Marius Schneider: Why Groundwork & Adjusting the Horse’s Frame is Key, & Riding Beyond Piaffe/Passage

Master Trainer of the Academic Art of Riding Marius Schneider shares why he chose Academic Riding, why he finds groundwork and changing the horse’s frame so crucial in the horse’s training, and how he uses the airs above the ground to benefit the horse.

Marius Schneider teaches the Academic Art of Riding extensively, sharing his passion both at his own stable Gestüt Moorhof in Germany, as well as internationally and online. His focus is on encouraging his students to foster a better relationship with their horse, and developing horses from the basics to the High School dressage movements with playfulness, sensitivity, and lightness.

From his liberty work to riding caprioles, levades, and mezairs bitless, if you’ve ever been curious to hear about Marius Schneider’s approach within the Academic Art of Riding and how he does what he does, this is the episode to listen to.

In this episode, he shares:

◼️ Why work on the ground can be essential
◼️ Why it’s important to adjust the horse’s frame in training
◼️ How he combines riding on the bit with bitless riding
◼️ How one can use the airs above the ground to benefit the horse

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:59 Discovering Bent Branderup

04:24 What Do You Focus on in Your Own Work?

09:09 Why Is Work on the Ground So Important?

17:13 Longeing with the Cavesson, Snaffle, or Rope Halter

31:58 Training or Retraining a Horse to the Bit

37:04 When and Why Would You Use a Snaffle, Curb, or Bitless Bridle?

41:13 Stallions and Chewing the Bit

46:45 Encouraging the Horse to Seek the Bit

50:00 Lengthening the Frame and Neck

58:45 How Can the Airs Above the Ground Benefit the Horse?