Inside the Manège

Bent Branderup has spent years looking into the historical roots of classical riding and adapting its traditions for training today, in what’s known as the Academic Art of Riding. From rediscovering the school halt, to riding on the square used by La Guérinière, Bent shares his experience and historical findings to help more riders achieve riding as an art.

Bent Branderup is a Danish classical rider and the principal teacher of the Academic Art of Riding, which now has students and trainers around the world. Passionate about sharing his knowledge, in this episode we explore how he developed his riding philosophy, what defines the Academic Art of Riding, and what he’s learned through history and his experience, which he now passes onto his students.

In this episode, he shares:
◼️ How he uses the academic seat to influence the horse
◼️ Why having “nothing in your hands” isn’t always a good sign
◼️ How correctly positioning the spine is key for thoroughness and roundness
◼️ The historical origins of the school halt and different riding seats
◼️ How he adapts his training to different horses and breeds

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:54 Why Is It Important to Develop Yourself as a Rider?
04:22 What Makes the Academic Art of Riding an Art?
07:54 How Historical Research Has Shaped Bent’s Methods
12:43 Rider Seats: A la Brida and A la Gineta
15:58 Throughness, Roundness, and Details of the Spine
29:10 How Bent Uses the Seat to Influence the Horse’s Chest and Bend
37:56 Exploring Lightness and False Lightness
46:16 How Piaffe Can Look Different Depending on Conformation
48:37 How Bent’s Ideas Have Evolved, and Adapting to Different Horses
55:54 How to Learn More with Bent Branderup

Learn Classical Riding Online with INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Website: https://www.insidethemanege.com

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege
Maria’s Blog: https://mariacooke.com

🐎 Learn more about Bent Branderup’s Work:
Website: https://www.bentbranderuptrainer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Academic-Art-of-Riding-by-Bent-Branderup-100050161344037
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bent_branderup

🏰 Explore this location:
This episode was filmed at the stunning Romantik Parkhotel Wasserburg Anholt – a beautiful castle and hotel in Germany like nothing I’ve seen before!
Explore it here: https://schloss-anholt.de/ 

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

–––––––––––––––––––––––

Additional Episode Notes:

9:55 | Florido
The horse Florido appears in records as having been a Spanish horse gifted by Ferdinand VI of Spain to King Louis XV of France, who were cousins. Important to note is that at this time, Portuguese and Spanish breeding was not yet fully separated, and only around this time did Portugal begin to develop their own distinct Lusitano line as the Alter Real (founded in 1748). 

The engraving of Louis Cazeaux de Nestier riding Florido is dated 1753, only a few years after Alter Real was founded. The brand also curiously doesn’t appear to match traditional brands from either the later royal stables of Spain (Yeguada Real de Córdoba) or Portugal (Alter Real). However, some sources also state that Florido originated from the earlier royal Spanish studfarm at the time, the Real Yeguada de Aranjuez.

The Lusitano association mentioned is not the Portuguese Lusitano Association (APSL), but rather refers to one of the local Lusitano associations such as those in Germany, Italy, and Denmark, which use the image of Florido in their logos.

See also (French, page 260):
https://www.equitation-francaise.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pdf-3-Les-maitres-du-Manege-de-Versailles_Et-Saurel-web.pdf

13:40 | A la brida
"Breda” may be referring to “al-bardhaʿa” in Arabic, a term for a traditional padded pack saddle.
See also:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/albarda

14:48 | A la gineta
The word “gineta” or “jinete” in Spanish comes from the word Zenata (Zanāta), referring to the Zenati or zanáti and their riding style, which were the Zenata Berber cavalry of North Africa.
See also:
https://ghcl.ub.edu/diccaxv/dictionary/ViewLema/10365

44:50 | Piaffe
The word “piaf” in French refers to a small bird, and especially a sparrow.
See also:
https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/article/A9P2208

45:05 | Spasseggio
“Spasseggio” in Italian refers to strolling or going for a leisurely walk, and appears to be a less common variation of the word passeggio.
See also:
https://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/spasseggio

Historical Riders Mentioned in this Episode:
Egon von Neindorff, François Robichon de La Guérinière, Xenophon, Antoine de Pluvinel, François Baucher, Louis Cazeau de Nestier.

Master Trainer of the Academic Art of Riding Marius Schneider shares why he chose Academic Riding, why he finds groundwork and changing the horse’s frame so crucial in the horse’s training, and how he uses the airs above the ground to benefit the horse.

Marius Schneider teaches the Academic Art of Riding extensively, sharing his passion both at his own stable Gestüt Moorhof in Germany, as well as internationally and online. His focus is on encouraging his students to foster a better relationship with their horse, and developing horses from the basics to the High School dressage movements with playfulness, sensitivity, and lightness.

From his liberty work to riding caprioles, levades, and mezairs bitless, if you’ve ever been curious to hear about Marius Schneider’s approach within the Academic Art of Riding and how he does what he does, this is the episode to listen to.

In this episode, he shares:

◼️ Why work on the ground can be essential
◼️ Why it’s important to adjust the horse’s frame in training
◼️ How he combines riding on the bit with bitless riding
◼️ How one can use the airs above the ground to benefit the horse

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:59 Discovering Bent Branderup

04:24 What Do You Focus on in Your Own Work?

09:09 Why Is Work on the Ground So Important?

17:13 Longeing with the Cavesson, Snaffle, or Rope Halter

31:58 Training or Retraining a Horse to the Bit

37:04 When and Why Would You Use a Snaffle, Curb, or Bitless Bridle?

41:13 Stallions and Chewing the Bit

46:45 Encouraging the Horse to Seek the Bit

50:00 Lengthening the Frame and Neck

58:45 How Can the Airs Above the Ground Benefit the Horse?

1:10:01 Training the Horse to Collect from the Seat

1:12:56 Comparing Modern Dressage and the Academic Art of Riding

1:19:52 What Do You Wish More Riders Knew?

🐎 Follow Marius Schneider:

Website: https://gestuet-moorhof.de/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariusSchneiderGestuetMoorhof 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marius_schneider_moorhof

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Hélène Arianoff, a Belgian classical rider with over 60 years experience and longtime student of Nuno Oliveira, shares how to use the classical riding aids, and how she thinks modern dressage could return to classical riding principles.

Having taught all over the world, Hélène Arianoff is dedicated to passing on the principles she learned with Nuno Oliveira, and helping riders achieve the same moments of unity with the horse that she experienced through his training. Having learned with Nuno Oliveira for over 20 years, she has an incredible amount and depth of knowledge in classical riding, and how to adapt the details of training to each horse and rider.

In this episode, she shares:

◼️ How to use the classical aids; the hands, legs, and seat

◼️ How judging and riding in dressage competition has changed

◼️ How to adjust the aids for different horses

◼️ How to use the seat and shoulder-in to collect the horse

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Why Classical Riding?

05:20 What Do Riders Misunderstand?

08:41 The Right Position and Seat

17:47 How to use the Seat with Horses on the Forehand

23:12 What Do You See in Modern Dressage Competition?

31:21 How to Collect the Horse with Shoulder-in

38:27 How Do You Collect for the Piaffe?

47:19 How Do You Use the Legs?

53:14 How Do You Use the Hands?

1:04:15 Changing Competition & Justin Verboomen

1:10:07 How did Nuno Oliveira Change Your Riding?

1:13:17 Lessons from Nuno Oliveira

1:18:02 Returning to the Basics

🐎 Follow Hélène Arianoff:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helene.arianoff

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenearianoff/

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Sonja Weber, a classical rider and trainer with over 25 years of experience, shares how to keep the horse healthy long-term with classical dressage, through developing its carrying capacity.

Passionate about sharing how training can be used to develop the horse’s body to support its health, she  has written two books, and produced several films on how to use collection to build the horse’s thoracic sling muscles, and establish a healthy posture.

Based in Germany, and originally from Austria, Sonja Weber has extensive experience using classical dressage to develop horses of a vast number of breeds, from Lusitanos and Arabians, to Icelandic horses and Haflingers.

Sharing her insights online in both English and German, Sonja has a wealth of knowledge about the connection between biomechanics and classical training – and continues to inspire students and followers from around the world with her simple and straightforward insights. 

In this episode, we explore:

◼️ How to recognise Topline Syndrome and Abnormal Compensatory Posture

◼️ How the thoracic sling works and why it’s so important

◼️ How to use classical dressage for different breeds and conformations

◼️ How you can change a horse’s posture through training

For this special episode, we filmed this conversation in Sonja’s native German, to make it easier to dive deep into the topic, and what you see here is an English translation. If you’d like to see the original German version, you can watch the full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/gSWwp-XCBBg

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:01 How can you use training to keep the horse healthy long-term?

04:41 Using collection to develop the horse’s carrying capacity

10:21 Why is posture important, and how can you influence it?

14:50 Analysing piaffe and passage & modern competition

19:05 What’s the role of the forehand in collection?

21:35 Abnormal Compensatory Posture & changing the horse’s posture

27:26 Developing piaffe with multiple breeds & stallions’ natural posture

31:13 How Topline Syndrome and Abnormal Compensatory Posture develop

33:00 Elements of collection, balance, & the horse’s natural shock absorbers

41:14 The role of the back, and analysing the long & low position

47:26 What does the correct rotation of the horse’s spine look like?

52:56 What Sonja Weber’s own path has been like & healthy older horses

57:31 Working with different breeds & using classical dressage to benefit them

1:01:47 Working with traumatized horses & flight animal instincts

1:09:48 Using classical dressage across breeds and disciplines

1:13:39 What do you want to see more of in the sport dressage world?

1:17:49 Finding your own path & staying with one trainer

🐎 Learn more about Sonja Weber and her training:

Website: https://www.sonja-weber-reitkunst.de/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonja.weberreitkunst 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonja_weber_reitkunst/ 

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Pureza Oliveira, daughter of the now legendary classical rider Nuno Oliveira, shares stories of her father as a rider, an artist, and how her own story and artistic journey developed, told through her experiences with her father.

Having translated both the collected early and later writings of Nuno Oliveira for the first time into English, she continues to be an important representative of her father’s life and work, and can uniquely share what it was really like to grow up with him, and observe him working with the horses.

In this episode, Pureza describes her father’s big personality, his family, their daily life, her artistic work, and their shared artistic approach to life.

As a great lover of music and master of equestrian art, Nuno Oliveira continues to inspire riders and is celebrated as one of, if not the greatest rider of the 20th century.

In this episode, Pureza shares:

◼️ What Nuno Oliveira was like as a person and in riding

◼️ Stories of growing up and learning with her father

◼️ Her key role in translating his writings into English & Portuguese

◼️ How she developed her artistic work, and her father’s influence

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:32 Why Pureza Translated Nuno Oliveira’s Books

05:41 Work in Lisbon, and Building his Stable Quinta do Brejo

10:12 Nuno Oliveira’s Family & Great Riders at his School

13:28 What Was Nuno Like as a Person?

16:18 Nuno’s Daily Life & Accomplished Students

20:55 What was it Like to Learn With Him?

24:06 The Importance of Reading & Studying the Classics

27:05 Discussions with Classical Riders

28:04 Mr. Miranda, Nuno Oliveira’s Teacher

32:03 How Did Nuno Interact with Horses?

37:38 Pureza’s Artistic Family & Influences

40:44 Nuno’s Influence & Love for Music

44:13 Pureza’s Art & Nuno in Switzerland

48:11 Translating His Work into English & Portuguese

52:55 Nuno’s Theatrical Sense of Humour

56:04 Pureza’s Message for Listeners, and Nuno’s Passing

🐎 Learn more about Pureza Oliveira & Discover Her Artwork:

Website: http://www.purezaoliveira.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pureza.oliveira.3 

Silk Scarf Exhibition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-6VZ7FIjV0 

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Equestrian Art: The Collected Early Writings (1951-1956) by Master Nuno Oliveira

Equestrian Art: The Collected Later Works by Master Nuno Oliveira

Princípios Clássicos da Arte de Ensinar os Cavalos

Notable People Mentioned in this Episode:

 Bettina Drummond, João Oliveira, Dom Diogo de Bragança, Ghuilerme Borba, Miguel Tavora, João Filipe Figueiredo Graciosa, José de Ataíde, Jaime Celestino da Costa, Master Miranda, João Nuncio, Catherine Laurenty, Sara Oliveira, Desiree du Pisanie.

Anja Beran, a highly respected classical rider and trainer based in the south of Germany, shares where modern riding has lost its way – and why we should return to training dressage based on classical principles. 

With over 30 years of experience, Anja Beran has taught internationally and written several books on classical training. From Iberian horses to Akhal-Tekes and warmbloods, she applies classical principles to bring out the best in horses of all breeds, conformations, and backgrounds. Her success in rehabilitating modern sport horses using dressage as a form of physiotherapy has also set her apart as a skilled trainer, and she has also collaborated with sport organisations such as German state-owned stud farm Marbach. Through her dedication to the art and science of classical riding, to her horses and many beloved animals, as well as to her students around the world, she has become one of the most well-respected classical trainers today.

In this episode, she shares:

◼️ How to ride according to the nature of the horse
◼️ How piaffe, passage, and extended trot today are often distorted – even in high level competition
◼️ How to use the Spanish walk to develop a horse gymnastically
◼️ How to use dressage as physiotherapy for the horse

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:40 Why is Classical Training Important Today?
03:32 How Do You Define Classical Training?
06:38 When Horses are Pushed too Soon
08:40 How Do You Train Young Horses Differently?
18:37 The Origin of Tempi Changes, and Natural and Unnatural Movements
20:06 The Benefits of Using the Spanish Walk
23:29 How Anja Beran Rehabilitates Sport Horses
31:23 The Correct Working Neck Position
35:42 Recognizing Faults in High-Level Piaffe, Passage, and Extended Trot
41:49 Developing Soft Contact, and the Descente des Mains et Des Jambes
48:07 Using the Seat More, and the Hands and Legs Less
50:06 Straightening a Crooked Horse*
56:37 How Studying Dressage Influenced Anja Beran’s Work
1:00:00 Helping Challenging Horses with Dressage as Physiotherapy
1:08:00 What Anja Beran is Working on Now
1:10:09 How to Continue Learning from Anja Beran

🐎 Learn more about Anja Beran’s Work and Foundation:

Website: https://www.anjaberan.de/en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043906910677#

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anjaberan.foundation/

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe to INSIDE THE MANÈGE for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

*At 52:55, “from left to right” refers to the horse’s movement in relation to the left and right sides of its body, rather than the ridden direction on the track. Therefore, in this instance, “from left to right” refers to riding left shoulder-in on the left rein.

*At 53:06, for a horse crooked to the left, asking for shoulder-in where the horse moves its body “from right to left” refers to shoulder-in right, on the right rein. This can help stretch the left “hollow” side of the horse.

Philippe Karl, renowned rider and teacher of French classical riding, shares his passionate critiques of modern dressage riding, and discusses how we can train according to the nature of the horse, and what differentiates the French classical tradition.

Philippe Karl has been riding and teaching for over 50 years, and was a rider of the famous Cadre Noir in Saumur, France for 13 years. Having started his own school called the School of Lightness, or l’École de Légèreté, he has taught students and instructors around the world. A vocal advocate for kind and logical horse training, he has debated with dressage authorities such as Christoph Hess on the current state of dressage training and suggested making changes for the future of the sport.

In this episode, he shares:

◼️ How some common training techniques do not correspond to the nature of the horse

◼️ Why hyperflexion isn’t healthy and where modern dressage has become distorted

◼️ What defines French classical riding

◼️ How he gets a heavy horse light in the mouth

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:14 Defining What Classical Means and the Horse’s Nature

03:11 Is Modern Dressage a Positive Evolution?

06:34 How to Educate a Horse Differently

10:50 The Modern German Influence on the Dressage World

14:59 Changing Misconceptions of Training and Baucherism

25:05 Principles of Baucher and the French Tradition

31:35 The Myth of Uniform Bend Through the Whole Spine

37:24 Why is Riding in a Low and Hyperflexed Position Unhealthy?

44:15 Why Dressage Horses Break Down

50:59 Debating with Christoph Hess and Working the Horse at the Walk or Halt

57:49 What are Flexions and How to Make the Horse Light in the Mouth

1:10:00 Breaking The Learning Process into Small Pieces

1:11:32 What Would You Recommend for Riders Listening?

🐎 Learn more about Philippe Karl’s Work and the School of Lightness:

Website: https://www.philippe-karl.com/

Facebook: https://www.philippe-karl.com/social-media

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Classical dressage master Luís Valença shares about equestrian art, stories of his work with horses and Nuno Oliveira, and what makes a classical rider. 

Luís Valença is a renowned Portuguese classical master with over 60 years of experience. He studied directly with masters such as Nuno Oliveira, worked with the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, and has been driving spectacular equestrian shows like Apassionata and Cavalluna with his family. For over 40 years, he has taught and trained horses and riders on his own farm in Portugal, where his daughters continue to teach in this tradition.

In this episode, he shares:

• How Nuno Oliveira transformed his horses using the system of François Baucher
• The story of one horse that changed the course of his life and career
• What differentiates riders who advance to equestrian art, from those who can only ride
• What makes a rider truly classical

🔍 To watch this episode with subtitles, subscribe to the podcast on YouTube and turn on closed captions for the video.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

2:24 - Developing a Classical Rider with Freedom

3:36 - Sport Dressage Riders with a Classical Foundation

4:47 - Nuno's Passion and Listening to Classical Music

6:11 - Story of Nuno Oliveira, Harpalo Prince, and Equestrian Art

9:41 - My Masters, Background, and the methods of François Baucher

15:03 - The Story of Sultão and the Beginning of Apassionata and Cavalluna

19:10 - Why Riders Come to My Stables from Around the World

27:38 - Working with Different Horses like Lusitanos and Warmbloods

30:33 - Story of Nuno Oliveira and Bunker, with Hélène Arianoff and Michel Henriquet

35:49 - Using the Aids Without Force, and Classical Dressage

38:38 - What Exercises Help the Rider Improve their Aids

40:02 - The Role of Love in Working with Horses

41:38 - The Pictures in My Arena and My Inspirations

44:36 - How Can People Learn from My Methods?

🐎 Learn more about Luís Valença’s Work Through the Valença Academy:

Website: https://www.valencaequestrianacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valencaclassicalriding

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValencaEquestrianTours

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069242888414

Cavalluna Shows (EU): https://www.cavalluna.com/en

🎠 Follow INSIDE THE MANÈGE:
Learn Classical Riding Online: https://www.insidethemanege.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidethemanege

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethemanege

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidetheManege

Maria's Blog & Classical Articles: https://mariacooke.com/

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with classical riders

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.