Grand Prix freestyle at San Juan, commentator
Axel Steiner made reference to “very cadenced
trot music,” by which I understand him to mean
that the horse’s gait rhythm was well accentuated
by musical rhythm.
Level of freestyle has as much to do with music selection as degree of expression in performance. As you add movements in higher level
riding, primarily at canter, you need music with
more dynamics and greater variety of phrasing.
Can you give any advice to riders for getting
(and keeping) their ride in time to the music?
What aspects of the horse, the rider, and their
performance do you consider when putting
together their music?
The gait tempos of the horse are most important.
I have to find music with original recorded tempos
no more than 5% either direction of the gait tempo. Any more than that and the character of the
music is too greatly altered in adjustment.
You first want to reduce the music to its most
basic component, the beat. By working with a
metronome, you eliminate elements of melody
and harmony which might confuse the issue.
I’ve performed music for many decades and I
still practice with a metronome every day. Set a
metronome to your horse’s gait tempo and focus
on synchronization. Once you’re comfortable with
the metronome, transfer the skill to your competition music.
Don’t ride choreography. Stay on a 20 meter circle until your horse moves perfectly in sync. Add
straight lines and diagonals and remain focused
on the beat. When riding to the beat feels like
second nature, begin adding in choreographic
patterns.
Style of music comes down to rider preference. I
can look at a horse and know that the gaits would
be enhanced by particular types of music, but
only the rider knows which styles have the most
appeal.
When an incident occurs in performance, let it
go. Dwelling on the incident causes you to stray
from the music and also takes your mind off the
horse. I’ve seen ballet dancers fall on stage and
pop right back up on the beat as though nothing
happened. Your reaction time needs to be quick,
quick, quick to ride successfully to music.
The horse’s degree of expression should ideally
relate to music choices. Dramatic music can be
just as effective for a pony as a Warmblood as
long as the gaits are expressive.
If someone wants you to do their music, what
is the process and what materials do they
need to bring to you?
I also look at clarity of rhythm. The horse demonstrating regular and well-marked rhythm at each
gait should have that quality underscored by
musical rhythm. When David Blake showed his
Video is the biggest stumbling block for some
riders, so go ahead and have a ride filmed at a
show.
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