Tune in for a very special interview with Ingrid Klimke as she shares her best tips with us! One of the biggest challenges riders face is balancing good technique with the right mindset. It’s easy to get caught up in perfecting movements and forget that your horse’s confidence, relaxation, and partnership come first. In this interview, I share some of my favorite takeaways from my interview with Olympic medalist Ingrid Klimke, including practical ideas to improve your rider position and mindset while building a better relationship with your horse.
Rider Position and Mindset Start with the Basics
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing how much emphasis Ingrid places on the fundamentals. Even after reaching the highest levels of the sport, she still centers her rides around basics like transitions, responsiveness to the aids, and rider position. She also shared an exercise that many riders can benefit from: riding transitions without stirrups while using bridged reins. Bridging the reins helps keep your hands even and steady, allowing you to feel when one hand starts to drift or become stronger than the other. At the same time, riding without stirrups encourages a more independent seat so your horse can respond to your body instead of relying on your hands for balance.
Developing Your Horse Takes Patience
Ingrid also shared the story of developing Franziskus from a young stallion into a Grand Prix horse. Early on, he had plenty of opinions and wasn’t always convinced that his rider should influence the plan! Instead of forcing the issue, Ingrid stayed patient and worked consistently over many years. That story is such a great reminder that progress doesn’t happen overnight. Building trust, confidence, and partnership takes time. The goal isn’t just teaching your horse new movements. It’s helping them want to work with you and enjoy the process.
Putting Your Horse First
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from Ingrid wasn’t about a specific exercise at all. It was about mindset. Despite competing at the Olympics and winning medals, Ingrid never loses sight of why she rides. She always puts her horse’s physical and mental well-being first. Her horses have regular days off, plenty of turnout, and a varied training schedule that includes cavaletti work, lunging, jumping, and basic flatwork. That variety helps keep them supple, responsive, and happy in their work. For all of us, this is an important reminder that success comes from creating a horse that enjoys the partnership. When your horse feels confident and understands what you’re asking, they’ll give you their best.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
