Riding is like dancing. The horse/rider team needs to be able to rely on one another. Only a good team can execute even the most advanced movements effordlessly and with relaxation and only then do both come together as one harmonic unit. Challenging a horse beyond it's ability and instill fear are counter-productive and will never happen during my training.

Any horse can begin to shine when it's ridden correctly and with empathy. In most cases, even the most mis-ridden horse with the wrong set of muscles, the most fearfull, the most overly sensitive horse can become a phantastic parter with whom you can experience great joy and happyness.

I truely take the time to get to know ANY horse put into my care. In my opinion, understanding the horse's individual personality is the only way to build a foundation for teamwork.

Time is probably one of the most valuable assets. I want to give each horse the time it needs to develop and to completely understand it's "job" as a dressage horse and to have the opportunity to fullfill this job with genuine trust in it's rider. The horse should be completely satisfied with itself and it's life.

In addition to training the horses I have in full training, I like dedicating a significant amount of time to helping clients who request lessons, and I get great joy from being invited for clinics and see the smile on riders (and horses) faces every time they havea breakthrough.

It is the greatest feeling for me when I get to witness a horse-rider team happily interacting with one another thanks to the classical yet emphatic training I've been able to share with them. And it's particularly rewarding when my competitive clients come home from a successfull show. It validates my philosophy through an impartial, highly educated third party, the Dressage Judge.


Andrea Bethge