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Qualifications
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Training with Ana Gilmour
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As a Grand Prix trainer, competitor, and judge, Ana puts an huge emphasis on continuing her own education. She takes her commitment to the sport of dressage seriously by dedicating countless hours, efforts and finances to this endeavor. Ana takes lessons weekly and monthly with top instructors and clinicians and she has spent the better part of her entire career working toward her goals, including the rigorous judge's program run in harmony by the United States Dressage Federation and the United States Equestrian Federation. This has given her a keen advantage over other competitors and trainers in that she has a judge's background, education and eye to utilize in her teaching and test riding strategies. Growing up riding with Hilda Gurney since she was a junior/young rider didn't hurt either.
In any and all cases, Ana trains with a systematic approach, according to the German Training Scale. At the very bottom of the scale, mental relaxation and confidence in the rider are the two most important things a horse must possess in order for any training to take place. It is necessary for a rider to learn to control themselves and their own body before they can control the horse underneath them, so position, weight placement and seat flexibility and security are addressed with each rider. Ana works with each horse individually, creating a carefully tailored training program to fit specific needs in order to reach the full and uninhibited potential of each horse and/or rider. Along with Ana’s 35 years of experience in the training and competition world, she also has a history steeped in commitment, having worked together and tirelessly with Olympians Hilda Gurney, Lendon Gray, Courtney King-Dye (USA), Sabine Schut-Kery (USA), Juan Matute, Victor Alvarez, and Danielle Martin-Dockx (SPAIN), and Martin Schaudt (GERMANY). Throughout her career, Ana has maintained a steady aim for greatness, an aptitude for distinction, and an attention to detail that results in nothing less than the highest standard of training and performance in her riding as well as her instructing. |
What is the German Training Scale?
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Each component of the German Training Scale works together with one another and also independently in order to build a horse's trust & confidence, elasticity & flexibility (of the mind and body), the pushing & carrying power, as well as his lateral and longitudinal suppleness & balance.
The concepts of the scale are simple yet complex. Although in a sense, they do build one upon the other, they are not executed simply like a stair case. These principles must work interdependently, like a vast elevator system built into the structure of a sky scraper. Elements can be applied interchangeably at the appropriate moments in training to increase the horse's understanding and his capacity for exercises and movements. A thorough understanding of the of the German Training Scale takes many years of commitment and many horses to teach us "feel" along the way. |
