The
Young Horse
Unlike rhythm, which is almost instinctive, suppleness is not something a
horse is born with. In simple terms, suppleness is the flexibility and
looseness of the body. People would be naturally stiff if they do not
maintain a regular exercise and stretching regime. Gymnasts are
exceptionally flexible and limber, and they can bend in many directions.
The horse is not only an athlete, but also a gymnast because he has to
stretch and bend to execute the movements we ask. Since the horse is a
gymnast but is not born supple, it is our job to help him stretch, flex,
bend, and strengthen.
Two Types of
Suppleness
As trainers, we are aware of major muscle groups in the horse and how we
would like those muscles developed. Our first concern should be the
muscles than run along the top line of the horse. These muscles start at
the haunches, run along the buttocks, croup, back, top of the neck, all
the way to the poll. The degree to which these muscles can stretch has
instant affect on the horse’s ability to swing freely forward towards the
bit. Stiffness in those muscles causes the horse’s back and neck to
contract, resulting in a horse that moves by dragging his hind legs, drops
his back, raises his neck, and braces against the bit.
Next, we are concerned with the muscles that run along the sides of the
horse’s body and the upper sides of his neck. The flexibility of those
muscles dictate the degree of bend the horse is willing to offer. Tension
or stiffness in those areas prevent proper bending, and cause falling in
and out off the line of travel.
Therefore, we are looking at two types of suppleness. The first is called
longitudinal suppleness, and measures the flexibility of the
horse’s top line. The second is called lateral suppleness, and
measures the flexibility of the horse’s sides.
Although longitudinal suppleness is our foremost concern, its progress is
controlled to a fair extent by the progress of lateral suppleness. For
example, a horse that is able to stretch and remain on the bit on a
straight line will become stiff and crooked on curved lines if he is
unable to bend. Also, a horse’s longitudinal suppleness improves as his
lateral muscles relax and stretch. Our goal is a horse that is bendable,
elastic, and completely free of tension both on straight and on curved
lines. Ultimately, we work on improving both types of suppleness
simultaneously.
Basic Suppling Exercises
Longeing:
With a young or green horse, you would want to begin his training on the
longe. Without the additional burden of a rider, that horse is free to
find his own balance and rhythm while reaching for contact provided by
side-reins. Instead of traditional side-reins, I highly recommend using
Vienna reins. Also known as balancing reins, they resemble draw reins but
are used for longeing. They can be fastened to various points on the
surcingle or roller, allowing a multitude of neck positions. You can
achieve a long and low position on the longe by attaching one end of the
balancing reins to the girth or surcingle between the horse’s forelegs,
and the other end to the girth strap. Longeing in this position may add
pressure on the forehand, but by carefully activating the quarters, the
horse stretches both longitudinally and laterally. Eventually, you may
longe in solid side-reins attached to the saddle D-rings (or slightly
lower) to teach a horse self-carriage and to yield to the bit (more about
this in the next article).
Stretching:
Under saddle, replicate the
idea of long and low that the horse has learnt on the longe (See
Long and Low). You will have the liberty of changing the rein more
frequently than on the longe. Ride plenty of figures of eight, alternating
with occasional diagonals to straighten the horse. Make sure the horse is
carrying himself forward, and not dragging his feet or leaning on your
hand.
To emphasize looseness of the back, you may briefly ask the horse to
stretch round and deep, i.e. curling the neck slightly towards the chest.
It is extremely important that the rider is skillful enough to continue
riding the horse forward and engaging his quarters, else he will collapse
on his forehand. The main objective of this exercise is to relax the horse
and teach him submission. Relaxation and submission contribute to
suppleness. Beware, however, not to drill the horse everyday in this
manner. Ride him in this position only when you feel tension building up,
or a couple of times a week in five-minute segments. It is also important
that you are able to bring the horse neck up again until the poll is the
highest point.
Transitions:
These work like a charm. After a warm-up of forward and stretching,
incorporate walk-trot transitions (2 steps walk, few meters of trot) and
trot-canter transitions into the session. Provided that you are consistent
with your aids, the horse would soon relax, allowing energy to travel back
and forth through him as he moves from one gait to the next. Transitions
are good for longitudinal suppleness while also teaching the horse to
engage and come off the forehand.
When the basics are more or less established, ride transitions within the
gait, i.e. medium-working trot, or medium-working canter. These also help
improve longitudinal suppleness.
Note that the trot is the gait that supples the horse most. Because of the
diagonal trot steps, it works his muscles evenly. However, some horses
relax better at the canter. With those, it would be better to canter often
in the first half of the session until the horse is the mental and
physical frame to accept trot work happily.
Circles:
Curved lines have several
benefits: first, they strengthen the inside hind, second, they help the
horse engage and find his balance, and third, they stretch the outside of
the horse. Ideally, you would not want to bring the horse’s nose any more
inside than his inside shoulder. Occasionally, to teach the horse to
become elastic and loose, you can bend him a little bit extra for just
a few strides, then align him again. Tip: you can also bend the
horse’s neck a little inside and then outside as you travel on straight
lines.
When the horse is comfortable on large circles, ride three, four, and
five-loop serpentines. Always release a tad with your outside hand as you
change direction to give the horse space to bend to the inside.
Lateral Exercises:
In early training, the only lateral exercise you can regularly work on is
the leg-yield. Practice that at the work and rising trot, being careful
not to over-flex to the inside. If the horse has a habit of falling
against your inside leg on one rein, you can then revert to slight
over-flexion as you ask him to move promptly away from your inside leg.
Ask for the leg-yield sparingly and not everyday. Although it supples the
horse, some experts find it adds pressure on various points that may lead
to injury.
With a little more advanced horse, practice lots of shoulder-in. You can
ride the exercise in walk, trot, and even canter. As in leg-yield, be
careful not to over-bend, otherwise you will end up with a neck-in rather
than a shoulder-in!
Counter-canter:
As soon as the horse is
cantering quietly and accepting the bit on straight and curved lines, you
may introduce a little counter-canter. At first, simply canter a 5-meter
loop in from the track. When the horse maintains his rhythm through this
simple exercise, practice counter-canter on the long side of the arena.
Eventually, your goal is to ride around the entire arena in counter-canter
without loosing rhythm or balance. As your horse progresses, you may even
ride counter-canter on a 20 or 15 meter circle. These exercises not only
work wonders on lateral suppleness, but they also straighten, strengthen,
and balance the horse.
Further Reading:
The Elements of Dressage: A Guide to Training the
Young Horse by K.A. von Ziegner
The Simplicity of Dressage by Johann
Hinnemann and Coby van Baalen
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