Review: wehorse - 'First Cross-Country Training For The Young Horse' With Ingrid Klimke

I’m reviewing the video 'First Cross Country Training for the Young Horse' with Ingrid Klimke, on the wehorse site. Anything to do with cross country will always appeal to me over dressage etc, but I was particularly interested to watch this one as it’s with Ingrid. Who, let’s be honest, is a legend.

It was initially somewhat off-putting to see that it’s been filmed in German with English translation played over the top. That is nothing against the German language. It is a beautiful language spoken by beautiful people. Heidi Klum, Claudia Schiffer.... Prince Philip. But because they haven’t completely blocked out the original language underneath it ends up as muffled sound with loud narration over the top. A little bit like when you’ve dialled someone in your pocket and think it’s finally happened, you’ve begun to hear voices.

The translation is also quite literal and so it can sound a little bit clunky and unnatural, but the general message is there. I think this could be improved by having a female voice translating a female, rather than the male voice that has been used in this instance. But you do get used to it and, you know, it’s 2020... no judgement here.

I like that we get introduced to the horses prior to their training. We get a little conformation shot and description. It’s a nice little added extra you can recognise and then apply to their training videos.

I love the fact that one of the dressage horses is being introduced to cross country to keep her life varied. How many of us get caught up in being super serious and wholly dedicated to our chosen discipline? 

And Ingrid.... she is a shining star, a beacon of hope.

Anyone who’s training a young horse in any discipline, anyone who’s new to eventing, anyone who’s rides horses full stop. WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

From start to finish there is such a tranquil quality to everything Ingrid does. Here we are given an insight into a true horsewoman who’s producing horses for the future and not for Instagram.

From the start, everything is so relaxed. Her horses are given every opportunity to make the right decision at whatever obstacle they’re being faced with. And if they come up with the wrong answer, there’s no drama. The horses are allowed to be horses. They’re given the chance to re asses the obstacle at their own pace. And surprise, surprise, they come up with the right answer! It’s not always picture perfect pretty but you can actively recognise their confidence levels growing from the start of the video to the end and when the horses are really starting to shine. Wow.... what gorgeous horses! It’s a pleasure to watch. 

The same process is repeated at every fence so both us and the horse start to learn the routine and understand her training style, and by the end Ingrid can link a few obstacles together in canter and you watch the horses so happy and confident with their new job.

Throughout we’re gently reminded the importance of the rider’s position without having it drilled into us. 

I think it’s so refreshing to see her jump such a low number of small obstacles and call it a day. The horses are being rewarded for absorbing all this new information and not being overloaded with questions. It’s a concept that I think is often not grasped in this country. We go for a lesson; or we hire a facility and it comes down to value for money or what we think we should be doing. Rather than feeling satisfied with a little bit less but a happy horse. 

I am personally tired of seeing people schooling “for the gram”. How many posts do we see of young horses jumping ridiculous fences and lines on social media with tags like “First time seeing cross country fences, think he’s going to be special” and we’re supposed to be impressed. Yes there are some truly exceptionally naturally gifted young horses, but let’s start being impressed by horsemanship and not how high something’s back legs go. 

My personal bug bear is a handful of teenagers posting the same video jumping the same relentless height on their ponies week in week out. Usually it’s one or two fences. The approach is questionable, as is the landing, but they’re applauded by thousands of other kids across the internet for their excellent horsemanship, and suddenly we have a generation of horse people who are found wanting at best.

I think social media has robbed a lot of people of horsemanship in their quest for the perfect post. 

There’s more to be learned from this twenty minute video than 10,000 Instagram posts. 

I will 100% be watching all of Ingrid’s training videos on this website because in twenty minutes she’s reignited my love for riding young horses, and reminded me it’s not about what you jump it’s about how you produce your horses with their (not your) future in mind.

Danke Ingrid... I wonder if she has room for a 28 year old working pupil from Cheshire with two horses and two wolves?

Auf wiedersehen,

Liv xx

Watch the trailer for this video tutorial...

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