TDC Transitions, August 2001

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	VOLUME 6, NO. 8


	TRANSITIONS


	PAGE 11


	USDF SYMPOSIUM REVIEW Isabell Werth Seminar, March 31-April 1, 2001, Scottsdale, Arizona By Gay Walker


	to prevent the horse from going wide behind. Ride the movement step by step: do not allow the horse to rush. Day Two In the trot/piaffe transitions, keep the horse active behind, and keep the swing from the trot. The rhythm should be equal. The rhythm is the most important thing out of the piaffe--first the rhythm, and then the forward. Bend to get the horse to work more over his back. A level rhythm creates the impression of harmony. In canter/trot transitions, keep it easy going. Let the horse move forward. Bring the horse forward with the legs. In the canter, use shoulder-in and half halts to collect. Bring the horse forward and back in the canter, keeping a constant connection. School the canter pirouette as a big circle with an exaggerated bend, riding each step jump by jump. Quietly and slowly flex the horse to both directions to keep him loose in the neck. Gradually increase the collection, keeping the hands low. After several circles, ride out forward and straight. The shoulder-in is a good preparation for the pirouettes. The legs should not be behind as for half pass, but more like shoulder in. Halt and restart while in the pirouette. This is a very difficult exercise. Take frequent breaks in pirouettes, since they are very difficult and tiring for the horse. Ride only one, or occasionally 2 at a time, but not more. Keep the outside hand low, and play with both the correct and wrong flexion, changing the flexions gently and quietly. Riding the pirouette with the wrong flexion helps bring the horse more onto his hind leg and allows the circle to be smaller. Exaggerate flexions in and out of pirouettes. If you need the whip, use it only to the inside, otherwise you will get a change behind. Use the outside leg to keep the horse from falling out behind. Always focus on the clearness of the rhythm. The jump/control is more important than the smallness of the pirouette. Tempis should be straight and round. Ride them more on the outside rein, coming out of a corner before starting.


	Intermediaire II Susan Halasz, Parker, CO riding Julius 10 y.o. Dutch Warmblood gelding Day One The goal is to make the horse supple through his back and into his neck so that he chews the bit. The forward driving aids are the key. Deeper work facilitates this, and makes the horse loose, supple and swinging. The purpose of giving the rein without dropping contact is to get the horse to work through the back by stretching onto the bit. The horse must accept contact with and chew on the bit, but not play with it. He must maintain some weight in the rein. This work requires regular, consistent practice and cannot be done in 1 or 2 days. The horse must learn to take the rein from the rider, stretching onto the bit. The legs should be under the horse, and not "swimming" out behind. Bring the horse forward with the leg. The horse should halt from the seat, and not require a lot of use of the reins. Riding walk-halt transitions will improve the quality of the walk. Rising trot initially encourages the horse to use his back. Keep contact by using the legs to ride him forward onto the bit while giving more rein. Encourage the horse to stretch and accept the double bridle. Half halt if he uses this as an excuse to run through the bridle. You can increase suppleness by using half halts nearly to the point that you return to the walk. Let the horse raise his neck if he wants, as long as he comes to the bit. If he won't come to the bit, you have no influence via his mouth. The goal is to have the horse on the bit, not behind it, with a free and easy rhythm. Some horses, like this one, must be ridden with the neck low and the nose forward before the correct frame and contact could be achieved for further work. Contact comes from riding the horse forward into the bit, and not from the rider pulling the bit back into contact with the horse. You can correct a horse that is behind the bit by asking for increased flexion and using the forward aids. In trot-canter transitions, use the outside rein to make sure that the depart is uphill and jumping. Frequent half halts will rebalance the horse and keep him up and through. Use the lower leg to bring the horse up in passage, and to allow him to swing into passage. Before the pirouette, collect the horse in (Continued on page 12)