Dressage Daily – (January 25, 2007)
Young Horse Development Series with Katrin Burger
by Deborah Hausman

Thanks to Dressage Daily, I was informed of the Katrin Burger clinic held at Lynn and Bob DeGour’s Red Hawk Ranch in California near the Temecula Valley Wine Region. I quickly booked my flight and hotel and found that was worth every penny spent and minute of my time.

After competing in a young horse program in Europe last summer, I returned to Oregon with great concern on the differences of how their horses are trained and judged as opposed to our American system.
Katrin was intent on making sure that every horse was forward and swinging in the back. She maintained very high standards and insisted that the riders do the same. It was all about developing quality gaits and teaching the horses correct basics.

Because I have the luxury of training frequently in Europe I have a good understanding of what she wanted to see. For those that are unable to travel to Europe this was by far the closest experience they may ever have to what it’s really like to work with someone of Katrin’s caliber. Katrin wasn’t “wisked” away at lunch. She sat and continued to discuss the rides even during her break. The teaching never stopped. The only thing that could have made it better was not to run out of daylight!