Riding Concepts
The Walk
The
walk is a 4-beat flat footed gait
The Trot or Jog
The
Trot or Jog is a very regular 2-beat diagonal gait…1-2..1-2
The Canter or Lope
The
canter or lope is a 3-beat gait that begins with one hind leg, then the
diagonal pair, and ends with the leading foreleg. It has a alternating rolling and floating
feeling to it. The energy rolls from
rear to front, then during a moment of suspension the horse gathers himself up
underneath himself to get organized for the next set of leg movements.
Forward Energy
The
mental and physical willingness, and in fact, eagerness, to move forward.
Rhythm
The
sequenced placement of a horse’s feet in a gait.
Balance
The
ability to keep the center of gravity over the base to maintain equilibrium.
Smoothness
Besides
energy, rhythm, and balance, one other goal for comfortable riding is
smoothness. Goal to make all movements
and changes in transitions smooth that you barely feel it in the riders body.
Harmony
This
describes a good working relationship between horse and rider, one with smooth
flow of energy and an open line of communication. To achieve harmony, you may need to assess
your own state of mind and admit when changes in attitude might have to take
place in order to have a productive ride.
Connection
The
relationship between the driving aids, the restraining aids, and the response
from the horse.
Contact
The
tightness of the reins related to the level of communication and flow of energy
from rider to horse and back to rider.
Pressure
Horses
generally resist heavy steady pressure and respond favorably to light,
intermittent pressure. That means if you
are trying to get a horse to respond in his jaw and poll to your hands on the
reins and you pull steadily and with great force, the horse will probably try
to push into and out of that pressure.
You must use a light squeeze-and-relaease action of the reins, the horse
will tend to move in response that action.
Sames applies to your seat, legs and overall use of your body.
Flexion and Bending
Characteristic
of a supple and collected horse, there two types of flexion:
1. Vertical or longitudinal, often mistakenly
associated with “headset.” In reality,
it is an engagement of the entire body:
abdomen, hindquarters, back, neck, and head.
2. Lateral side-to-side
arcing of the spine characteristic of turning or circular work; often called
bending.
Impulsion
The
energy and thrust forward from the horse’s hindquarters characterized by a
forward reaching rather than a backward pushing motion.
Collection
A
gathering together; a state of organized movement; a degree of equilibrium in
which the horse’s energized response to the aids is characterized by elevated
head and neck, rounded back, dropped croup, engaged hindquarters, and flexed
abdominals. The horse remains on the
bit, is light and mobile, and is ready to respond to the requests of the
trainer.
Aids
Signals
from the rider to the horse. The natural
aids are the mind, voice, the seat (weight), upper body, legs, and hands. Artificial aids are extensions or
reinforcements of the natural aids and include whips and spurs.