impulsion not speed
written by alison short
With Christmas well and truly behind us and being into the third month of 2007 how many of your plans to diet or tone up have been abandoned already? It's very easy to be put off at the first hurdle when your over zealous enthusiasm left you with strained tummy muscles from those fifty sit ups on your ab cruncher, or your first few sessions in the gym leaving you feeling like you had been dragged by both legs round the field by your horse before being dumped at speed!
What often puts the lid on our physical goals is our radical approach to change, and being a competitive person myself I know how easy it is to fall into this trap. This simple misunderstanding of how our bodies function is the key to you and your horse's development.
The development of the body is centred around core strength this being the trunk of the body, in humans and horses this is the abdominal muscles, which in turn helps to develop the top line in our horses.
Visualise the back in your horse as a bridge between the shoulder and the quarters, without development it will be under constant strain, this also applies to humans.
“Secondary problems when development is not structured often manifest in the back.”
We all know that muscle is built by resistance, as an example when you are in the gym the weight you chose on the equipment is to challenge you to pull or push against it, but if the weight is too challenging it will tear your muscles leaving you with a tight short feeling in the effected muscle group, whilst an ineffective weight will not require you to meet any physical challenge and therefore will have no effect on your muscles development or tone.
This means that when you are working your horse the challenges that he meets need a connection, a need to push but into unobtrusive resistance equalling our contact. In simple terms to go forward with no true contact means a lengthening of the frame rather like a race horse, needing to lower himself in a flat way to gain speed, but a connection to the contact that is seen as a containment of energy, being released in a controlled flow is developing your horse into a power that is beneath the rider.
By developing this element of your horse there will be increased cadence to each pace as your horse begins to flex each joint, bringing the hind legs up underneath you and so lightening the forehand.
Without this development moving up your training level is hindered, as without lightness of the forehand the horse is difficult to place on smaller circles, with the rhythm often varied.
Try these exercises to help you and your horse develop a better connection leg to rein, and so aiding greater engagement.
The shorter your arena the more challenging the movements are so be sure to allow intervals of rest without losing purpose, or try trotting on a long rein for one circuit after three or four times of repeating the exercise.
*Start by riding a ten metre loop in trot down the long side of the arena, being sure that you are asking your horse to have two changes of bend.
*If you are on the left rein approach the corner preceding the long side, you should be positioning your horse round your left inside leg with a supple inside rein, whilst containing a contact in the right outside rein. At this point you should focus on the bend that leads you towards X, in the short arena this will happen quite quickly so be sure to keep your upper body away from your horses forehand, let X come to you.
*As you approach x start asking you horse to be straighter as if you are then going to proceed down the centre line, then gently beginning to supple your horse to the right, (this is your first change of bend). At this point it is vital that you change your leg aids to right bend, the right leg being on the girth making sure that your horse does not tip
on to his new inside right shoulder, now maintaining a consistent contact in your left (outside) rein.
*Now, start making your way back to the corner marker keeping your right bend until you are approx five metres away from the track, at this point you can ask your horse to be straighter and equal in both rein contacts, then adjusting your lower legs back into the left bend position, left leg on the girth to again prevent your horse tipping onto the new inside left shoulder, (this is your second change of bend).
Top Tip
If your horse is ahead of you and you feel rushed into changing your bend when approaching X continue down the centre line asking for the new bend, holding your horse off of the new inside shoulder with your right inside leg until you get to the track. Repeat this several times until your horse accepts your request with suppleness and fluency.
Add Ons!
In trot when approaching X and changing the bend ride a ten metre circle from X in the new direction, then continuing on the second half of your ten metre loop.
You can also ride ten metre circles in the corners both before and after the loop, being sure to keep a good rhythm and contact. You can also mix in some transitions back to walk for three to five steps on the ten metre circles you ride, this will help you to rebalance your horse and so aid greater engagement lifting the forehand.
Finally
Remember the key is to work your horse with a good connection leg to rein, monitoring the rhythm with your leg aid and then feeling through the rein for suppleness. Do not be afraid to squeeze the reins to alleviate any balance the horse may take onto the contact during changes of direction, being sure to keep your upper body central to your horse and your ribs equally spaced at all times. If your horse struggles to maintain a constant rhythm, be sure not to develop a driving seat.
Always repeat exercises on both reins.
Congratulations to Samantha Thomas and Indiway for winning the Novice Championship at Plumpton College, all your training and dedication has its rewards!
Alison Short is a Freelance Trainer and British Dressage judge who holds regular Dressage clinics and pole work sessions, (see diary dates) or call 07719900275 or email alisonshort@btopenworld.com
