Past Article:

Rhythm Tips

I use a variety of riders with novice horses to show how to take small steps to improve. The training scales are: Relaxation, Rhythm, Contact, Suppleness and Flexibility, Straightness, Impulsion and Collection.

There are two different things to consider when you are working on the rhythm, first the regularity of the stride then the speed of the rhythm. Once your horse is able to maintain a good self-carriage at a regular pace you can start to add more impulsion. The horse needs to be working at a speed which he/she is able to improve. This may be different from the speed you rode in the dressage test. Remember in the test you were being judged against a perfect ten. Now you are schooling your horse to build a better self-carriage.

The walk is a four beat march.

The sequence is the outside hind, followed by the outside fore, followed by the inside hind and then the inside fore. Your horse should move with a nice marching step. **Remember that there are many marks in the dressage test for the way your horse walks. Practice while you are out trail riding. Working on hills is particularly good to encourage your horse to use his back.

In trot the rhythm is two beat as the horse jumps from one diagonal to the other. Look out to see if your horse is swinging evenly across his/her back. Where is he carrying his tail? It should swing easily from side to side as the tail is a continuous of the spine. A relaxed spine will show with a relaxed tail carriage. Look and see if the hind leg comes well forwards into the hoof print of the front foot. There is an interesting article written by Hilary Calyton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS in the October issue of Dressage Today which has some slow-motion shots of the dissociation of the diagonal pair. Check it out.

In canter the horse moves in a three beat movement. The outside hind, followed by the inside hind and outside fore together and then lastly the inside fore as the leading leg. *Remember that canter can be a great exercise to allow the horse to work in. Try walking the sequence and feel how it would loosen your back!

Here is an exercise to try:

• Close your eyes and feel how your horse is moving. Can you identify when a specific leg is moving? When riding allow the outside hip to swing forwards as the outside legs move, then the inside hip as the inside legs move forwards. Make sure your lower leg is staying constantly relaxed against the horse's side.