Sonja, Bannis Besitzerin berichtet selbst:
Banni heißt mit richtigem Namen La Bonita Bandita und hat eine Top Abstammung. Züchter sind Dr. Rainer und Heidi Heuschmann, der Bruder von Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Ich habe sie als Fohlen gekauft, mit 6 Monaten und hatte sie zum Anreiten in einem Stall gegeben, wo auch Hengste zur Körung vorbreitet werden und zu den Jungpferdevorstellungen fahren. Also zu den sogenannten „Profis“. Danach hatte ich Unterricht bei einem Grand Prix Reiter, bis Banni gesagt hat: Mit mir nicht mehr!
Im Winter 2016 war Feierabend, von heute auf morgen. Banni stand senkrecht in der Luft und kam nicht mehr runter. Ich dachte, meine letzte Stunde hat geschlagen. Ich habe alles röntgen lassen – ohne Befund. Dann kam sie in Beritt zu jemandem der „Steiger korrigiert“. Das war so schlimm, ich schäme mich heute noch in Grund und Boden. Danach konnte ich sie zwar wieder reiten, aber ich hatte immer das Gefühl sie steigt gleich wieder. Ich hatte einfach ein schreckliches Gefühl mit allem.
Im Juli 2019 war ich mit Banni auf der Feira, zur Vorstellung von Problempferden. Da hat Manuel Jorge de Oliveira dann gesagt: „Das schaffen Sie nicht alleine.“ Da habe ich dann von Null angefangen.
Im Frühling 2020 kam Banni für vier Wochen in Beritt in die Oliveira Stables. Mehr konnte ich mir nicht leisten. Im April 2020 kam dann der Lockdown und ich durfte die letzten zwei Wochen nicht nach Waal. Das heißt, ich bekam nach vier Wochen Beritt mein Pferd zurück und hatte – außer einer einzigen Stunde Unterricht auf einem Schulpferd – von Tuten, Blasen und Vertikalem Reiten keine Ahnung!!! Eigentlich wollte ich die letzte Woche des Beritts mit Banni Unterricht in den Oliveira Stables haben.
Ich war wahnsinnig unsicher, das sieht man ja. Und ich hatte niemanden zur Unterstützung in dieser Corona- Zeit. Aber wir haben es geschafft!
Fazit: Diagnosen gab es keine, obwohl ich sie, als das mit dem Steigen anfing, komplett habe röntgen lassen. Sie war auch nie lahm. Die einzige Diagnose ist, dass sie zu festgehalten geritten wurde und man ihr nicht die Möglichkeit gegeben hat sich auszubalancieren. Viel zu viel Zügeleinwirkung und keine Balance.
Das weiß ich heute ganz sicher.“
Sonja, Banni’s owner, reports:
Banni’s full name is La Bonita Bandita with a top pedigree. Breeder is Dr. Rainer and Heidi Heuschmann, brother of Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. I bought her as a foal when she was 6 months old and gave her to a well known stable for breakting. A stable, where stallions are prepared for breeders licensing and for young horses shows. A so-called „professionals“ stable. After that period, I had lessons with a Grand Prix rider until to day Banni said: I’ve had it up to here with you, Miss!
In the winter of 2016 it was over, all of a sudden. Banni reared vertically into the air and couldn’t calm down. I thought the fatal hour has struck. I had ordered a vet check to do allover x-rays – without any findings. Then I gave Banni to someone known to „correct rearing horses“. That was a bad move, I’m still deeply ashamed today. After that training I was able to ride her again, but I always had the feeling that she could rear again every next second. I had terrifying feelings for quite everything.
In July 2019 I went to Feira with Banni to introduce her as a problematic horse. Manuel Jorge de Oliveira said: “You can’t do this on your own.” So I started from scratch.
In spring 2020 I gave Banni to the Oliveira Stables for four weeks full training. I couldn’t afford more. In April 2020 the lockdown came and I wasn’t allowed to go to Waal for the last two weeks. That lead to I got my horse back after four weeks and – apart a single hour of lessons on a school horse – without a clue about vertical training! Actually, I had planned to have lessons in the Oliveira Stables for the last week of Banni’s full training.
I felt insecure, you can see that. And I had no one to support me during this Corona time. But we did it!
My conclusion: There were no diagnoses, although I had her completely x-rayed when she started to rear. She was never lame either. The only diagnosis is that she was ridden too restrained and not given the opportunity to balance. Far too much forced with reins and no balance. I know that for sure today.
Commentary on the film sequence:
min 6: (Ms. Sonntag) Banni is 11 years old. At that time, Banni is at the Oliveira Stables since 2 weeks. What we are seeing here is mobilization. The horses that have been ridden for years in low and deep are stiff like rails, and the stiffness must be reversed. We solve this primarily through correct work, the physiotherapist is only complementary if needed. You rarely see such work. The work has to be done very carefully and professionally. The work has the component of physical work to reverse stiffness as well as the component of education. Martina and Bernardo are a dream team here. Usually we call for more time for this kind of training, but the budget doesn’t allow it. Please don’t do and copy this at home!
min 9:28: Banni just before picking her up home. The horses get attentive and use their hindquarters to turn. We want the horses to react as delicately as they later should be in the saddle. This training is important for large, strong horses such as German warm-bloods. Banni was practically no longer rideable for her owner. The horses, which are considered unrideable, have to be mobilized particularly well in order to relieve any tension in the body.
min 14:40: Back to the Oliveira stables. The story of Banni (see also interview above). Sonja tells how she presented the horse in 2019, after 6 months of ground work Sonja gave the horse to the Oliveira stables for the 4 weeks full training. Banni can now be ridden without any problems. Sonja says that creating the balance was the problem before and now is the solution here in the Oliveira Stables. The horses need balance.
