As the Youngster classes are on full force, it is time to talk with an expert in developing young horses. Belgium's Walter Lelie talks with Paardensport Vlaanderen about his method and key points in the education of horses. "The most important? The horse needs to decide the time!"
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"Killer Queen VDM, Irenice Horta, Go Easy de Muze, Derly Chin de Muze, Gancia de Muze, Vigo d’Arsouilles." These are just a few examples from the long list of top horses that took their first steps and jumps under the guidance of Walter Lelie (51), a true-born trainer of young horses.
As the youngster competitions are in full force, do young horses need to win?
"While training a young horse you immediately know if it will be a winner or not. Sometimes during a competition, your horse does something special that you can only feel and not see. Even a very young horse can think and act problematically in a flash in a course. I remember the final of last year's Belgian Championship for 7-year-olds. I got too close to the wall. "Let me handle it, I'll solve it," said Qalista DN. He signals it and you feel it. Compare it to a young footballer who already makes a brilliant pass because he sees something others don't see. You're born with that. Just like horses are born with a winner's mentality. That can't be taught. A scoring striker always finds the goal. You either have it or you don't. You can teach a horse collection, you can teach him flying changes, and much more. But they have to want to win themselves. As a rider, you have to recognize that and give your horse the chances to win. If it's there, it's up to the rider to bring it out."
"Did you watch the last Tour de France? Jasper Philipsen's victories? Of course, he was the fastest. But the whole setup was right. The entire team rode for Philipsen. How would you feel if Mathieu van der Poel rode for you and became your domestique? Then you get wings. Just like a horse gets wings with the right education, training, and guidance. Chemistry can arise, and then you are capable of much. Don't forget that a good horse also tests the rider. There has to be a match."
"Many admire a horse that jumps high over the fence, I don't like it! I'd like to see how a horse reacts in a difficult situation!"
"I let a young horse jump freely without any pressure. That's very tiring for a young horse the first time. If he starts off moderately, gets tired, and still leaves the pole, that's a good horse for me. Many people think a horse is good when it soars high above the obstacle, but not me. I want to see how a horse anticipates in difficult conditions. Did you see the final of the World Cycling Championships? Did you see Mathieu van der Poel fall in the final? Some riders would stay down and lose the World Championships there. Mathieu immediately sprang back up and cycled undeterred to gold. That's primal instinct, and it makes the difference, regardless of whether you're an athlete on two or four feet."
Character decides everything!
"The initial image generally remains unchanged. Although there are factors that play an equally important role. Like character. It's been my experience that character plays a decisive role. Suppose you have doubts about the ability of a young horse. Will it be able to jump 10 centimeters higher later? That will be determined by its character. I've known horses with tremendous ability that you've never seen on TV because they lacked character. Some horses show promise at home but fail miserably in competition. Others may not impress you at home, but once they hear the bell at a competition, they jump flawlessly.To support his argument, Walter gives a few examples: 'Irenice Horta (Vigo d’Arsouilles) initially seemed quite ordinary to me at home. But she underwent a metamorphosis in competition. And she did everything to help her rider. This was also evident later with Lorenzo de Luca. You shouldn't underestimate the influence of the rider either. It's like with a football player, you have to end up in the right team. Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado vd Zeshoek) was a good horse, and Daniel Deusser turned her into an absolute top horse.'"
source: Paardensport Vlaandere/ Equnews