Getting to know you…
We asked dressage rider Matthew Burnett to
share a favourite flatwork exercise, and also asked him ten burning questions,
from dinner party guests to regrets.
A favourite
flatwork exercise - a matching pair of elbows
A soft connection with your horse’s mouth
comes from your elbows. A lot of people use the phrase ‘elastic’, which is a
nice way to describe a connected elbow. This starts from a loose shoulder – the
arm should drop down in a relaxed way. ‘Matching’ shoulders also help with achieving
that desirable upper body straightness which creates a pleasing picture, especially
in dressage.
The upper arm should stay quite still as this
helps maintain a steady contact and rein length. The lower arm, coming from the
elbow, is much more adaptive – for example, inviting the horse to move forward,
or softly limiting forward movement. It’s also the elbow that allows that
lovely ‘give and take’ when we are just following the movement of the horse’s
head, especially in walk and canter.
When we look at it like this, we can see the
importance of having equal elbows – that is, an equal pair, without one further
forward than the other. To help with upper body straightness, just pay
attention to your elbows and ‘feel’ the elbows in towards your hips. Are the
elbows ‘matching’? If one elbow is more in front/behind or higher/lower in
relation to your hip, adjust the position to make the elbows a pair, and then relax
the arms back to your normal position. Do this ‘body check’ whenever you need
to make sure you’re symmetrical.
Ten burning
questions
1. Which is your most memorable horse, and
why?
Treliver Decanter – he’s my British Warmblood palomino
stallion. Decanter is by Keystone Dimaggio, and sired many sport horses in
eventing and dressage. He is absolutely breath-taking; so generous with a
lovely temperament, and the first horse I trained to Grand Prix. He really put
me on the map.
2. What’s the best piece of advice you could give?
Take as much care of yourself as you take of
your horse. Make sure you are well rested physically and mentally, so you can
give the best of yourself to your horse. Treat yourself to the physio as
regularly as you would your horse, so
that you can both work together like a well oiled machine! (And treat yourself
to some comfy riding underwear such as Derriere Equestrian’s fantastic range.
It will make such a difference to your riding if you are comfortable and not ‘bracing’
against discomfort. My Derriere Shorties are by far the most comfortable boxers
I've ever ridden in!)
3. Who is the person you most look up to
today in equestrianism?
Dressage guru Carl Hester is without a doubt the rider I find the most inspiring, and aspire to emulate. He produces successful happy horses so consistently, and is so well-loved in the industry.
4. What’s your ultimate riding or training
goal?
I would love to ride on a team for Britain on
a horse I have trained from start to finish. That’s a goal for so many of us,
and it would mean the world to me to have that sense of satisfaction in terms
of producing a horse to the highest levels, and representing my country.
5. What’s your biggest regret?
Selling potentially the most talented horse I
had ever had to train, to pay the bills. It’s a constant balancing act when you’re
bringing on horses!
6. What would you tell your younger/teenage
self?
I would say slow down, take your time and make
sure you enjoy what you have now - it isn't guaranteed to be there tomorrow.
7. What’s
the horse you would like to have ridden?
I would love to have had a sit on Totilas! He put
dressage on the map; he will be remembered as one of the
most successful horses of all time.
8. Who are your ideal dinner party guests?
Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson and David
Bowie. Complete musical icons. There would definitely be some interesting
dinner party conversations!
9. What would you like to see implemented in the
discipline of dressage?
Can we just have one test at each level please;
my memory cannot cope with remembering two at a time!
10. What will you ideally be doing in 20 years
time?
I hope more of the same! I love training the
horses, and hope to not hang up my riding boots for many years to come.
All about Mat Burnett
After
lockdown Mat was keenly out competing, campaigning the eight year old Nibeley
Black Pearl with consistent top five results. Mat offers dressage training at
his stables in Herefordshire, and also throughout the UK at various venues. His
famous dressage training camps with Original Equestrian are due to start
running again once restrictions allow. Visit https://www.facebook.com/MatBurnettDressage
to catch up on Mat’s news.
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