by Suzin Daly
March
14 – 16, 2003 I had the opportunity to ride with Bo Jena at Los
Alamos Dressage Center, Freehold, NJ. Living in Raleigh, North Carolina
the drive would be eight hours. Owen, my husband, agreed to come along
with me for company and to share some of the driving. About five hours
into our trek to New Jersey, Owen commented “This is a very long
drive for a riding lesson!”
Over the winter I decided to see what it would be like
to work with International riders/clinicians. Training in Europe is not
an option. When Gail Hoff-Carmona of Los Alamos suggested that I come
up and ride with Bo Jena I jumped at the opportunity. I will write immediately
that working with Bo Jena for three days was worth the drive.
Bo is detailed oriented and works with the riders and horses to produce
softness, suppleness and elasticity. It has been a long time since in
a training session the instructor made corrections right down to how my
thumb should be. Bo is easily understood and explicit in his instruction.
He has patients and helps you to get more from yourself and your horse.
When riders make mistakes, and I made a lot of them Bo is quick to say
“no problem.” You know how it is, trainer says right, you
go left. All through my training sessions Bo was constantly asking, “do
you feel…”. It was work, very exhilarating and definitely
a feeling of accomplishment even after the first day.
Who
is Bo Jena? Bo Jena is the director of the dressage program at Flyinge,
the National Stud of Sweden. He has worked at Flyinge for the past 30
years, where he has directed the dressage program, worked side by side
with Kyra Kyrklund, and has trained and shown numerous stallions in long
reins as well as under saddle up through Grand Prix dressage. Bo Jena
is also a competitor and FEI level judge in Sweden. Bo Jena has taken
a sabbatical to come to the United States with his family.
Bo started Sundance out long reining. He warmed him
up on a large circle looking to obtain the acceptance of the outside rein.
One of the techniques he used was having Sundance yielding, moving away
like when you leg yield. At times Bo brought Sundance back to the walk
and was almost having him full pass until Sundance took the outside rein
and then moving forward again on the circle. Once Sundance accepted the
outside rein he would focus on the inside flexion and then he had Sundance
move on to transitions. Long reining effectively is an art in itself.
I could see the horse getting more over his back and stepping a little
more under.
Bo
always positions himself on the inside. He has the outside rein over the
back through the top ring of the surcingle and attached to the bit. What
was interesting was the inside rein goes through the bit first then attaches
to the inside ring of the surcingle. This is a new way to attach a long
rein in my experience. As Sundance improved Bo then went on with lateral
movements. I found it impressive how precise Bo was in bringing Sundance
down centerline and having him yield to the wall. I was thrilled when
Bo called me into the ring and put the long reins into my hands. I could
feel and maintain the outside rein. Sundance had lateral bending with
a relaxed inside rein. Bo worked right beside me so I could maintain what
he had achieved. He stressed soft wrists. Bo assisted me in developing
half halts with long rein and emphasized the importance of yielding with
soft wrist and fingers when the horse responded. Through Bo guidance I
was able to also come down centerline (maybe not as precise) and have
Sundance yield to the wall. We ended the long reining with some work in
Piaffe. It was so much fun. There was no question that Sundance was sitting
down. I was thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to long rein Sundance
in Piaffe. Sundance was relaxed through the training session. Making lovely
breathing snorts in Piaffe.
Bo ended the long reining session and it was time to
ride. I wondered if the long reining achievements would transfer when
ridden? The moment I sat on Sundance’s back I knew. Yes, the long
reining work does transfer to riding. Sundance was energized, elastic
and relaxed. Bo had me riding very forward and keeping Sundance over his
back. He was very specific that I keep my hands together, thumbs up and
to sit very tall. He used the word snobbish, sit snobbish. He has a very
good sense of humor. Bo had me work mostly in canter maintain forward
impulsion. Bo was adamant that I not lose the rhythm in the turns or circles.
I became very aware how I would let Sundance change slightly through the
corners. I heard often, “Don’t let him quit.” Transitions
to trot where obedient and forward without rushing. I was able to keep
the trot rhythm consistent. When Bo asked if I could feel his back, I
could absolutely feel his back. We did lots of changes of rein maintaining
consistency. I tend to be detail oriented and I was made even more so
with Bo. I could feel how Sundance ever so slightly raises his poll in
up transitions. I felt his back slightly drop as a result. Bo guided me
in becoming more effective in making these corrections.
The second day Bo opted that I ride the full session. He would long rein
again the beginning of the third day. We did more lateral work and strived
to get Sundance to jump more in the canter. Sundance tends to be a bit
flat and Bo wanted more. I didn't’t think the horse could do more.
Bo was insistent in what he wanted from us. He guided me in becoming a
more effective rider. As a result Sundance developed better gaits. We
did a lot of very basic work and I understood where Bo was going with
the work. What I really appreciate in Bo is how he can be repetitive;
get more from horse and rider without rider and horse getting into a resistant
argument.
Bo demonstrated the next step in developing the small trot to Piaffe and
Passage. Sundance has experience and could show the small trot - to Piaffe
- back to small trot for the development of Passage. Bo stressed the importance
of the rhythm. Slow trot must be develop before you can Piaffe or Passage.
Bo said, “Many horses need to go in a small trot, maybe half a year
up to a year, before you can ask them to do any Piaffe steps on the spot
and also Passage. They need to stay in this small, small trot for a long
time, so you can find the rhythm. The rhythm is very important he has
to be strong in this. Small trot is a workout for the hind end. Then you
can ask for Piaffe. You can just take a little more on the rein; small
contact. Do not let them do it on the spot until they are ready.”
Bo
stressed that it is important that you have soft hands and wrists. “Always
the horse must be ready to go forward.” Bo explained, “That
the horse will give you the feeling when it’s ready to collect them.
Give you the signs that he is ready. They will sometimes try to do it
all by themselves. You have the feeling maybe today I can collect him,
and you try it. If it falls apart then go forward again and find the rhythm.
Horses must be strong enough to handle this. Horse must be able to take
weight on the hind legs.” Bo used weight lifting as an example to
make his point, “You start with a little weight and build up. You
don’t do a little weight then the next day use big weights.”
Bo explained the benefits of the small trot, “The good thing about
learning the small trot is you can go down to Piaffe and up to Passage.
Then you have no problems with the transitions. Because the horse already
knows something like collected between Piaffe and Passage.” Bo pointed
out that horses sometimes learn to Piaffe and Passage under saddle. They
sometimes find the transitions from Piaffe to Passage or Passage to Piaffe
difficult. They can get confused. Learning to use the skills with long
reining is another tool to help the horse to understand and find his balance.
The last day Bo again long reined Sundance. He did more lateral work with Sundance and asked for more collection. I again got to man the long reins and Bo and I worked together with Sundance to improve his Piaffe. When Sundance lost energy Bo would tic him on the croup to let him know he can’t quit. Bo was quick giving me corrections so I would keep Sundance straight and on the wall. Bo was clear that I should walk on the inside and not behind the horse. Under saddle Sundance was more solid and very willing to move forward cleanly with jump. Bo expected more from me in precision. For example, in shoulder-in he had me work off the wall so the horse cannot use the wall as a crutch. Working off quarter line let me know how honest the shoulder-in truly is. There where a few times I felt the drift either forward or back. When I went to correct the drift forward I ended up shortening the neck and that needed correcting. Bo pointed out that the lateral work should never have a stuck feeling. Everything needs to flow with ease. Bo takes the time for the rider to achieve this. We ended with flying changes and working on more through ness so I wouldn't’t have that slight poll lift in the moment of change. I definitely felt a big difference in such a short amount of time. Later after watching the video of my training session I saw that Bo did let some small things slide. I didn't’t use the corners of the arena, as I should have. However, I also realize he can’t fix everything in three days. I have been able to maintain the work I achieved with Bo Jena back home. I look forward to my next training session with Bo.