Uta Graf's Effortless Dressage Program: A Top Rider's Keys to Success Using Play, Groundwork, Trail Riding, and Turnout

At last the dressage world has a sensible means of reconciling classical idealism with show-ring aspirations! Uta Graf has made a name for herself as a trailblazer in the international dressage scene, advocating for a method of combining the highest levels of performance with natural horse care and conscientious training. The system she uses has proven to turn talented prospects into happy athletes, while transforming 'not-so-perfect' dressage horses into willing and able partners.

In these pages, Graf shares her schooling exercises, as well as the techniques she uses to incorporate groundwork, long-lining, trail riding, creative play, bombproofing, and turnout in her training program. The result is dressage that makes reaching your riding goals look and seem easy-even effortless-while ensuring a healthy, contented horse.

About the Author

Uta Graf twice won the coveted Stensbeck Award from the German National Federation for showing great promise as a rider, teacher, and trainer, completing her early training with renowned Dutch Olympic medalist Ellen Bontje and German coach Conrad Schumacher. She and her partner Stefan Schneider then established their training facility Gut Rothenkircherhof in Kirchheimbolanden, Germany, in 1999 and have trained horses from youngsters to Grand Prix ever since. In 2004, Graf competed at the German Championships and won the bronze medal behind well-known German team riders Hubertus Schmidt and Rudolf Zeilinger. For several years she has coached the German Paralympic Dressage Team, including Paralympic champion Britta Napel and World Champion Dr. Angelika Trabert. Graf's Holsteiner stallion, Le Noir, propelled her into the limelight with tremendous success at Grand Prix and high scores at the most prestigious international dressage competitions, including Wiesbaden and Aachen. With her cheerful nature and wild hair, Graf's signature at competitions, clinics, and demonstrations is her beautifully ridden, content, and satisfied horses, gaining respect worldwide. The dressage scene - often perceived as strict and very serious - seems to find her, and her horses, refreshingly different! Friederike Heidenhof has been training with Uta Graf since 2002 and has been following her competitive career since Uta's first success at regional S-Level. Having been trained in her youth following the old school" method, she is particularly keen to show that classical training methods are not obsolete, but are more relevant now than ever.