Riding and training is something that
many people do more out of instinct then from logic. Many dressage
riders train and take their philosophies on training from the training
pyramid. The Pyramid is not only useful for dressage horses, but
for horses of any discipline from western to hunters and jumpers.
In all discipline many stages are skipped in the training of young horses
in an attempt to reach higher goals faster. This often leads to problems
down the road, horses who lean in the corners, never fully understand the
half halt etc. etc. etc....
The Training Pyramid
For example it is very
common to find riders collecting on horses who still truly do not understand
the half halt, or who are bent and un even in their stride. True
the horses do collect in some sense, slowing of the stride and shortening
of it, but the true collection required in higher levels of training is
never seen. Proper Collection requires all of the levels of the Pyramid
before it can be properly performed. Collection requires the horse
to be straight but still laterally and longitudinally supple so that the
horse may shift his weight back onto his hind legs, elevate the front end
and shorten the length of stride with out losing any of the impulsion.
This proper Collection is very different from the slowed down, often heavy
on the front end short but lacking impulsion collection that many riders
and often trainers are happy with. Proper collection gives the rider
an edge in any discipline. In jumpers this proper collection can
set the horse up before the fence, elevating and releasing the front end
for more enthusiastic jumps, while loading the hind end with ALL the power
creating more energy for the horse to use. At the same time it allows
the horse to get strides in properly and effectively while never really
losing the energy that the rider gained galloping across the wide corner.
Every trainer and rider may place the lower
steps in the pyramid at different stages. For example some trainers
put contact after rhythm and suppleness. On this web sight contact
is placed second because acceptance of the bit is crucial after forwardness
to get proper suppleness, rhythm etc. etc.
Yes Everything you do on horse back
is training. Anytime you sit on your horse you are teaching it many
things, some bad some good. The idea is when trying to train for
performance, for perfection (which will never be truly found) or to progress
it must be done in logical steps which will lead to the ultimate end of
a highly trained, balanced, supple, responsive horse.
1.
Forward
2.
Contact
3.
Rhythm
4.
Suppleness
5.
Straight
6.
Impulsion
7.
Collection