Ashley Ockels and Freudig
Ashley Ockels and Freudig “Freudy” started training with Kelly about a year ago. Freudig is a 15 year old imported Hanoverian gelding out of Feiner Graf. Ashley lives in Seaford, Delaware and has loved Dressage since her first experience watching an elegant pair navigate a line of tempi changes. A Graduate Pony Clubber, Ashley learned the importance of horse management and training for the equine athlete. The duo have worked hard over the last 6 years but have been plagued with underlining issues of unsoundness and training that have prevented them from shining in the ring.
When Ashley started working with Kelly one of her goals was to banish the term “labored at the canter” in the judge’s remarks. Ashley’s concept of forward needed some revamping so she could then retrain Freudy to meet those new standards. Immediately, Kelly addressed the importance of having a leg and hip that allows the horse to move forward and does not grip and prevent the response to the leg that allows the horse to come forward from behind. Through the work on position and effectiveness of the aids, Ashley was able to unlock her leg and hip which allowed her to develop a better and deeper seat. This allowed Freudy to come more forward and loosen up his own body allowing Ashley to gain great access to Freudy’s back. The next step was to address some of the straightness issues in Freudy and making Ashley aware of when she was hindering her horse. Ashley worked on her resistant and often stronger left arm that was preventing Freudy from being able to bend right, be loose through the right side of his body and connected to the right rein. Within a short time Ashley realized the importance of these basic fixes and felt the benefits of them. The result of this hard work has resulted in Ashley reaching her goal of gaining a more effective riding position.
The winter months were spent training and preparing for the show season. Ashley and Kelly’s goals were to qualify for BLM Championships and GAIG/USDF Region One Championships at First level in the first part of the season then make the jump to Second level once scores were in place. The stars were in line for the first two outings for Ashley and Freudig; they received all the scores they needed. The decision was made to enter Second level at the PVDA Ride for Life show in June. Ashley and Freudig finished the weekend with a First place at Second level with a 67.368%, High Score Second level and Adult Amateur High Score Hanoverian!
Ashley’s current goals are to develop her seat and enjoy the journey of training her lovely horse.
Training tip: The rider must always be directing the energy of the hind legs. If the horse falls left or right, then that is energy that the rider can’t use as it does not go forward to the bit, thus resulting in the horse falling onto the forehand and not lifting the back. If the energy of the hind legs stays between the corridor of both legs and reins of the rider, then this is energy that can come forward and up through the back and withers, resulting in a horse that is uphill.
