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Go to
Irene's website:
www.irenemoserhill.com
The
following is taken from an interview:
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How
long have you been instructing?
I have been teaching and training for the last 22 years and been
active in
years
and been active in the Central Texas area since 1991.
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Do
you also teach other forms of riding (vaulting, jumping, western, etc.)?
No I don't. My first love and professional niche has always been
classical riding and guiding my students to the fundamental
understanding of
the horse and riding.
-
What
is your background in dressage?Born in 1955 and raised in Oberursel/Germany,
I have been involved with horses since I was eight years old. Like so
many children in Germany, I started vaulting and went on to riding from
there. I did not own my own horse until more than two decades later but
was always fortunate enough to be able to ride other people's horses,
having my first show in 1969 on "King", who had to be my all-time
favorite of that era. We did everything from parades to hunts,
exhibitions to showing in Dressage, Jumping and Cross-Country. And most
of all - we had a lot of fun. My more formal education started with the
participation in a six week course at the National Stud in Dillenburg/
Hessen, which resulted in my Junior
Bronze Medal/Riding and Junior Bronze Medal/Driving in 1971. In
1977 I started my career as a military wife and mother, both of which
had many rewards but took my full attention. I rode, still other peoples
horses, and most of the time without a saddle. Once my children started
to go to school my love for Dressage and teaching came once again into
the foreground when someone asked if I would teach them what I knew. I
guess it was at that time that my goal became to be a fully certified
Trainer and Instructor. Starting in 1987, I apprenticed and worked under
Reitmeister Joachim Weist at the Hanoverian Riding School in Verden for
2 ½ years, during that time I was able to obtain the FN's Senior Bronze
and Silver Medals and became licensed as Trainer "B".I returned to the
Hanoverian Riding School in 2002 for my final licensing as Trainer "A".
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Who
do you use as an instructor?I have to renew the International
license annually and my Trainer "A" license every other year., which
requires a stay at a licensed facility like the Hannoversche Reit-und
Fahrschule where a number of instructors are active and available. My
primary mentor and teacher is Reitmeister Joachim Weist who has been
head of the Hanoverian Riding and Driving School for over 30 years. He
is the recipient of numerous awards such as:
FN Plaketten in Silber (Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung e. V.)
- Ehrenurkunden (Reiterverband Hannover-Bremen e. V.)
- Verdienstabzeichen in Gold (Bundesvereinigung der Berufsreiter) for
his contributions to the sport and the horse-community.
-
Do
you specialize in a certain area of training (ponies, Training - 2nd,
etc.)?
I specialize in good horsemanship and implementing the principles of
Dressage at any level and guiding my students toward independent riding
and learning. I try to instill in them the knowledge, skill and clear
understanding of the process, and the ability to apply what they have
learned. Training involves not only lessons under saddle. I offer
interactive group theory lessons where we discuss a variety of topics
from conformation, the riders' aids, the Training Scale to the use of
cavaletties. This goes a long way towards achieving harmony, which I
believe is the essence of Dressage at any level. I appreciate a horse
and rider moving in balance and harmony at a lower Level more than
watching resistant
or resigned "Grand Prix". Dressage is not complicated, just complex.
-
Do
you have lessons horses? I have had a number of great school horses
over the years, but this is no longer the case. My students, however,
are very generous with their horses, and they all have ridden each
others horses on occasion.
-
How
long is a typical lesson? That is individually determined, but, in
general, it lasts 45 Minutes.
-
Where are you located?I am residing and training at Shiloh Ranch,
two miles past the Airport on Hwy 71 East. Shiloh Ranch is a Subdivision
of Rio Vista Farms, the successful Austin Hunter - Jumper Barn, owned
and operated by Bill McMorris and his wife Susan.
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How
far are you willing to travel to teach lessons (Dripping Springs -
Hutto, Leander - Pflugerville/Manor)? I am currently traveling to
Dripping Springs, Round Rock, Ledbetter, San Antonio, Bastrop and Elgin.
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Is
there a travel charge? At the moment there is a $10 to $20 charge,
depending on the location.
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What
are your rates for lessons? My average price is $65.
-
What
is the highest level you train a horse? I have ridden and been
trained to implement Losgelassenheit, Schwung and Durchlaessigkeit at
all levels. In Germany I currently rank in "Leistungsklasse 2" which
qualifies me to show at levels M/S.
-
Do
you deal with problem situations (not loading, biting, etc.)? While
working with students, it is inevitable that opportunities arise to
instruct on dealing with problem situations. However, I am not in the
business of taking a horse of a non-student to correct a problem.
-
Do
you have a barn onsite, or do you go out to your clients' horses? As
mentioned earlier, horses in training are boarded at Shiloh Ranch.
However, I do ride my client's horses in the course of a lesson on
occasion.
-
What
are your rates for training horses?There are varied training
packages available, but my monthly charge - not including board - is
$650.
-
What
is the "International Group for Equestrian Qualifications (IGEQ)"
RidiThe International Group for Equestrian Qualifications (IGEQ) is
an independent organization of national equestrian federations (FNs)
worldwide (currently 32), which has compared and harmonized equestrian
instructor qualifications. An Equestrian Passport is available for
instructors of riding, driving, vaulting and therapeutic, with eligible
certification, which confirms and recognizes the holders'
qualifications, ensuring
recognition and acceptance in all IGEQ member countries. The FN Exam at
the end of a three week preparation - course in December of 2002
qualified me as a Trainer "A" which is accepted by the IGEQ and ranks me
as an International Level 3 Trainer.
The official guidelines are the following:
RIDING:
The candidate will ride and assess three horses. They should be able to
demonstrate:
* Confidence and the ability to assess each horse and work it to
development
and improvement.
* A secure, deep, effective, position with ability to develop harmony
with the horses.
* The work should ideally be to medium level but include single flying
changes.
* The ability to discuss the work they have done and how it affected the
horses, clearly showing their
knowledge in discussion.
JUMPING:
The candidate will ride one horse over show jumps and one across
country. They will show:
* Confidence and effect in riding any type of horse.
* Good judgment of speed and pace according to conditions.
* Good balance, depth, security and harmony in their riding.
* The ability to discuss any problems or training issues and what they
did about them.
LUNGEING:
The candidate will lunge a horse to assess and improve it. They can use
poles if they wish to.
STABLE MANAGEMENT:
Through practical demonstration and oral discussion, the candidate will
show all aspects of yard management. They will demonstrate competence in
running a large establishment through a range of practical tasks and
oral discussion. These will cover fitness, feeding, breeding, care of
pasture, yard management and organization including basic financial
management of a business. They will demonstrate skill in dealing with
staff and clients and the possible problems that this involves.
TEACHING
* All the teaching criteria from Level 1 and 2 would be more
consolidated.
* In addition to the previous skills achieved, the coach must
demonstrate the ability to train and develop future instructors.
* Train individuals and groups to advanced medium dressage level,
including
the flying change.
* Train individuals and groups to 1m 20 show jumping and over fixed or
cross
country type fences.
* Demonstrate a full understanding of the scales of training.
* Further develop the fitness of horse and rider relevant to higher
levels
of competition.
* Importance of understanding mental preparation for both horse and
rider to
enable best performance.
* Demonstrate a depth of experience reflecting knowledge for developing
varied partnerships, including young horses, young riders and successful
competition partnerships.
* They will be able to discuss all aspects of teaching horse and rider.
* They will have knowledge on subjects such as dressage training,
jumping
training or training students for a career in the horse industry.
For more info visit www.internationalequestrianqualifications.org
Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung E.V is the German Name of this
country's FN
(Federation National)
E.V. means "eingetragener Verein" which makes it a registered
Organization,
which underlies official rules and regulations
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Do
buy and sell horses/help people find horses?
Yes, but it is a service that is in general available only to my
students. I might on occasion make a recommendation or pass along
information about a horse becoming available, but it is not my main
focus.
-
Do
you charge a percentage, flat fee, other?
The standard rule in the business is 15 percent, but I have been
known to wave that under certain circumstances. I don't believe one
phone call warrants a 15 percent commission. I will do an independent
evaluation for a $225.00 flat-fee.
-
What
do you look for in matching up people with horses?
I generally have long term relationships with my students. I know
them as people and as riders and try to find a suitable horse for them
and their purpose. I try to recognize a match when I see it and tell my
students to be ready when that happens.
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Do
you have an email address/website that folks can reach you at? Yes I
do. My e-mail address is
hillirene@sbcglobal.net
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Anything else you would like to add??
What is there to add? I want to say that most of all I love the
horses and I love to teach. I love to open minds and will always put a
horse's interest before all else.
And there is one more thing I would like to take the opportunity to say
or
remark on. Myself being German I often hear comments like strict, hard,
stubborn
describing my nature and my approach. I would like to finish this
interview adding the definition of the approach to The Systematic
Training Scale, the operative word here being "Systematic". It
has nothing to do with being rigid or self-righteous.
ADJECTIVE: sys-tem-at-ic
1. Of, characterized by, based on, or constituting a system.
2. Carried on using step-by-step procedures.
3. Purposefully regular; methodical.
4. Of or relating to classification or taxonomy.
ADJECTIVE:
systematic
Arranged or proceeding in a set, systematized pattern: methodic,
methodical,
orderly, regular, systematical.
NOUN: sys-tem-at-ics
(used with a sing. verb)
1. The science of systematic classification.
2. A system of classification, as biosystematics.
3. Biology The systematic classification of organisms and the
evolutionary
relationships among them; taxonomy.
NOUN: sys-tem-a-tism
1. The practice of classifying or systematizing.
2. Adherence to a system or systems.
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