"Anatomy of Dressage" Seminar

    with Tina Steward, DVM, MS

                April 24-25 at Two Bar Training  Center in Palo Cedro, CA  

             Contact: Lisa Beckett-Torgersen (530)549-4983

California Dressage Society
Educational Event or Activity

  Activity Description:      This is planned as an “Anatomy of Dressage” seminar. Demonstration riders will be
  selected to ride to show auditors what musculoskeletal forces are at work while performing dressage
  movements, and what needs to be done to support and strengthen them. Dr. Tina has a unique perspective as a
  Veterinarian, Equine Chiropractor and FEI Level rider to address how the conformation of a horse works. She
  uses her knowledge of the musculoskeletal system to teach exercises that will enhance the muscular system and
  enable the horse to perform with quality, pure gaits and work in a manor that will enhance longevity and
  soundness.  To educate auditors, Dr. Tina will also use a lunge/model horse to mark where the muscle, tendons,
  ligaments, and bones that most significantly affect how the horse moves (similar to what Dr. Gerd Heuschmann
  did during the CDS Annual meeting at LAEC a number of years ago).  Riders will apply to be selected to ride.
  The riders will be chosen based on level and ability to help demonstrate to the auditors how the horse can be
  schooled for optimal fitness, soundness and ultimately how consideration for the biomechanics and physiology
  of the musculoskeletal system will allow any horse to be the best they can be.

 Tina Steward DVM, MS since the 1980’s has had a career as a Veterinarian who specializes in Equine Chiropractics and lameness, and      has also trained and shown multiple horses to the Grand Prix Level. The horses she trained were not bred for dressage, some had  conformation challenges, and one or more of them had had previous careers in another discipline. During that time she also successfully   qualified for and passed the USDF “L” Judging program and began a second career as a dressage instructor teaching throughout Oregon,  California, and Washington.

  Educational Objectives:  Help auditors attain a clear understanding of how the horse’s anatomy or
  musculoskeletal system needs to function for peak performance. Also, how to enhance gait quality, muscle tone
  and strength thus the potential for each horse to perform dressage movements with greater ease and quality. 

 Attendance:  Maximum 14 riders,  20 – 40 auditors
  Rider Fee:  $100.00 includes lunch and auditing both days
  Riders may choose to ride both days, fee will be $ 175.00
  Auditors Fee:  $ 30.00 1 day, $ 45.00 both days. Fee includes lunch.
  Pony Club and Juniors: $20.00 1 day, $30.00 both days. Fee includes lunch.
  Source of funds:  Admission fees, possible scholarship grant, chapter treasury

  Contact Name:             Lisa Beckett-Torgersen,
                                    21922 Two Bar Trail
                                    Palo Cedro, CA 96073
                                    530 549-4983  (530 549-5122 FAX)   twobar@frontiernet.net

                                           Friday Evening Schedule
                                                     6:30 – 7:00 Sign in
                             7:00 – 8:30 Lecture “Anatomy of Dressage”

                                  Saturday Schedule

          8:00 – 8:30         Meet & Greet and Hospitality
          8:30 – 9:45         Lecture/Lunge horse with diagram of structure
          9:4 5 – 10:30     Rider/Horse – Intro level frame
          10:30 – 10:45   BREAK
          10:45 – 11:30    Rider/Horse – Training Level
          11:30 – 12:15    Rider/Horse – Training Level
          12:15 – 1:00      LUNCH with   Q & A         
          1:00 – 1:45         Rider/Horse First Level
          1:45 – 2:30         Rider/Horse Second Level
          2:30 – 2:45         BREAK
          2:45 – 3:30         Rider/Horse Third Level
          3:30 – 4:15         Rider/Horse Fourth Level
          4:15 – 6:30         BREAK
          6:30 – 9:00         Potluck Dinner to include a Q&A time                                               

                                              Sunday Schedule

          8:00 – 8:30         Hospitality
          8:30 – 9:45         Lecture/Lunge Horse diagram structure
          9:45 – 10:30      Rider/Horse Intro Level
          10:30 – 10:45    BREAK
          10:45 – 11:30    Rider/Horse Training Level
          11:30 – 12:15    Rider/Horse Training Level
          12:15 – 1:00      LUNCH with  Q & A
          1:00 – 1:45         Rider/Horse First Level
          1:45 – 2:30         Rider/Horse Second Level
          2:30 – 2:45         BREAK
          2:45 – 3:30         Rider/Horse Third Level    
          3:30 – 4:15         Rider/Horse Fourth Level

Tina Steward, DVM, MS

Tina Steward has loved horses for as long as she can remember. She started serious equitation and dressage at the age of 13 yrs. with Claus Albin. At the age of 18 she was given the opportunity to work and ride for George Morris for 2 years when he taught clinics in Southern California. Mr. Morris felt that she was one of the most talented and gifted young riders he had taught in twenty years. Tina was asked to come to Hunterdon to train with Mr. Morris. She declined because she felt a career in Veterinary Medicine was a better direction to take. While getting a Bachelor’s in Zoology, a Master’s in Nutrition and completing her DVM as a Regents Scholar she rode primarily with Herman Koopman (Alois Podjhasky felt Herman was the only one in the US that really understood the correct and classical development of the horse). While developing her equine lameness and chiropractic practice in the Bay Area she rode extensively with Major Anders Lindgren for nearly 10 years. She also rode with Charles De Kunffy for another 10 years. During this time she also rode in clinics with Gwen Stockebrand, Alfred Knopfhart, Jules Nissen, Jan Ebeling and John Lassiter.

Tina has trained 3 horses to finished Grand Prix and 100’s of others in Piaffe, Passage, Pirouette and Tempi changes. She brings an extremely unique understanding of muscle development and equine biomechanics to a classical approach to dressage training. She feels that dressage first of all be therapeutic and restorative to the horses (mentally and physically) and finally it should enhance the gaits and make the horse more beautiful. Her gift is gait enhancement for the horse and humor and empathy for both the horse and rider. She has worked with a huge variety of horses and each individual gets personalized attention with the goal of improving lightness, quality of gait and progression towards the FEI level.