Dutch dressage or training with the star

24.09.2014 00:14

Tatyana Makarova lives and works in the Netherlands in President Dressage Stables. She performes on European championships in pair with Allright. The famous Edward Gal tutored Tatyana recently. Horsetimes asked Tatyana about her training with the dressage star and differences between European and Russian horse riding schools.

horsetimes: Tatyana, please tell us about tutors of star riders.

Tatyana Makarova: This workshop is called Clinic. The trainer is occupied with one or two riders during one or a couple of days. Clinic is often free and everybody is able to come and to participate. There is also another way of Clinic – demonstration. The rider rides and comments in microphone what he is doing. It helps to watch the riding process alive and to understand your own problems. The third form of Clinic is a tutor in the stable. The training goes either in trainers stable or in your stable. More often you have to go somewhere. The trainings are very constrainedly so one shouldbe in good shape.

horsetimes: And how was the training by Edward?

Tatyana Makarova: We came to Edwards stable with one of President Dressage Stables horses. I had a tutor. There were no other participants.

horsetimes: What is the difference between training of riders in Russia and Europe?

Tatyana Makarova: There is a multi-level test system for riders in Europe (in Holland in particular). For example there are many different levels ща contents besides Grand Prix and Prix St. George. There is a B – an entry level and everybody has to start with this level. Then there comes L (light) – a light level. The riders with 10 points (1 point is for riding more than 60%) in B level. The next level is M(medium).One has to get + 10 points to reach this level. Finally goes Z (zwar) – the complicated level. Only after it come Prix St. George, Intermediate competition № 1, Intermediate competition № 2 and Grand Prix. We don’t have such system in Russia unfortunately.

horsetimes: Tell us about yourself and the stable, where you work.

Tatyana Makarova: I’m the major rider of President Dressage Stables. President Dressage Stables is a professional sport stable. We follow the Holland system of horses and riders training. I many horses of different age and attainment levels to work with but of high level. I ride on 2 horses. One is a 4 year old President's First Apple, and went in semifinal of Pavo Cup. We were off of one point but President's First Apple is inexperienced so we have a lot ahead. President's Allright is my major horse at the moment. We perform in ZZ-Zwaar program that includes half-pirouettes, half-pass in gallop and leg changes in gallop.

I have pretty good results to qualify for participation in Holland Championship indoor in February. I also ride on stallion Majestic Chinook. He took the second place on Pavo Cup a couple of years ago. Unfortunately he was injured and was restored during two years. Now I am atwitter at it.

The second part of my work is to train other riders. I help riders with our stable and train a couple of clients on their horses.

horsetimes: And what are your plans for the future?

Tatyana Makarova: I would like to open a center of training for Russian riders here in Holland. I think that it will be a big help and facilitate riders to reach European level.

Author: Edition