Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Dr. Gerd Heuschmann trained as a bereiter (master rider) in Germany before qualifying for veterinary study at Munich University. There he specialised in equine orthopedics for two years before accepting a post as the head of the breeding department at the German FN (German Equestrian Federation), which he eventually left to start his own practice in Warendorf.
Dr. Heuschmann has been an active member of the "hyperflexion" (previously known as "Rollkur") debate, weighing in at the 2005 USDF National Symposium and the 2006 FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees' Workshop. Dr. Heuschmann's arguments have been featured in many magazines, including Dressage Today and Horse and Hound. Along with Klaus Balkenhol and other prominent figures in the Dressage community, Dr. Heuschmann is a founding member of "Xenophon".
Xenophon is an organisation dedicated to "fighting hard against serious mistakes in equestrian sport" and was developed for the well being of all horses. Xenophon calls for "a return to the fundamental principles of classical equestrianism" and asks horse-lovers worldwide to "unite in mutual pursuit of these aims."
Olympic winner Klaus Balkenhol and Hans-Heinrich Isenbart demand a change. If, like them, you believe that:
- a return to the fundamental principles of classical equestrianism is urgently required;
- only a supple horse can perform properly and remain healthy on the long-term;
- an appreciation of physical and psychological connections in the training of horses has to be revived;
- love of the horse and the aesthetics of equestrian sport should become a focal point once again;
- horse-lovers throughout the world should unite in mutual pursuit of these aims;
then join Xenophon and show your support.
"Understanding the theory of riding is an essential basic so you can choose the right methods during practice. A rider will need to continue to search for the best methods throughout their whole riding career because of the dimension and complexity of this subject. Therefore, we will never reach the point where we can say, now I know everything." Dr. Gerd Heuschmann.
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann meets Philippe Karl! Their motto is, "Together is a lot better than against each other!"
After their first meeting in July of 2008, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann and Philippe Karl had a hope of being able to explain and demonstrate the principles of classical riding in theory and practice, from the point of view of the veterinarian and the riding master to a larger public within a joint seminar some time in the future... This seminar would discuss horsemanship and biomechanics interpreted by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann and Philippe Karl.
~ The future is here and this is an event not to missed! ~
On the 21st of November, 2009 Dr. Gerd Heuschmann and Philippe Karl will meet in Verden, Lower Saxony discussing horsemanship, biomechanics and respectful riding including live demonstrations.
Get your tickets quick! There is only 2700 seats available. As of the 14th of June, 2009, 2400 seats had already been sold!
Ticket Price: 1 ~ 4 tickets €38,00 each; 5 ~ 10 tickets €35,00 each; or > 10 tickets €32,00 each. Tickets can be purchased through Wu Wei Verlag.
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann on Philippe Karl. "In Philippe Karl, I met one of the few classical riding masters of our time. Here, I have seen horses which are truly schooled according to classical principles and ridden in a way that respects their nature. The way in which you, the students of the School of Légèreté, put this riding philosophy into practice and carry it out into the world also deserves the highest praise. I wish you every conceivable success. For we must propagate the classical riding principles again ~ we owe it to the horses!" Dr. Gerd Heuschmann on Philippe Karl after their first meeting in July, 2008.
"I was lucky, the top four or five trainers of his system were there, riding, and I didn't trust my eyes, this was Dressage, unbelievable ~ the whole day long. They can't show me a fake for a whole day. They came in long rein, piaffe, but a real piaffe on the hind legs, this was perfect Dressage. He is very special, he is the guy with these high hands but I went there for two days to study him, he has some very interesting ideas, if you could use some of his ideas then you could stop people from pulling. There is no need to pull ~ his way the horse starts chewing and is relaxed and the back is up." The Horse Magazine, July edition, 2009.
"During the time I spent watching his training, I had the honour of witnessing something that corresponds absolutely to the ideal picture of Dressage riding which I have in my mind. A soft and flexible poll, the finest contact, horses always ready to stretch, and of paces full of 'schwung' and always with an exquisite relationship between the hand of the rider and the mouth of the horse. The foundations of Mr Karl's work correspond exactly to the philosophies of good horse riding of the last century.
I simply cannot understand why Mr Karl is not held in the highest regard, especially at the top competition level. This visit has demonstrated to me yet again what a dead-end street competition Dressage is navigating. There is truly much over which to despair and resign. But since it is the horses who are tortured every day, we do not have the right to abandon them or to retreat into our shells. We must think of the future and try to bring the culture of Dressage riding in all its aspects back into human conscience. In only a few days I have become convinced that Mr Karl has a decisive role to play in this context." Piaffe, September edition 2008.
Philippe Karl on Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. "Gerd Heuschmann is a sympathetic, open-minded and above all very courageous man, whose fight for the welfare of horses I admire very much. As a vet, he is unprejudiced and honestly interested in other riding philosophies. He is the first from the circle of the German FN to make an effort to get acquainted with the philosophy of the School of Légèreté and its practical realisation, instead of judging it from a distance. I sincerely hope that we will be able to further intensify our exchange." Philippe Karl on Dr. Gerd Heuschmann after their first meeting in July, 2008.
"As a specialist equine veterinarian, Gerd Heuschmann is held in very high
regard and, what's more, he is also a man of integrity and courage.
Must I remind you of the disparaging conclusions he draws in his book, his
DVD and his conferences of the riding methods of which you are the
cheerleaders and guardians? As a veterinarian in Warendorf he has, of
course, a front row seat from which to form his judgements. Weary of
prolonging and supporting the 'massacre of the innocents' and, among other
things, of having to inject the backs of horses as young as three years old,
he resolved to break the silence. That is to his eternal credit." Excerpt from Philippe Karl's letter to Christoph Hess and Thies Kaspareit from the German FN.
Learn more about Philippe Karl.
Tug of War: Classical versus "Modern" Dressage by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Wu Wei Verlag published the English version of "Finger in Der Wunde", "Tug of War: Classical versus "Modern" Dressage" in September, 2007. In this publication, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann explains the biomechanics of the horse and therefore the biomechanical background of classical riding instruction. In his book", Dr. Heuschmann looks at today's modern methods used in riding and training in comparison to the basis of classical knowledge, thoughts of the sport of riding today as well as his biomechanical findings.
As a practicing equine veterinarian, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, an internationally recognised authority on issues of equine health in Dressage competition, including "hyperflexion" (previously referred to as "Rollkur") is faced daily with the debilitating, and sometimes career-ending consequences of incorrect training methods. Now, Dr. Heuschmann openly confronts developments in Dressage, as a sport and recreational pastime, that he asserts have deviated from the classical training principles conscientiously developed over centuries of careful analysis and masterful riding by the world's greatest horseman This book is his appeal to:
- Riders ~ to use only gentle, progressive training methods in accordance with the time-tested principles of classical riding;
- Judges ~ to sharpen their eyes and recognise unnatural postures or forced movements and evaluate them accordingly in competition, while rewarding classically trained, correctly gymnasticised hoses;
- Governing organisations ~ to review their regulations and uphold stipulated "ideals" on both national and international levels; and
- Spectators ~ to reject sensational performances and flashy tests when the methods used to obtain them have not had the health and welfare of the horse in mind.
Dr. Heuschmann provides readers with a thorough discussion of the correct physiological training of the horse, walking through the elements of contact, lateral movement, and other important aspects of a classical training foundation. Dr. Heuschmann explains how impulsion and correct collection can indeed be developed safely and to the horse's benefit, and tested at the highest levels in the show ring. If only we use care for our equine partners and allow time to achieve their physical best.
If Horses Could Speak by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. A DVD highlighting how incorrect "modern" riding negatively affects horses' health, produced by Isabella Sonntag of Wu Wei Verlag. Dr. Heuschmann, author of Tug of War: Classical versus "Modern" Dressage, translates this wonderful book into a documentary titled, If Horses Could Speak.
Please note (excerpt from www.stimmen-der-pferde.de): "As per action of an injunction by an Austrian Dressage rider dated 22MAY09 we are allowed for an indefinite time to sell the DVD If Horses could Speak. As until now we do not know if this action of injunction will be dismissed or will be turned into a legal dispute, we are not able to foresee how long this DVD will be sold in its original version. Each day can be the last.
We will do everything to keep this DVD in its original version. In this film no rider is going to be defamed. Only their horses are shown. It is worse enough that these riders still remain claiming that step foul, ambling, hyperflexion and riding in negative tension and/or show trot still is no misdoing. What this kind of riding physically and mentally means to their horses is nothing of the claiming rider's interest: she is only interested in her reputation."
Dr. Heuschmann's book, DVD and anti-rollkur/anti-hyperflexion merchandise (such as caps, jackets, polo shirts, stickers and patches) can be purchased through his publisher, Isabella Sonntag at her website Wu Wei Verlag. Isabella Sonntag is also the publisher of Piaffe, a horse magazine on classical equitation.
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann Australian Seminars
Dressage World will advise as soon as Dr. Gerd Heuschmann can commit his travel plans to Australia.
Websites of Dr. Gerd Heuschmann: www.gerd-heuschmann.de and www.xenophon-classical-riding.org
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