person who doesn’t care about his job.
If your horse backs up you need to fix this by bringing him back to the spot he was standing and get him to stand on a droped line and the begin again and repeat. this will work I pormise!!!
I realize that this program takes more advance skills in horse training than I origionally emphasized.
Dear Nan Patle,
Thank you for letting me know of your intrest.
Greetings,
Just a note to let you know I am here and listening and following. New to horses, I often feel I have little to add, but I did take your words to heart in this post:
“You could be motivated though if you had the right circumstances and dance partner and music and that is the way it is for the horse. It boils down to your partnership, your enthusiasm and the connection to the music that leads you to the desire to dance. We need to lead horses like music leads us.”
For me this journey has been learning relation, the importance of play and joy when being with our horses, and learning to perceive the way to ask so the mares and our grey gelding Johnny can answer with “Yes.”
Thanks so,
Nan
I had a bit of a day with my mare August. It has been very cold here the past few days and she didn’t get the volume of work she enjoys. When she hears the backdoor open she will come running to the gate with a big vocal hello.
She very much wanted to do something today, but chores had to be done and all she got was a good pet and conversation. I was plowing a few hours later and when I was in plain view of her she bolted at the electric fence and tried to blow through popping insulators off. She knows she can do this if it is not on, but it was on and at full charge. I shut the truck off and ran up yelling at her to stop, but she looked right at me then blew right through, galloping off with tail flying and nose in the air. Turned around then came right back and by me with a look as if to say “so who’s important now?” with her head high.
Things like this, but usually not this extreme, happen if she doesn’t get her time. I’m just wondering if you have any insight other than to give her that time. Sometimes it is not possible and she does get allot of riding as well as hang time. We go for hikes and bring her yearling gelding along loose so he can figure things out on his own. She also stares at me sometimes when I’m working with the other horses. Have I created a monster? She is the grand daughter of a mare I got when I was 12 and we are very close.
My husband says it’s payback since I never had kids.
Dear Emma,
t is simple if the horse keeps a sparkle in the eye and finds learning fun and has an optimestic attitude tourcher is not something that he has taken place. If you push a horse and take long time doing it this I thing is tourcher. This is why liberty is a good way to train if you follow the rule that if he stops his intrest and leaves you can not go on with your agenda. It is very simple. No one should try training untill they can read s horse’s attitude and see when the horse is turning sour. Turning sour is not the horses fault – he owes you nothing. Training can not be started each day untill the horse has reconnected with you and you have checked his attitude health and waited or made the adjustments to bring him to a willness to perform and learn before continuing his schooling. When you loose the connection in friendship quite and go back to making a deeper conntection and trust.
The other imporntant thing is to be able to see when your horse looses respect from your lack of direction and not being clearly a leader when you take the leadership role.
Treat your horse like you would treat your child of Five.
If you are not good at relationships in your life you will have trouble with your horse. If you are good with children and lovers you will have a good relatioship with your horse. If you know that your horse carries no fault insurance this is helpful to keep a light hearted nature. it is also a valuabe tool. It is ok to push your horse strongly if you do not loose the connection and his willness and desire to try and your horse feels you are the one that bring him well being and an intresting life.
Hello Carolyn,
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together the teleseminar on Rollkur. I was struck by two things in particular.
The first: There is nothing in this world more important than being considerate, kind, and empathic. Winning in a dressage competition is not more important than treating our fellow souls (horses) kindly and with respect. (Your blog post on manners also addresses this, I believe).
The second: Horses are sentient beings, just as we are. We have a responsibility, at the very least, to address them through their minds and not through coercion using physical punishment and pain.
At what point does physical coercion, negative reinforcement, become nothing more than torture? I think it is a fine line here.
Again, thank you, Carolyn.
Dear Christine,
Thank you for staying in touch and sharing your point of few. When a horse is connected to you and is purposly following your lead with a great gas pedal and brake from you seat and he is volinteering is pefrormance through your direction he is through and animated. What people not not relise is it is a good plan to train all the movement with out a contact rein first so the parternship is the best it can be. Starting with a contact rein does not hold the horse responsibile enough to his own perfromance. I want the hrose to learn earily on to govern him self. This freedom also helps the natural gaits to be more expresive. You then can start to use a contact rein when the horse welcomes the support and his gaits would increase from you offering him the contact like a male dancer with his hand on his partners back as a way to lead her it is then benificial
Instead of focusing on getting him to accept a contact rein when he drops it you focus on treaining him to listen to a rein and then perfrom with out it. it. As the horse advances you then can offer the contact rein from time to time and if he wants it he will take it and perfrom with more brillents. If it doesn’t help you drop it. This way a horse never feels trapped. You can also choose to leave him tackless to be as good as he can be on his happly be on this onw. I never understand why any one wants to push the limits on to a horse. If we settle for a free willing partnership the mastery naturally serfices.
Dear Carolyn,
I just managed to listen to your teleseminar on Rollkur at the dressagedisgrace website. This was fantastic for me because you formulated exactly what I have been struggling to say for a while now at the very end of the call with the woman from North Caroline who asked how you could have a horse “through” without an outside contact rein. When I first started my mare a year and a half ago (to remind you, she is the black PercheronX mare Lili that I participated in the Inner Circle over the summer with), I was considering working with one of the trainers who comes to the barn where I live and have my horses. Apart from personal difficulties, it was precisely the issue over the question of the contact rein that made me decide not to go with her approach. She considers herself a classical dressage trainer, but works entirely and always with rein contact in a very controlled and controlling manner. Her horses are put and held in a frame, from day one, even horses that don’t even want to be with her (which most of them don’t). I’ve never been able to say as cogently what you said on the call, that your “through” is not the same as the woman’s “through”. I was not interested in dressage technicality, for me it was a question, as you said it, of leading the horse, directing their energy, giving them responsibility, and then leaving them alone, not micromanaging their bodies’ every fiber. Getting them to volunteer self-carriage and engagement. After listening to this call (not that I didn’t already completely trust you and your approach to horses from doing the Waterhole Ritual class with you), I am now looking forward to the Ueberstreichens so much more because I know they will give me a tool to do better precisely what I’ve been working toward.
Thank you Carolyn!!!! You are such a gift!
Christian
What a great idea to “become the horse” ! As a child, I did this endlessly. When I learned to ride, this changed. I became the rider and my perspective shifted. What fun to become my pony! i can’t wait to try it. Beyond Gestalt.
Jan
Dear Beth,
Love your letter I watched every you tube and yours. I would like to encourage more people to wrtie to me and share letters of intrest like you have.
The job I have taken in the equestrian world is to inspire others to follow their hearts and to enjoy communities of horses and humans. I am attempting to bring awarness as you are that it is life inriching to seek all the harmony that we can find with horses and make family from the friendships we form through sharing our conntions with them.
On the subject of Rollkur I believe you stop things of an agression nature like Rollkur by changing rules and by creating connections with like minds and razing the next generation to be community builders. Supportive leadership replaces agressive leadership. Rollkur is agressive persuite of the horse. Dressage was never to be an aggresive act.
I like rules for preventing abuse but I really do not believe rules are as powerful as working in the community as a way to being more humanity to our lifes. From my point of view it is not about stopping programs as much as creating new ones and speaking out on what is not right.
I believe “change” starts with the peace you can creat in others and in yourself.
What is imporntat to understand about this journey is to not be a Pollyana but to be real and not expect lfe to be something that it isn’t. It is important to celebrate your own truth and to continue learning to understand your own nature so you can see clearly your purpose in community with others. Anger has a job to do, it is to identify what you are passionate about so you can make “change”.
Ever anger needs understnding. Anger can help you to see the humanity that you need for yourself and how to put it into practice. Everyday when I awarke I take time to remember to return to a place of well being and finding the possible connections I can make from the unity and harmony that surrounds me.
I hope their will be more letters from my blogers like you have shared with us today. I hope we will get to know each other more closely through the winter program on the Uberstreichen Exercises- Asking and then letting go to experaice self- carrage of the horse for the freedom of the dance in Dressage. The definition of Dressage means training. In my mind it excludes no one who is intrested in the journey in unity they can share with a horse.
Have a wonder day and thanks for sharing and listening to Marks interviews and his concerns on Rollkur. Please write him and let him know how much you appreciate his efforts.
Carolyn
I’m sure many of us are excited about riding bridleless. I’m also confident that working through the UE and Waterhole Rituals will help build the type of relationship with our horses necessary for riding bridleless. I will also be looking forward to any materials/DVDs and books that Carolyn may produce in the future that speaks to bridleless riding specifically. Hint, hint, Carolyn.
I think change is on the horizon in the world of dressage because more and more people are speaking out and demonstrating that advanced dressage can be done in complete partnership with a horse. Today there are more forums for dissenting voices to be heard. Check out the videos on Karen Rohlf’s website (www.dressagenaturally.net ) where she and her horse perform advanced dressage maneuvers bridleless.
Looking forward to this week’s blogs,
Karin
Way to go Carolyn!
I just listened to the call about rollkur and I had to step in and tell you that I am so glad someone has the courage to come out and publicly say the things you did. I know many people feel the same in their heart but are afraid to go against the current grain and speak out.
Your comments were very down to earth and simple. I love that. Why do so many have to make simple things so difficult?
YOu have inspired me to begin yet another new relationship level with my horses, which is riding without the extra equipment. I already use a snaffle bit on all my horses and have ridden them all with a halter only. I can ride my belgian without anything. But now, when spring comes, I will begin to ride the others bridleless in my arena. I know it will be safe, as we already have a good relationship. I just never thought before that it could be possible to start that way. I thought it needed to be a long journey to end that way. What a revelation.
Part of my spiritual training talks about “open and expand the spectrum of choice,” and you have definitely done that for me. Thank you.
So much swirling in my head – so many of you write so eloquently in your heartfelt sharings, your stories and questionings – I feel such a wonderful kinship and gratitude – thank you all!
Carolyn – thank you for your teleconference and your proactive response to “rollkur” – you are a shining example of “walking the walk”. I would love to see the FEI ban those dropped nosebands and curb bits altogether, especially in light of all the examples of many folks achieving dressage movements without a stitch on the horse – please see this You Tube video of Honza Blaha -
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgBnP5TWgEU –
- just look at his beautiful horse’s head and neck naturally set.
I am excited that horsemanship is expanding beyond the act of riding. I know I confused fellow boarders at the stable where Cookie lives because I didn’t ride her for months after she first arrived. They were baffled and confused…as if “why have a horse if you’re not going to ride it?” I wanted more for Cookie and I than servitude. And I desire to set a different example for the younger folks watching.
I have a dream where horsemanship competition will move in the direction of horse agility such as shown in that You Tube video, and entertainment type arts (like “Dancing with the Stars”) – I think both would draw bigger audiences than dressage or jumping competitions and open up involvement for more than those who ride; but maybe I’m dreaming – please enjoy this lovely video:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=7034214
Carolyn, I loved and learned from your response regarding treats – thank you – I was a bit haunted – I knew I’d read or heard you discuss treating horses before, but where? Was a bit like losing my keys, I knew I’d had them, where are they? We’d touched on the subject of treats when you called in response to my inquiry about doing the class “Insiders Circle.” Then I found it – you’d posted this most excellent YouTube regarding treats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgFSYQd1Hw0
I so loved your sharing about horses and touching – treats and touching, I think, are a subtle and soft part of the relationship dance we do with our horses – tying in with the sharing territory and respecting space – those mutual gentle touches are the intimacy we might call a welcoming of a respected and trusted friend inside each other’s “bubble.” What I’m trying to write about is hard to put into words. . . there is an unspoken understanding between us.
to Michelle Twohig – that video with one guitar and two playing is amazing ! And a wonderful musical analogy for what we seek with our horses. Thank you so much for sharing !
For me, the signature song for the bonding and friendship and partnership that we seek, that Carolyn is showing us the way, is the first song, “Come Along With Me,” on this marvelous You Tube video by Robin Gates with Fresco – I watch this over and over again – it is the song, it is the story, it is the dance, just love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hPr8-1uglw
When Cookie and I came together, I set little goals for us – natural horsemanship study being one – I feel I’ve found a home with Carolyn, her Waterhole Rituals (looking forward to taking this course when you re-offer it), and this group of like-minded folk, for pursuing this study for growing my relationship with Cookie, who absolutely owns my heart. Another of my little goals was to create a musical video of Cookie, to try to spotlight her personality – though the quality is a bit rough (you might want to let it load before watching it), here is my Cookie in her song and music video for your amusement
See how she seems to move with the music 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vibv3xylKLQ
And please forgive my awkward writing
Beth Schang and Cookie,
in Virginia
I just wanted to answer Vicki that yes I did adopt Sakima from Save the Brumby foundation and Jan Carter. Jan has shared Sakima’s journey so it is me that she has talked about. Adopting a brumby has been the most challenging horse experience of my life and Sakima has made me a better horse person with Carolyn’s guidance and wisdom. Adopting Sakima has been a pivotal experience in my life and I would not have missed it for the world. I am including my mobile and feel free to ring me any time about adopting a brumby. 0418 44 6666 and my email is lynn.scott@creativebydesign.com.au
Dear Beth Schang and to the class,
I loved this you tub You sent I will but it into my favorites. In fact I am going to start to build all of these obsticals on my ranch. I always wanted to see humans move into agenity and this is fine work. How Exciting! This looks like a challege but lodes of fun!
I would like to recomend “Its all about the Rose” CD. It is soft and romantic.
You can listen to my interview with Mark by going to http://www.dressagedisgrace.com/teleseminar-carolyn-resnick