It has been a while since Ike and I have offered up a “How To” blog.  We’ve tackled the subjects of assembling a double bridle and taking holiday photos, so it seems appropriate that we provide some advice on the subject of creating a musical freestyle.  If you recall, we discussed freestyles two years ago…and that was as far as it went.  But now we have a freestyle for next season, so I thought I’d show you how “easy” it is.

1. Watch Andreas Helgstrand ride Blue Hors Matine at the 2006 WEG freestyle finals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
2. Watch Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz ride Fuego XII at the 2010 WEG freestyle finals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx3a4nNO3ak
3. Go to bed and dream of riding a musical freestyle with your horse.
4. Wake up and daydream of riding a musical freestyle with your horse.
5. Attend a Dance with your Horse clinic with Michael Matson (www.equimusic.com ) and receive a CD of walk, trot, and canter music. We did in March 2013.
6. Download free music editing software believing that you can edit your music and choreograph a freestyle routine.
7. Curse at the computer when you realize the “free” software also downloaded “free” advertisements.
8. Curse at the computer some more as you try to delete the “free” advertisements.
9. Open music editing software and stare blankly at the computer screen. Heads up – it has as many knobs and buttons as a 747 cockpit.
10. Mutter more curses softly under your breath as you attempt to even play your music with the software.
11. Wish you had paid more attention in music class in elementary school as you try to recall musical terminology.
12. Close software and drink wine.
13. Stare at the software for another week to finally figure out how to play your music. Rejoice at this small victory.
14. Drink wine to celebrate your cleverness.
15. Delete software from computer when you realize you are not clever enough to edit music.
16. Watch Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the 2014 London Olympics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcDLLxgWa_Y
17. Find a friend who wants to do a musical freestyle as much as you do.
18. Celebrate when your friend organizes a musical freestyle clinic.  Thank friend profusely.
19. Have Michael M. determine your horse’s beats per minute (BPM) at the walk, trot, and canter.
20. Ride to various pieces with the correct BPM and pick the music that suits you and your horse the best. (FYI – after 2 years of training, Ike’s BPM changed and we received new music.)
21. Stare in awe as Christine Betz (http://www.christinebetzdressage.com/ ) choreographs a routine for you in well under an hour.
22. Memorize your choreography.
23. Drink wine AFTER you learn the routine.
24. The next day, ride the routine so Christine can time each of the compulsory movements for the level.
25. Try to hide your shock when she edits the music in under 20 minutes.  Again wish that you’d been more attentive in music class as a child.
26. Ride your freestyle for the first time (You might need to turn up the volume to hear the music well) You will see that we will need to adjust our entry-

Second Level Freestyle Take One

27. Go home and drink wine and count the days until you can ride your new freestyle!

So, you see, it isn’t all that difficult…get out there and dance with your horse.  I promise you that you will be hooked!

alison