Preparing a young horse for the stallion approvals in Germany – a top trainer explains
In less than one week, the Southern German stallion approvals will take place in Munich-Riem. Unlike the stallion licensing tests, which run 30 or 70 days respectively, at the approvals, the stallions are shown in hand and free jumping and/or running. As one of Germany’s foremost trainers, Uwe Schwanz (www.uweschwanz.com) will present the Niedermair-bred stallion Cornwell (by Collin L).
Q: Stallion approvals are one of the most important milestones for a breeder of performance horses. Everyone hopes that their stallion will be approved. How exactly do you prepare a young stallion for his big day?
Uwe Schwanz: Through meticulous training, where we pay attention to even the slightest detail. Everything has to work. In Cornwell’s case, between the selection process last year, and the actual approvals that are now coming up, we have also started him under the saddle and this has proven very successful as he works very well with his rider.
Q: But showing under the saddle is not required at the approvals, so why do it?
US: That is correct, the approvals include showing in hand, free running, free jumping, and showing on hard surface. Nonetheless, being started under the saddle can become a very important stage in the development of a young stallion prior to the approvals, because the horses learns to cooperate even more closely with his human partner, the trainer.
Q: Using Cornwell as example, can you tell us how the young stallion has changed in attitude since being started under the saddle?
US: Cornwell has always been a very honest horse whose quality as a stallion was impeccable. But now he enjoys working with people even more that he did before, he gets a real kick out of showing that he can react even to the finest aids, and he has become very ambitious, wants to do everything right. He has become much more mature and this attitude also swaps over to other areas, like loose lunging, or free jumping. He wants to show you: “You can rely on me.”
Q: What precisely are you placing your emphasis on in training, so shortly before the approvals?
US: At the approvals, we basically will do the same again as was done at the pre-selection event last year: we show the horse in hand, loose running, free jumping, and of course, trotting in hand on hard ground. Very important is that that the youngster performs well in front of an audience, does not lose concentration when there are lots of people around. So I make sure that we have plenty of spectators when training, I may even ask them to be especially noisy from time to time, so that the young stallion learns to concentrate on his trainer no matter what goes on around him.
Q: Why are the horses being trotted in hand on hard surfaces, wouldn’t it be enough if they trot inside the ring?
US: It is on hard surface that the horse can display its trot extensions to the optimum. This allows the judges to get a better idea of the full extent of the quality of a given horse. Here, it is important that the horse keeps even step with the person showing it, does not storm ahead. Here at our yard in Thann, we have a wonderful hard surface trail, which is very similar to that encountered in Riem for the approvals, so it is the best possible training grounds.
Q: Do you get butterflies in your stomach in the forefront of important events like the upcoming stallion approvals?
US: Not really, no. I have been doing this work for many years, so I know exactly what is required and can prepare a horse for it in the best possible manner. So long as the horse has sufficient quality, and you don’t cut corners in training, there is really nothing to be afraid of. It is like going into any test. If you have to write an exam at school, and you haven’t studied for it, then it is time to get nervous. But if you have prepared well for it, then you can face it with confidence. The same goes in my job. And as far as showing a horse in front of a large audience, this is something I have gotten very used to over the years. It is part of my job to be in the spotlight, so it does not worry me in the least.