So this weekend I went to Dovecot Stables to see Gerd H and C de K together.
Started off with Charles talking and then Gerd talking, have to admit to not warming to Charles got somewhat bored of his constant refrain regarding the lack of microphone, yes I know his voice is weak but the mike got fried and best efforts to sort it had come to naught. Really didn't like his referring to leg movers as 'cockroaches' simply not necessary in my opinion.
Charles de Kunffy - The rider forms the horse
Not entirely sure Charles did the advertised topic well it wasn't what I was expecting.
We ride for the well being of the horse
Do not mix emotions with your actions
The more physical skill you have as a rider the more harm you can do if your attitude is wrong
The seat is to sit integrated in the horse's movement
Gerd Heuschmann - The basics of biomechanics
The soft / hollow side is the most difficult side for training
Swing the horse forward
Longissimus dorsi is strongest at loins ( c/f Crisp)
Forward canter can help to release a blocked horse due to the action of longissimus dorsi
Swing THROUGH the back
The back should swing in a wave not just alternate up/down
Think of hindquarters as a water pump and the back as the connected water hose going to the bit. If you as a rider block the back (the hose) the water will back up and over time will shut down the water pump.
Think of the hindquarters as a vertical spring and the back as a horizontal one, to compress the 'spring' of the haunches the 'spring' of the back must lengthen.
The rider's spine should have a soft swing (will not be visible) that should harmonise with the swing of the horse's back.
Form follows function for both horse and rider.
Because the longissimus dorsi is connected to the cervical vertebrae as the croup (pelvis) lowers the neck will raise (relative rising of the forehand)
Bending
9th -> 18th thoracic vertebrae have the maximum ability to bend BUT still not by much
The truck (ribs) of the horse can also rotate down SLIGHTLY
So (my words) bend is an illusion.