Conference noted::equitation

    Hi Ralf,
    
    For some reason I can't send you mail, so I'll say hello here.
    
    We've got a training barn in Ohio - dressage and eventing. And
    I'm working with a trainer from Stuttgart, Jurgen Gohler. My
    horses are American Thoroughbreds and Trakehners.
    
    Mail about horses is always welcome.
    
    Maureen
    

Hello out there!

I am going to be visiting Germany the last week of October. My husband is
a pilot for Trans World Airlines (TWA) and will be stationed in West Berlin.
Currently, I am training at second level and showing at first level.

If I could, I would love to find a qualified instructor in Germany who can
offer instruction in dressage.  I feel I would benefit from the experience
and would truly enjoy taking instruction in Germany.

As I said above, I will be in W. Berlin, so I need to know what is a reasonable
distance for me to drive, etc...

If anyone out there has ridden in Germany, please let me know. Or if any of
my German co-workers or someone they know can offer advice, I would be ever
so grateful!

Best regards,
Deborah DiRocco

    A logistical point. West Berlin is entirely surrounded by East Germany,
    so your question about how far to drive is moot. While there are many
    places to learn dressage in West Germany, it's a several hours drive
    through East Germany from Berlin to get there. Although the Cold War is
    less cold, East Germany is one of the more orthodox communist
    countries, so it may not be possible to "hop" over the Wall" for a
    riding lesson. 
    
    The Germans being a methodical people, have a hierarchy of riding
    instruction. I don't quite remember the structure, but it does prevent
    just anybody hanging out their shingle as a riding instructor. An
    instructor must go through several stages of training, qualification
    and certification as they advance in their profession. Therefore an
    Oberbereiter (if I'm not confusing Germany and Austria) has gone
    through quite an elaborate professional training and qualification
    process.
    
    I have not heard of a "name" riding establishment in West Berlin; that
    doesn't mean that there are none. Despite the Wall, there is open space
    and farmland in West Berlin. Of course, if TWA will fly you around at
    minimal cost distance should be no object!
    

I thank you for the response, I am aware of the location of West Berlin, I guess
I had high hopes, you make it sound impossible. It is unfortunate that what I am
looking for sounds a bit out of reach.

I am sure West Berlin has something to offer this naive American tourist, so
I shall enjoy it for what it is. 

Thanks,
Debbie

    Hello,
    I think I have a usefull adress for you :
    
    
    Landesverband der Reit- und Fahrvereine Berlin e.V.
    Stadionallee - Reiterstadion
    1000 Berlin 19
    Germany
    
    
    This is the head-organization of all the officiall riding-schools
    and clubs of berlin-west.
    They should provide the exact adresses in berlin for you,
    where you can go, and I think it then should be real qualified
    instructors.
    I hope that this is a helpfull information for you.
    By the way, my name is Klaus, I'm a field-service engineer in
    south-germany.
    As I'm an active rider by myself, I sometimes have a look at this 
    notefile, but this is my first experiment to write in it.
    (I hope succesfully).
    Here are some questions:
    You say you show level one and....
    1. How many levels are there in the USA
    2. What dressage-lessons must horses go in level one, two and so on,
    and  3.how high and far must horses jump in the several levels ?
    
    I look forward for the answers in this notefile ,as well as for 
    other informations in this connexion(right word ??).
    
    Best wishes
                Klaus
    
    
    
     
    

Hello Klaus,
Thank you for helping me to find riding instruction in West Berlin. I had
started to think that any good instruction was mainly found in West Germany.

I will try to answer your questions the best I can...

 1. there are many levels here in the U.S. They are governed by the
    American Horse Shows Association (AHSA)...
                
       Training Level
       1st Level 
       2nd Level
       3rd Level
       4th Level
       
       As in the higher international levels there are certain
       tests one must ride within each level. There are 4 sub-
       levels within each main level.
      
       We also have a fairly new category which is the musical
       freestyle in which you ride different movements for a certain 
       level to music.
       The choreography is left up to the rider, he/she must include
       specific movements in the freestyle that pertian to the
       level in which they are riding.
              

       Then you go on to the International Levels,
       (which I am sure you know about)
      
        Prix St. Georges
        Intermediare
        Grand Prix

 2. As for question 2., I am not sure I know what you mean.
    By jumping, do you mean jumping the horse or jumping up
    to higher levels in Dressage Tests? 

     We have different levels of jumping, but I'm not sure exactly
     what they are or how high each level is...but I could find out.

     I have jumped, but it is not necessary for Dressage. I do find 
     it a wonderful exercise for the horse though, so I do try to
     have a jumping lesson every now and then.
      
   Yes, connection is the right word, you just had the spelling wrong.
   I think (?) what you were trying to say is...

    'as well as other information connected to this subject..' I'm
     not sure, but I understand what you were saying!

     Danke Shoen!

          Debbie