Editing in progress -
please stand by for correctly spelled out version by
my devoted to dressage hubby ;)
Sorry, currently under construction. Please visit
back in the fall 2008.
I'm
reporting a much shortened version of "L"
program, covering topics that I think are most interesting
to the dressage enthusiasts. I omitted some of the very
specific topics that apply only to dressage judges.
I encourage dressage enthusiasts to audit USDF
"L" dressage judge training program for the
full scoop.
Day 1
Trot Triangles.
Purpose: This is one
of the many exercises that we were given for better
understanding of the quality of the dressage gaits and
to check if horse is really on the forehand (OK for
Training Level), has level balance (needed at 1st Level)
or has beginning of collection (needed for 2nd Level).
Some horses are built butt high, that does give an impression
that they are on the forehand, but we need to look at
the reach of hind legs, not at the outline of the crop
to but ratio. Same goes for the collection, some horses
has quite an animated front legs, but we need to look
at the reach of hind legs to determine if they are truly
collected. This tool was presented to identify the problems
in the gaits from biomechanics point of view, some horses
have uneven rhythm or they are lame, thus will show
mixed, uneven triangles.
Important: If all halves of trot triangles
are equal or about the same, that shows that a horse
is balanced - this is the end for this exercise and
we should move to the other exercises on how to look
for the correct gaits. Don't overanalyze trot triangles,
they are interesting visuals, but still they are just
trot triangles, a very small part of the big picture
that creates a correct gaits. Using trot triangles is
only one of many things to look for in the pure and
correct gaits. You still have to look at many other
things to critique or judge purity and quality of gaits.
Trot triangles are not hard-fast rules, but just general
guidelines.
Directions: It's important
to have a photo of the horse that is traveling parallel
to us with hoofs on the same line on the ground, making
a contact with the ground. Any angled photos, pics of
horses traveling away from us or toward us will not
work. Pics of horse's legs up in the air will not work.
Front trot triangle has two halves: #1 and #2. Hind
trot triangle that has two halves #3 and #4. The vertical
line needs to be drawn from the point where legs separate.
Do not look for millimeters - do the trot triangles
any way you want: from the middle of the hoof, from
the end of the hoof, from the front of the hoof, it
doesn't really matter, the trot triangles should not
change dramatically; they should stay relatively same
to each other, millimeters of measurements won't affect
the overall picture. Just make sure that the top point
is in the very middle of the leg split and draw the
straight down, vertical line down from that split. You
must have the bottom line drawn on the same angle as
the horizon line, which should be 90 degrees to any
vertical line. The core of triangles need to be on the
90 degrees angle. Height of the trot triangles doesn't
matter. Trot triangles apply only to the working trot
and beginning of the collecting trot. Trot triangles
doesn't apply to walk, canter, piaffe, passage. Trot
triangles apply only to trot.
Results: Front trot triangle
has two halves: #1 and #2. Hind trot triangle that has
two halves #3 and #4. Look at both, front and hind leg
half trot triangles – compare them to each other
– ideally they should be similar in size.
If the #1 and #3 halves of the trot triangles
are smaller than #2 and #4 halves- then a horse is on
the forehand. See pic below.
If the #1 halve of the front trot triangle
is larger than #2 halve, but #3 halve of the hind trot
triangle is smaller than #4 halve, this is an issue
of purity of the gait: the rhythm is not even, but rather
unlevel or uneven, or irregular. That shows ether lameness
or tension in the back, horse is not honestly thru and
connected. Front legs and hind legs have a different
trajectory. See pic below.
If all halves of trot triangles are equal
- a horse is balanced and working towards collection.
If the #1 and #3 halves of the trot triangles are larger
than #2 and #4 halves - the horse shows collection.
See pic below.
Canter vertical.
Purpose: This is one
of the many exercises that we were given for better
understanding of the quality of the dressage gaits and
to check if horse is really on the forehand (OK for
Training Level), has level balance (needed at 1st Level)
or has beginning of collection (needed for 2nd Level).
Some horses are built butt high, that does give an impression
that they are on the forehand, but we need to look at
the reach of hind legs, not at the outline of the crop
to but ratio. Same goes for the collection, some horses
has quite an animated front legs, but we need to look
at the reach of hind legs to determine if they are truly
collected.
2nd Level Collection
2nd Level Collection
has several attributes that all come together slowly
with correct training:
Collection is not black and white state
and has a lot of prerequisites. One or more of those attributes
can be missing during the 2nd level collection, because
2nd level collection is only the "beginning of collection".
It's developed slowly like a 6 pack. Collection starts
at 2nd level and continues to improve through GP level.
Although there are many different levels of collection,
lowering of the inside hip is a must for any level of
collection, that is one of the requirements that dressage
judge will look for.
Horses can be collected and be flicking
the front feet at the same time. Flicking the front
feet is the issue of the purity of the gaits. So this
fault should be addressed not so much in the collection
part, but in the purity of the gaits part. It has to
do with the trajectory that a hoof draws in the air
with each step. It's not only horses that have collection
that have this fault.
Definitions from USDF Glossary
related to collection:
Collection is the result
of increased engagement and lightening of the forehand.
At trot and canter, the steps and strides are shorter
(and higher in the front legs) than in the other paces
of the gait. The horse’s outline appears shorter
from bit to hip with the neck and withers stretched
and arched upward. [It’s a common misconception
that the hind legs step further forward under the body
in collection. This is not consonant with the shorter
strides required in collection. The hind feet are picked
up relatively sooner after passing under the hip and
spend relatively longer on the ground (support phase)
than in the other phases of the gait.]
Engagement. Increased
flexion of the lumbosacral joint and the joints of the
hind leg during the weight bearing (support) phase of
the stride, thus lowering the croup relative to the
forehand (lightening the forehand) Engagement is a ”carrying
power” rather than “pushing power”
A prerequisite for upward thrust/impulsion. [Note: engagement
is not flexion of the hocks or “hock action”
(as seen most clearly in gaited horses and hackneys)
in which the joints of the hind legs are most markedly
flexed while the leg is in the air. Nor is engagement
the length of the step of the hind leg forward toward
the horse’s girth – that is “reach”
of the hind leg.]
Impulsion is thrust.
Impulsion is releasing of the energy stored by engagement.
In dressage, impulsion is associated with a phase of
suspension such as exists in trot and canter, but which
does not exist in walk or piaffe. Therefore, impulsion
is not applicable to the walk or the piaffe.
Elevation the raising
of the head and neck (including the base of the neck)
freely from lifted withers.
Uphill referring to the
horse’s longitudinal balance, higher in the forehand
relative to the croup.
