Eric's Blog

The Big Picture

Thu, 02 May 2013 06:52:37 GMT

The Big Picture

When young, I believed anything was possible. I still do. When young, I fell in love with the horse, and their peaceful mirror image they had to offer of myself. I still see it and love it. When young, I have dreamt of being Olympic and World Champion. I still do. When growing up, whether it was a College education, a real job, or even ridding my horse, I put myself through a lot of hurdles of expectations life had to offer. It was a learned response to set goals, work hard, then achieve the goal. Sometimes if the goal was not met, you either worked it from another angle, or deep sense of frustration sits in along with the expectation that the desired result should just happen! Besides, how else can one justify all that hard work and time that was put forth. This is when one gets desperate and blinds themselves of all the little things that make the big picture complete. After watching our world's best, compared to the rest of the field at the Rolex CCI****, there was a vast difference between the two. One showed rhythm and harmony with no acts of desperation and the other was trying to fit everything into a one dimensional picture while trying to manufacture a score. One was listening to their horse and the other was listening to the judge and tweaking something that may look more aesthetically pleasing. A little tweaking here and there is not going to bring us back to the top of our game. We need to go back to what makes a balanced, rhythmic, harmonious pair, starting with our own balance on top of the horse. If not for the show ring, for the longevity of our horses. We have to take our blinders off and face the reality that we are chasing for an end result of showing up to the game, without thinking of winning the game. I was taught to follow three riding priorities in the following order: 1.)Have Fun 2.)Protect your Investment 3.)Win Find the fun in learning how to protect and preserve your horse's physical and mental being. Learn the mechanics that makes them balanced to achieve what we put them through easier and cause less wear and tear. Be careful not to put your desired expectations ahead of your horse and fall into the act of desperation. In the end, winning will be a lot easier, fun, and way more enjoyable to watch.

Eric G. Dierks

FLAIR®Master Class: Eventing with Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:54:56 GMT

FLAIR®Master Class: Eventing with Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill. In this video, Dierks and Hill discuss the deceptive 2012 Rolex Kentucky XC Double Brush Tables. Click HERE to view.

Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill walk their group through the 2012 RK3DE XC Bridgestone Park Question.

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:20:56 GMT

In this next obstacle at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, Ralph and Eric describe how to ride the incredibly daunting coffin jump. Click HERE to view.

Flair Master Class featuring Ralph Hill and Eric Dierks Effort #8, The Brush into Water

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:18:13 GMT

In this 9th video of the FLAIR® Master Class Eventing Video Series featuring Ralph Hill and Eric Dierks, the pair takes the viewer through the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Effort No 8, the Brush Water Challenge. Click Here to view the video

FLAIR® Master Class: Dierks and Hill - Effort No 7 - The Trakehner

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:15:46 GMT

In video number eight of the FLAIR Master Class Series featuring Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, we focus on Effort No 7 -- The Trakehner. Its position makes it an effort that needs to be ridden thoughtfully.

Click Here to view the video.

Seventh FLAIR Master Class RK3DE video - The Tobacco Stripping Bench

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:52:16 GMT

Video seven of the Eric Dierks/Ralph Hill Eventing FLAIR® Master Class video series features Rolex Kentucky XC effort No. 6 -- The Tobacco Stripping Bench. The run up to this seemingly straightforward bench asks the competitor serious questions, as does the terrain leading to the effort.

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR Master Class - Eventing with Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill No 5 -- The HSBC Water Park Part 2

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:11:37 GMT

The focus of video six of this series covers the second part of the HSBC Water Park. As multiple options are available to competitors, decisions need making and strategies formulated.

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR® Master Class Eventing: Dierks-Hill No 5 -- HSBC Water Park -- Part 1

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:34:52 GMT

The focus of video five of this series is Part One of the HSBC Water Park. Ralph Hill discusses his approach. Eric Dierks discusses the slow route. Multiple options are available and decisions need to be made, and strategies formulated.

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR® Master Class Eventing video series, effort No. 4 -- the Suspended Rails.

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 19:03:22 GMT

In the fourth video of this FLAIR® Master Class Eventing video series, the Dierks and Hill discuss their approach to 2012 RK3DE effort No. 4 -- the Suspended Rails. Time of day also figures strongly into the successful approach to this straightforward effort.

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR® Master Class video series - effort No. 3 -- the Walnut Tables.

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:38:53 GMT

The fourth video of this FLAIR® Master Class video series follows the Dynamic Duo of Dierks and Hill as they discuss their approach to effort No. 3 -- the Walnut Tables. Also addressed is what time of day to walk the course -- an important decision in cross-country preparation.

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR Master Class Eventing video series - Rock Walls

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:59:02 GMT

In the third video of this FLAIR Master Class Eventing video series, Eric Dierks and Ralph hill approach the solid Rock Walls -- the first question of the 2012 Rolex Kentucky 4* Three-Day Event cross-country course.

Click here to watch the video.

From the Start Box to the Flower Box

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:43:34 GMT

From the Start Box to the Flower Box -- the first effort -- Dierks and Hill talk the viewer through the beginning of the 2012 RK3DE course.

Click here to view the video.

Flair Master Class: Eventing with Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, Rolex Kentucky 2012, No. 1 - Introduction/Walking the Course

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:59:12 GMT

In this first video in the series, Eventers Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill take the viewer on a cross-country course walk at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, discussing how they walk a cross-country course.

Click on the icon below to watch the video.

FLAIR Master Class series - Bending Lines with a twist!

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:36:58 GMT

Team FLAIR Eventer and member of the USPC Board of Governors Eric Dierks takes the viewer on a course walk of the 2010 AEC XC course. In this sixth video in the FLAIR Master Class series featuring Eric Dierks, he discusses the more bending lines with a twist!

Click here to view the video.

FLAIR LLC ANNOUNCES SPONSORSHIP OF TWO COURSE WALKS AT THE 2012 ROLEX KENTUCKY CCI4* THREE-DAY EVENT.

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:30:40 GMT

Flair LLC, maker of FLAIR® Equine Nasal Strips and a 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* Three-Day Event sponsor, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of two course walks to be held during the 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* Three-Day Event.

The first course walk, lead by two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Phillip Dutton, will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 4:00pm. This abbreviated course walk will focus on four of the most difficult complexes and will be exclusive – with the number of participants limited to 50. Participation credentials will be available on Thursday morning outside the Bit of Britain Tent between 10:30 and 1:00 -- prior to the course walk – from a FLAIR representative. Each credentialed participant will receive a FLAIR Strip and memento of the occasion at the conclusion of the course walk.

The second course walk, a full course walk lead in tandem by veteran Four-star Eventers Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, will begin at 10:30am on Friday, April 27, 2012 – commencing at the start box. This course walk is open to the public.

About FLAIR Nasal Strips: FLAIR Strips provide drug-free support and protection to the respiratory system of the hard-working equine athlete. FLAIR Strips are proven to: reduce airway resistance, reduce lung stress and bleeding, reduce fatigue, and shorten post-exercise recovery time.

For more information about Phillip Dutton, visit http://phillipdutton.com/
For more information about Eric Dierks, http://ericdierks.com/
For more information about Ralph Hill, visit http://www.ralphhillmn.blogspot.com/
For more information about The Rolex Kentucky, please visit http://www.rk3de.org.
For more information about FLAIR Strips, Flair LLC and its sponsorship activities, please visit http://flairstrips.com

Media Contact:
Nan Rawlins
pr@flairstrips.com

FLAIR® Master Class: Eric Dierks Video 5 - The Bending Line

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:25:42 GMT

Team FLAIR Eventer and member of the USPC Board of Governors Eric Dierks takes the viewer on a course walk of the 2010 AEC XC course. In this fifth video in the FLAIR Master Class series featuring Eric Dierks, he discusses the The Bending Line.

Click here to view the video.