, , ,

Don’t Be Dead Weight

, , ,
Don’t Be Dead Weight

The secret to better engagement and activity is really not to do anything with your seat that can block or slow down the hind leg movement. “Take the foot off the brake, before you step on the gas” is something I used to tell students who took longe lessons on our horses in the US and weren’t able to keep the horses in the trot. Most of them would immediately kick the horse to keep him going, although they themselves were the reason why the horse fell back into the walk. The less you interfere with the horse’s back movement, the less you need to drive.

, , , , , , ,

How do I find the right working tempo?

, , , , , , ,
How do I find the right working tempo?

A steady tempo (beats per minute) that is neither too fast nor too slow for the horse is the foundation of balance - together with correct arena patterns. That’s why it is the first element of the training scale. A steady tempo allows the horse to find his longitudinal balance. Accurate arena patterns that are performed in functional straightness (i.e. the horse’s feet are aligned so that the left pair of legs is on the left side of the line, the right pair of legs is on the right side of the line, and the spine forms a segment of the line) allow the horse to find his lateral balance.

, , , , , ,

What are possible causes for rhythm impurities?

, , , , , ,
What are possible causes for rhythm impurities?

Each gait has its own potential for rhythm impurities. The walk is the most vulnerable to gait impurities because it has no suspension phase. That’s why German riding instructors often warned against working the horse at the walk.

The canter has an asymmetrical footfall sequence, which also makes it susceptible to rhythm purities.

The trot has a very symmetrical footfall pattern with a suspension phase after each diagonal pair touches down. That makes it the most robust gait, although there a couple of rhythm anomalies that can occur in the trot as well. 


Cart (0)