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| The Sense and Purpose of Dressage, Part II
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| by Lilian Signe Van Dahn |
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There are six basic principles leading like a red line through the schooling of a horse. They are very much linked to each other, but show a certain graduation in how to progress in training: rhythm, relaxation, on the bit, impulsion (development of thrust), straightness and collections (development of force, carrying capacity and elasticity).
1. Rhythm is the absolute regularity of movements in all the three paces (gaits). One of the main demands of a correctly ridden horse is not fulfilled if the horse loses its natural rhythm in one of those paces.
The walk is a 4-beat, stepping movement. A stepping movement is when the horse always makes contact with the ground--all four legs are never off the ground at one time. The walk should always be calm, relaxed, but also diligent (active). The sequence of footsteps (or footfall pattern) is on the same side, but not at the same time. For example, if the horse starts with the right hind leg, it is followed by the right front leg. Likewise, the left hind leg is followed by the left front leg. If the right or left legs lift from the ground together and step down at the same time, the feared "pass" has occurred, which is extremely difficult to correct. The main reason for this fault is walking too fast and bringing the horse on the bit too early. Only a sensitive rider can manage to correct the faulty rhythm by putting the horse on the bit in special half steps, so that the unnatural pace can be set right. If the horse has fallen into the "pass," it is good to ride calmly at the walk outside in the bush where the ground is uneven, so that the horse can climb up soft hills. Cavaletti work helps as well.
The trot is a 2-beat, swinging movement. The word "swinging" expresses that this pace has a moment of free suspension where all our feet are off the ground at once. The sequence of footsteps is, for example, right hind leg together with the left front leg, followed by a moment of free suspension, then the left hind leg together with the right front leg. The fault that occurs the most--especially while developing the medium or extended trot--is that the horse becomes too quick.
The canter is a 3-beat, swinging movement. The sequence of footsteps in the right-hand canter is: left hind leg, right hind leg together with left front leg, right front leg and then a moment of suspension. In this gait, irregularity of rhythm occurs quite often, though not as much as with the walk. The disunited, 4 beat canter usually occurs in the first period of collection, when the shortening of the canter stride is done without the necessary elasticity of hands (not giving the reins after half halts) and no support is given through energetic, pushing aids. This fault can be corrected by cantering with more extension, by cantering on the circle several times and by renunciation of any collection in the canter.
2. Relaxation is an unfearful state and is the basis of harmony between the rider and the horse. It is the main element of an easy and pleasant look. Only relaxation makes it possible for the horse's back to act as the center of movement. Only when the horse "gives his back" and the rider achieves a more or less correct technical execution of the lesson can the rider experience the desired good feeling. The horse can withstand heavier stress without danger of injury if the muscles are warmed up. Only a relaxed horse can accept the aids of the rider without becoming cramped or tense.
A horse is relaxed when it moves with rhythmic regularity when it rounds the back (swinging back), which allows the rider to sit comfortably and give the forward pushing aids, when the horse stretches his neck forward and down-ward looking for the hand of the rider and takes it, and when he carries his tail naturally and without tension. One of the most important signs of relaxation is the snorting of the horse.
Relaxation exercises with the rider are, for example, walking on a long rein, rising trot, big circles and serpentines, turns on the forehand, changes between trot and canter, yielding of the thighs, cavaletti work, and jumping small fences. Correct lungeing before the work with the rider can be of great help in achieving correct relaxation, especially with horses that possess weak or sensitive backs.
3. On the Bit. When we talk about a horse being on the bit, we understand a soft, steady communication between the hand of the rider and the mouth of the horse. It should be the same pressure with both reins. The steadiness of this communication is of immense importance: a frequent, "springing" rein is just as wrong as a stiff, motionless or too firm communication. It is okay when the horse slightly bends his neck and accepts the bit voluntarily as the rider applies the forward pushing aids and when the horse chews confidently on the bit and stretches his neck forward and down as the rider gives the reins.
The horse has to be on the bit. It is a fault if the horse goes "above," "against," or "behind" the bit. The horse that goes "above" the bit has to be corrected by holding the reins and giving energetic forward pushing aids to force the horse to accept the bit and to bend the neck. As soon as the rider succeeds, he must immediately give the reins to achieve the necessary stretching of the neck downward so that the back can start to swing. The horse going "against" the bit should be corrected by making half halts, i.e., holding the reins against the energetic, forward pushing aids for a very short moment and then giving in. This should make the horse softly accept the bit
4. Impulsion is the development of pushing force (thrust) and gaits. It all comes from the activity of the horse's back. During the process of training, the stronger, forward pushing aids of the rider and the horse being on the bit--communication between hand and mouth--motivate the hind legs to stretch underneath the body, which results in the hind legs taking on more weight and lifting up more energetically. Therefore, the back is forced to use its muscles more actively, which results in more swinging. This systematic development of pushing force improves, in most cases, the action of the front legs. Any hurry in the mechanics of a certain gait will lead to a loss of the calm but energetic movement of the horse. Coordinated aids are necessary to come back to the normal, basic speed (gait).
5. Straightening the horse is done to counteract its natural crookedness. The horse is wider behind than in front. This straightening work actually begins from the first moment the rider gets on the horse. Here I want to talk about its improvement and perfection. Only a straight horse accepting the bit can develop impulsion and give the rider the opportunity to start with collection work. In the very first period of schooling, it is helpful to yield the inward thigh. Later on, the bending of the whole body (in the ribs) has to be developed step-by-step because the horse must be straight on curved lines as well. Only a horse that is able to bend the part of the ribs out of a correct posture can walk on a curved line with his hind legs following his front legs. That means that it is straight without going straight ahead. That is the reason why, in advanced training, the "shoulder-in" lesson is elementary and important. The saying is right that only a horse that knows all the side-steps can be absolutely straight.
6. Collection is the development of the carrying force of the hindquarters. The hindquarters of a horse worked correctly will be able to bend more and more, which means that its hind legs take on more weight from his own body and that of the rider's, so that the forehand has less weight to carry. This makes the forelegs lighter, so that they can lift more freely and higher. The steps and strides become shorter, but more active, more diligent, energetic and elevated. In all collected gaits, one should have the impression of a horse going up-hill.
The pushing force of the hindquarters must not get lost. It should not only develop forwards, but also with the aid of carrying force, forwards-upwards. The elastic and sensitive hand of the rider in connection with his determined forward aids and his flexible sitting position should take over the impulsion of the hind legs and lead to a bending of the hock.
Exercises which result in collection are those which make the hind legs carry and bend more. For example, the precise first step to trot, the precise and energetic first stride to canter, the riding of smaller circles, half-pirouettes, side movements, and rein backs, but more than anything else, correctly done half-halts and halts. They all alter the development of pushing forward in leading to a forward-upward movement. All collection exercises should be done in the beginning only for a short period of time to avoid too much stress on the horse. Collection exercises absolutely must be followed by free and energetic riding forward (extensions) to avoid loss of impulsion.
The natural raise of the horse's neck should be the consequence of the systematic production of collection. But it always has to correspond to the bend of the hindquarters and to the conformation of the body. The raise of the head done only with the hand is wrong and must be rejected. The nose of the horse has to be slightly in front of the vertical; the highest point is between the ears (the poll).
The gymnastic dressage training of a horse must, under no circumstances, be monotonous and tiring for the horse. Therefore, frequent riding in the countryside is an important part of the training of a dressage horse.
Special thanks to Patricia Kinnaman for permission to reprint this article by Lilian Signe Van Dahn. Lilian was a co-founder (with Patricia) of T.E.S. and Van Dahn International. She passed away on January 17, 1989, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was an inspiration to all dressage riders who learned from her.
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