Free Victory and the All-Stars Academy by Stacy Gregg Page B

German eventing team until she married Ryan Stewart and moved to Melbourne. She is now a member of the Australian Olympic team and she is also their dressage coach. I hope you appreciate just how lucky you are to have her here for the next couple of days at Havenfields. Minka has written several ground-breaking books on dressage and is a champion of the return to classical values.”
    Minka cast a gaze along the lineup of riders and gave them a broad smile. “So,” she said brightly, “I amgoing to be taking you for dressage instruction as we learn our tests to music and prepare for the Express Eventing.”
    Minka’s English was enunciated with a studied perfection, and the riders could all understand what she was saying, despite her German accent.
    â€œAs Avery has just said, I teach dressage in the classical sense,” Minka continued. “Many of you have had lessons with me before. For the rest of you, my training will be different from what you are used to. Many riders today think that dressage is easy. That it is just about riding around in the arena doing little circles.” She made a trotting motion with her fingers and then waved her hands dismissively.
    â€œPah! That is not real dressage. Real dressage is a true harmony between the horse and the rider. It is an art that takes a lifetime to master…”
    She looked at the riders and her blue eyes turned steely and serious. “We do not have a lifetime of course, we have just two days together. So! What does this mean? It means you must all work your very hardest and then you will learn much, I hope, in our short time with each other. Today we will work on ourriding and tomorrow we shall rehearse our individual dressage tests to music.”
    Minka began to walk down the line of riders, examining the horses and their tack. “Take your stirrups down another hole,” she told Stella as she went past. “You are riding too short for dressage.”
    â€œYou too,” she told Charlotte.
    â€œTwo holes!” she instructed Kate. “You have lovely long legs, but they must be extended to work effectively!”
    At the end of the line she stopped again, this time to adjust the headset that she was wearing. “I need to wear an amplifier,” she told them. “I have a quiet voice and this will make sure that you hear me.”
    There was no problem hearing Minka once her amp was turned on. Her light, accented voice rang out like a bell over the arena—and kept on ringing. From the moment the lesson began Minka did not stop to draw breath. She was constantly barking orders.
    â€œThey are moving like donkeys!” Minka observed as the riders began to walk the horses around the school to begin their warm-up.
    â€œThis is wrong! From the very moment you begin, itis crucial that you have your horses marching strongly. This is not a funeral procession. Make them move!”
    The orders kept coming. Minka was insistent that the horses should respond quickly and precisely to the lightest cues. “Walk—march!” she shouted. “And trot! Get your horses moving forward!”
    The Australian riders already knew Minka’s methods, and the instructor clearly had her favourites. She often singled out Bret and Shane for praise as they rode their transitions. The New Zealanders, on the other hand, were struggling to keep up and at times it felt as if they were doing everything wrong in Minka’s eyes.
    â€œYour horse will never move correctly,” Minka told Morgan, “until your position in the saddle is correct.” She made her halt and adjusted the position of Morgan’s lower leg. “There! Much better!” she exclaimed. “All of you need to move your lower legs further back. You ride as if you are sitting on a bucket. I want to see you using your legs to drive the horse forward. Never your seat!”
    As the riders adjusted their position, Minka made constant