BERNIE TRAURIG
JUMPERS • HUNTERS • EQUITATION • DRESSAGE • EVENTING
As a Horseman, Bernie is renowned for not only his riding talents but for his teaching and coaching gifts. As a competitor, Bernie has represented the United States Equestrian Team both at home and abroad on many occasions and reached the top of the sport in all 3 of the International Equestrian Olympic disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing. In 2009 he was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. In 2010 the California Professional Horsemen's Association honored him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2012 he was awarded the USHJA President’s Distinquished Service Award. He is recognized as a legend in the sport. As a teacher and trainer, he is one of the most sought after clinicians in the country today. His talent for teaching goes back to his roots where he was fortunate enough to have been educated by some of the very best Master Instructors this country and the world have to offer. He served as the West Coastʼs associate Chef d’ Equip to George H. Morris, the former Chef d’ Equip of the United States Olympic Equestrian Team. After amassing over 60 years worth of training and riding techniques and experiences with thousands of horses, Bernie is driven to give back to the sport that has given him so much fulfillment and success. Click here to learn more about Bernie.
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BERNIE'S VIDEO TOPICS (NEW ONES ADDED MONTHLY):
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Perfecting Rideability - A Jumping Exercise No matter what division you are in, jumpers, hunters or equitation, success depends upon a tractable horse that fluidly responds to correctly applied aids. Bernie has designed this exercise to fine-tune the horse’s rideability while honing the rider’s skills. Best of all, the difficulty level can be adjusted to help & challenge the horse or rider of any level. Running Time: 9 minutes and 28 seconds Videos referenced in this video: Turning Over Fences with Timing & Technique
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Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 1 - Flat Phase A Session with Colorado's Roaring Fork Hounds Pony Club. Bernie Traurig teaches C & D Level Pony Club Members in a two part clinic session. Click here for part two of this series, Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 2 - Jumping Phase Running Time: 19 minutes and 23 seconds |
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Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 2 - Jumping Phase A Session with Colorado's Roaring Fork Hounds Pony Club. Bernie Traurig teaches C & D Level Pony Club Members in a two part clinic session. Click here to view part one of this series, Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 1 - Flat Phase Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 1 - Flat Phase
Pony Club Clinic With Bernie Part 1 - Flat Phase
Running Time: 21 minutes and 20 seconds |
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Pre-Flight Check In this informative video, Bernie discusses some of the most important basic responsibilities belonging to the rider in assessing his horse before any ride. All too often, in the race to get to the show ring, things can get overlooked. From simple tack adjustments to crucial leg checks, Bernie takes us through his “pre-flight check” to make sure all systems are go before mounting. Running Time: 21 minutes and 14 seconds |
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Proper Leg Placement to Encourage Prompt Downward Transitions on Your Horse An unstable or unintentionally displaced lower leg during downward transitions can send mixed signals to a horse. Bernie Traurig likes to call these “clashing aids.” If for instance, a rider squeezes with the lower leg behind the girth (or even brushes that area on a sensitive horse) while asking with the rein aids for the horse to come back, the horse will be confused and the transition will be anything but smooth. In this video lesson, Bernie demonstrates this common mistake and shows how to achieve prompt downward transitions by avoiding what he calls the “tickle spot," that area on a sensitive thoroughbred or warmblood horse that can cause an unwanted reaction with even the slighted touch. Running Time: 4 minutes and 59 seconds |
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Range of Motion Exercise with Introduction by George Morris George Morris, in his introduction, talks about and clears up some of the frequently misconstrued points of position. Bernie elaborates on how to improve the functionality of your lower leg with his range of motion exercise. Running Time: 11 minutes and 15 seconds |
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Riding on the Bit For some equestrians it is the ultimate goal - to get your horse on the bit and experience that suppleness of poll and jaw, the engagement of the hindquarters, the acceptance of the rider’s hands, that fluid link between horse and rider. In this topic Bernie demonstrates all the different levels of contact with the horse’s mouth and different elevations of the horse’s head and neck that can be considered “on the bit.” He takes into consideration the horse’s conformation and willingness to acquiesce to the required pressure as well as the pit falls of trying to manufacture “on the bit” compliance. Running Time: 7 minutes and 31 seconds |
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Rolling In The Deep Bernie Traurig takes a look back at the progression water jumps have made in the sport of eventing. You'll see unbelievable footage of horses and riders negotiating the very first and very daunting water jump that made it's debut at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Eventing super star, Michael Plumb, makes quite a splash in rare footage from the 1964 Olympic Trials in Gladstone, New Jersey. The more "civilized" water obstacles used today can be seen in 2007 footage when Olympian Gina Miles and her horse McKinlaigh skillfully negotiate the water at the beautiful Badminton Horse Trials. Running Time: 7 minutes |
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Safety First: Proper Mounting & Dismounting Techniques Bernie Traurig and his daughter, Natasha, demonstrate correct and safe mounting & dismounting options. Find out which ones suit you. Running Time: 9 minutes and 55 seconds |
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Safety First: Stirrup and Girth Adjustments Bernie demonstrates the proper techniques for stirrup & girth adjustments. For a slick tip on how to easily lengthen or shorten your stirrups while mounted view the video: Adjusting Stirrups Running Time: 4 minutes and 58 seconds |
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