My Past: My Horsemanship Background

by Yvonne Welz ©2008
March 2008

I have spent over 20 years now as an avid student of the equine. I expect to spend the rest of my life continuing that study.

My greatest teachers have been my horses, most notably Shayla, Inty, Kendra and Belle. I started the last three from scratch all by myself, was the first person to sit upon their backs, and took them up through levels of classical training. Every horse taught me so much, and took me on a different journey. You can read about each of them on their respective pages.

I've had some great human guidance, as well. Early on in my riding education, I was lucky enough to have a long-time correspondence with the late author/trainer John Richard Young, who encouraged me to have courage and think outside the box. I didn't have much money, nor access to genuine riding schools or educated horses, but I did have tenacity and perseverance, and a natural feel for horses. With encouragement, I learned quickly, figured out techniques to stay safe, and rode A LOT. I also read dressage and equitation books voraciously, not only the great modern classics, but also many of the old, out-of-print major works that I was able to locate through interlibrary loans: books by Baucher, Chamberlin, Fillis, General de Carpentry, Steinbrecht and others.

After my first formal “English” riding lessons during college in 1987, I re-trained and showed my first horse (an ex-barrel racer) in hunter/jumper and combined training. I soon became intrigued with dressage, and spent many years taking clinics and lessons with an Olympic medalist, a dressage judge, and other experts in dressage training.

Yvonne and Shayla, Hunter class 1989

I trained my next horse from scratch (purchased her unbroken) through successful showing up through Second Level dressage in the mid-90's, but started to become uncomfortable with some of the things I saw surrounding competitive riding. This led me to an exploration of French classical dressage in clinics with the renowned expert Jean-Claude Racinet -- with new skills, I even taught my horses to piaffe and Spanish walk. I trained my Lipizzan cross mare to an advanced level before soundness issues ended her career (and took me down the path of natural hoofcare, but that's a whole 'nother story!)

Yvonne and Inty, Dressage Show 1994

With the challenge of training my next horse, an aggressive and rambunctious yearling, I began to study various natural horsemanship methods that were then becoming widely available. I saw great value in many of the techniques, and added them to my repertoire of skills. The yearling turned into a huge, gorgeous stock horse mare, clearly unsuitable for competitive dressage, especially with the new heavy emphasis on warmblood-type gaits. Nonetheless, I took her into the competitive arena, where she was successful in her own right at Training Level, qualifying for a USDF Paint Horse award, placing 2nd in many classes at rated shows, and, finally, even winning a large class one memorable time. Rather than continue on, I decided to put a hold on her dressage show career -- I felt we needed to discover her true forte.

Yvonne riding Kendra, Nov. 2004

Yvonne riding Belle, January 2007

That's when my latest horse, a warmblood, began her show career, and we went on to win the 2007 USDF All-Breeds Reserve Championship for RPSI Training Level, earning scores as high as 71%. However, just when everything seemed perfect, I began to notice the signs of stress, as resistance began to show up. Although I have always tried to be a gentle rider, I realized that the professionals I had been working with had encouraged me to use more coercion than I had realized. And no one realizes it -- this is simply the way that most of “dressage” training is currently practiced. It's a hard truth, and a bitter pill to swallow. The feelings and emotions of the horse are not considered; the horse has no opinion but must obey, with harsh application of the aids when they are resistant. I began to re-evaluate everything I had been doing. Good thing, too, because by listening to my horse, instead of demanding her obedience, I was finally able to discover the source of her resistance: she was no longer comfortable in her saddle. With a different saddle, she went back to her happy self, and all the exercises became easy - and I am now an even more thoughtful and conscientious rider! I will always put my horse first, even at the risk of offending people.

I have now dedicated myself to serious studies of the old schools of gentle, classical horsemanship combined with some of the compatible theories of natural horsemanship. The best of traditional horsemanship is, and always was, natural - centuries ago, dressage was also called "natural riding." Classical dressage focuses on the natural gaits and natural movements of the horse, and harmonious communication between horse and human. To further my skills, I have also embarked on more intensive studies of the horse's mind, emotion and natural behaviors. While I will continue to show in competitive dressage through the highest levels, I am interested in becoming the most skilled horseman I can be, and sharing that knowledge with others. (August 2008)

Yvonne riding Belle, March 2008

Yvonne riding Kendra, January 2008

Yvonne riding Kendra, ponying Belle, January 2008