(VIDEO) Severo Jurado Lopez Masterclass - "The connection"

Wednesday evening at the beautiful Kirstineholm at the outskirts of Aarhus international top rider Severo Jurado Lopez held a Masterclass.

Due to the current corona restrictions it was of course with limitation of spectators.

It was a super nice and familiar atmosphere with a very motivated and as always smiling Severo welcoming the audience. Severo started to tell that he was really happy about his decision now with his own business in Denmark together with his long time partner Annika Daurau, as they both feels loved and appreciated in Denmark.

The passion

“Why are we doing what we are doing? Every day, 7 days a week, using a lot of money and often with a lot of downs with the horses.”

The overall theme for the evening was “the connection” - the connection when your riding your horse, the feeling from the saddle but also the mental connection, in the way of being able to control and know the reactions from your horse ex when you enter the show ground.

The horses

For the masterclass Severo has brought two horses himself and one horse was ridden by Nana Christiansen from Sandkildehus Dressage.

Severo was riding the 7 year old gelding Møgelvang Ferrari by Sezuan / Come Back II, breeder Jan Jensen, former ridden and educated by Pernille Elten Sigsgaard and owned by Nordentoft. Super talented and well balanced horse, where Severo was telling about the way he appreciates the reactions from Ferrari, and a horse with the right attitude for work, with power and big potential which Severo of course was really excited about for the future. From the small session Møgelvang Ferrari and Severo Jurado Lopez could be a very interesting card for WCYH in Verden this year.

2nd horse under Severo was the 10 year old KWPN gelding Fendi T by Negro / Lester, owned by Van Olst Horses. Severo was telling this was really “his” horse, and was really grateful being able to have a talented horse like Fendi at the stables. His first big successes were created at the time he was employed at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands, and from where he now has three talented horses in training.

Young Nana Christiansen from Sandkildehus Dressage was showing the just 3 year old Danish Warmblood premium stallion Stenagers Ben Hur DWB by Borsalino / Florenciano, bred by Bjarne og May-Britt Christensen, and owned by Stutteri Teglovnen. The young stallion has during the breeding season been stationed at Katrinelund, and recently back under the saddle with Nana Christiansen. Super good looking young boy with three really nice basic gaits. Here Severo was telling about the importance of learning the horse to respond to the signals from the rider to build up the important connection for the future education.

The training

The overall theme for Severo´s training philosophy is THE CONNECTION. Never leave the connection from the riders hand, through the seat and the legs to the bid when your riding your horses. The way you educate your horse is through reactions, in other words your horse MUST respond to your aides to be able to learn, tells Severo.

When Severo was starting up Fendi T he was telling about his goal to make Fendi more confident and believe in himself. No doubt about the top qualities, and it was clear that Severo wanted Fendi T to show off himself.

Self carriage and collection

Self carriage is when your riding a Grand Prix test and being able to let the hand just go forward in the most demanding exercises, and the horse keep carrying himself. Self carriage has nothing to do with collection - you can easily ask for self carriage without asking for collection, says Severo.

The future dressage horse

Severo had more bullet points during the Masterclass evening, but one of the clear bullet points were for the breeders: “You must bred dressage horses, not just foals for auctions, and we need healthy horses with top temperament.”

Enjoy some small parts from the Masterclass here below.