Anja Beran: The Crisis of Modern Riding & Using Dressage as Physiotherapy

Anja Beran, a highly respected classical rider and trainer based in the south of Germany, shares where modern riding has lost its way – and why we should return to training dressage based on classical principles. 

With over 30 years of experience, Anja Beran has taught internationally and written several books on classical training. From Iberian horses to Akhal-Tekes and warmbloods, she applies classical principles to bring out the best in horses of all breeds, conformations, and backgrounds. Her success in rehabilitating modern sport horses using dressage as a form of physiotherapy has also set her apart as a skilled trainer, and she has also collaborated with sport organisations such as German state-owned stud farm Marbach. Through her dedication to the art and science of classical riding, to her horses and many beloved animals, as well as to her students around the world, she has become one of the most well-respected classical trainers today.

In this episode, she shares:

◼️ How to ride according to the nature of the horse
◼️ How piaffe, passage, and extended trot today are often distorted – even in high level competition
◼️ How to use the Spanish walk to develop a horse gymnastically
◼️ How to use dressage as physiotherapy for the horse

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:40 Why is Classical Training Important Today?
03:32 How Do You Define Classical Training?
06:38 When Horses are Pushed too Soon
08:40 How Do You Train Young Horses Differently?
18:37 The Origin of Tempi Changes, and Natural and Unnatural Movements
20:06 The Benefits of Using the Spanish Walk
23:29 How Anja Beran Rehabilitates Sport Horses
31:23 The Correct Working Neck Position
35:42 Recognizing Faults in High-Level Piaffe, Passage, and Extended Trot
41:49 Developing Soft Contact, and the Descente des Mains et Des Jambes
48:07 Using the Seat More, and the Hands and Legs Less
50:06 Straightening a Crooked Horse*
56:37 How Studying Dressage Influenced Anja Beran’s Work
1:00:00 Helping Challenging Horses with Dressage as Physiotherapy
1:08:00 What Anja Beran is Working on Now
1:10:09 How to Continue Learning from Anja Beran

🐎 Learn more about Anja Beran’s Work and Foundation:

Website: https://www.anjaberan.de/en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043906910677#

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjaberan.foundation/

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*At 52:55, “from left to right” refers to the horse’s movement in relation to the left and right sides of its body, rather than the ridden direction on the track. Therefore, in this instance, “from left to right” refers to riding left shoulder-in on the left rein.

*At 53:06, for a horse crooked to the left, asking for shoulder-in where the horse moves its body “from right to left” refers to shoulder-in right, on the right rein. This can help stretch the left “hollow” side of the horse.