From an article written for a Gymnasium English course in 2005 by Sarah Hillmar of Oberhaching, Bavaria, Germany......
“Once you’ve trained dressage in Germany or Holland, you understand why they are nearly unbeatable in international competition. And it isn’t just the “rich and famous” that get the quality education. The Bereiters/Reitlehrers are completely dedicated. They treat the S level rider with the expensive warmblood and the A level rider on a lesson pony just the same. Everyone gets the same consideration, and goes through the same basics. If you apply what you are taught, you can’t help but be successful.”
After 18 months of intensive instruction in riding and training dressage in Germany, Justine Wilson is returning to her new home town of Chandler, AZ. A successful dressage instructor in Central California prior to her departure, she had an opportunity to live in Bavaria and took it. Training with Bereiter and Richter, Goswin Mechlem, (brother to FEI 'O'judge Uwe Mechlem) she was able to master the subtleties of the German Training Scale, as well as focus on acceptance and refinement of the aids- important pieces of making dressage not only pleasurable for the spectator, but pleasurable for horse and rider as well.
“Herr Mechlem is a very successful Reitlehrer (instructor) and Bereiter (trainer), and is very well respected. Just spend a day watching what he does, and you understand why. He starts early, rides 4-6 horses per day, teaches 6-8 lessons per day and works a half of a day on Saturdays as well. He allowed me to help him a few per days a week, and with my two horses to ride also…well, let’s say it was exhausting at first. But I didn’t regret one second. What I learned from him was invaluable.”
On her Hanoverian mare Wenke 122, Justine climbed the ladder to Grand Prix. She “acquired” Wenke after she had leased her for a month from a gentleman who had owned her since she was 4.
“Goswin warned me when I leased her that she was lazy. I figured he should know because he trained her. When her owner essentially gave her to me, Goswin shook his head and asked me why I even wanted to own her. After 6 months he made a comment about how much more forward she was and wanted to know what I was feeding her (turns out her only change in diet was the addition of wheat bran and some basic supplements- I had a good chuckle over that one). Three months later he told me that she was as good now as she had been when he was training her. I think that was one of the nicest compliments I have ever received. Herr Mechlem doesn’t give them freely. He is very much a perfectionist.”
Wenke is 15 this year, and while that might not sound so old, Justine has decided to retire her to broodmare status.
“She’s done her job for me. She is an amazing personality, and very much a mare. She is from the Wenzel I line, and they do have a reputation for being talented and well, difficult, although she does love to do pirouettes and tempi changes. Taking that into consideration, she has been quite generous. I think she deserves to enjoy now. They are fairly consistent about starting the horses early here. She’s been working now for 12 -13 years. Lucky for me, she is registered in the Hauptstutbuch (Main Mare Book) here in Germany. I think she’ll be a great mom.”
While in Germany, Justine was able to earn her German riding license from the FN. As a member of the California Dressage Society, she had already earned ‘Qualified Rider’ status.
“It’s quite a different system in Germany. You can’t just go out and buy a horse and start competing. You must pass a series of exams that demonstrate your ability to ride and knowledge of riding theory. This isn’t just for professionals; this is the case for anyone who wishes to compete. In addition, you are not allowed to compete at a level that you have not already qualified for. You must place in competition three times at any given level before being allowed to advance to the next.”
Although a dressage instructor since 1985, her primary focus over the last 10 years has been continuing her education, through working with FEI level trainers in both paid lessons and in working student arrangements, assisting in show management, training young dressage prospects on her own and attending clinics with both US and European clinicians. From the spring of 2002 to late 2003 she took time out from riding to have her third child, Benjamin, but still managed to teach her students on full time basis and earn her ARICP certification for riding instruction in Dressage Intermediate Level.
“It was right about the time I was ready to start riding again that my husband Peter suggested that we take this opportunity to move to Germany. Not many riders from the United States ever get the chance to train so intensively for as long as I was able to. I am very fortunate, and happy I will be able to return to working with Herr Mechlem in the future, for shorter periods of time. We are also hoping that he will be able to make the trek to the U.S. But it was this time in Germany that made me finally feel ready for some serious competition. I am so looking forward to not only getting out there and competing, but also getting back to teaching. I’ve really missed it.”
S. Hillmar
Goswin Mechlem did make it out to the states with Justine and her clients to attend the World Cup in Las Vegas in 2007, upon the retirement of his brother Uwe from his status as an 'O' judge with the FEI.
Justine has since relocated to Central California and is teaching and training at Mar Val Stables in Lodi...she still, as always, will continue working with the highest quality trainers from Germany and the Netherlands regardless of her successes.
As well, she clinics in various states on a monthly basis..please feel free to contact regarding a clinic in your area!
justine@justinewilsondressage.com
925-922-4446