What is the “Path to Performance™”?
A systematic approach to keep your horse mentally and physically relaxed, supple and strong enough to tackle the tasks at hand. It is a tool box of easy-to-apply methods to create a happy and able equine partner, based on classical training methods.
The Path to Performance™ — short P2P™ — is ‘basic training’ for the horse plus methods for mental and physical relaxation by means of bodywork & behavior remediation.
Stefanie combines her experience with equine bodywork, rehabilitation and behavior remediation with the classical basic training of the horse as described in the HDV12 German Cavalry Manual — the original source of today’s Training Scale.
“The Path to Performance™ — short P2P™ — is ‘basic training’ for the horse plus methods for mental and physical relaxation by means of bodywork & behavior remediation. It is always the right time to solidify the basics to keep our horses sound.”
Stefanie Reinhold
Stefanie Reinhold
Creator of the “Path to Performance™” approach
The P2P™ Three-Prong-Approach
Mental and physical soundness of your horse depends on whether you are able to eliminate stress, strain and resistance. The more capable the horse, the more greater the chance that your horse will ‘self-destruct’ without proper ‘relaxation hygiene’. Mental and physical relaxation are the basis for building suppleness and strength and ultimately optimize performance.
P2P™ I
RELAXATION (Relaxation & Release of Tension)
Relaxation and release of tension is pre-condition for optimum performance. A tense mind, a tense body, resistance, bracing, holding on to old tension patterns keeps the horse locked in limited ability, anxiety, and often in discomfort.
In this first module, we learn to discover mental and physical tension patterns in our horse, how to release some of this tension and prevent tension, resistance, and bracing from recurring.
Our tools are insights into the nature and behavior of our horse and the techniques to optimize our interaction, methods to recognize even hidden tension in our horse, bodywork techniques to release tension and free up movement, exercises in the saddle and on the ground to promote relaxation our horse.
Go to the Seminar Schedule to find a clinic…
P2P™ II
SUPPLENESS (Resistance-free Movement)
Suppleness and resistance-free movement builds on mental and physical relaxation and becomes the ‘default’ mode in which we want to work our horse. It is the absence of bracing, the state in which the horse only uses those muscles during movement, which are necessary for this particular movement.
In this second module, we learn the definition of suppleness in classical German horsemanship, how recognize suppleness, why suppleness is essential for riding correctly and keeping our horses sound, and how to achieve suppleness in ourselves and our horse.
Our tools are observational skills, feel, ridden exercises on the flat and over ground poles, and longe work to improve suppleness in ourselves and our horse.
Go to the Seminar Schedule to find a clinic…
P2P™ III
STRENGTH (Gymnasticizing for Wellness)
Gymnasticizing for Wellness™ builds on Relaxation & Suppleness to strengthen the horse (enough) to stay strong, able, and sound for the task at hand — whether dressage, jumping, eventing, or distance riding — and ensure basic athletic fitness to keep the horse sound.
In this third module, we learn to assess the muscular development of a horse, which muscle groups we will want to strengthen and how to go about this under saddle, in the arena, cross country or on the longe line.
Our tools are insight into the needs of the horse as a biomechanical system, knowledge of the ‘correct’ muscle groups to strengthen, patterns and targeted exercises, cavaletti and ground poles, and an individualized ‘gymnasticizing plan’.
Go to the Seminar Schedule to find a clinic…