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Editor's Note: Last month featured Training and First Levels. This issue will report the Second and Third Levels.
Second Level
Beverly Rogers, Phoenix, AZ,
riding Captiva,
a 13 y.o. Hanoverian mare
In the walk, the rider can only allow the hands forward to the extent that the horse stretches into contact. The rider must not lose the contact. The outside rein and inside leg are used to ask for bend, and to soften and round the horse. If the horse responds to the aids with piaffe, take the piaffe and try to bring the horse more forward in the piaffe.
Walk-halt transitions are useful to ease tension in a nervous/anxious horse. Always try to get the horse to take a little more rein. The goals for walk are rhythm, engagement and freedom in the shoulder.
In the trot, ask for flexion, with low hands, and consistent contact on the outside rein. Encourage swing through the back and stretching through onto the bit--ask the horse to bring his nose forward to the bit. Shorten the trot, thinking of piaffe, then ask for more forward in order to increase the horse's stretch and suppleness. Maintain the rhythm and swing when you shorten the steps. Use flexion to soften the jaw if necessary--the horse must be relaxed and chew on the bit.
Halts come less from reins than from the legs and seat.
In the walk, bring the horse forward with the leg and give with the rein--slowly test to see how much rein the horse will take. The rider must keep trying until the horse is moving in a relaxed and round frame, stretching to the bit, and maintaining rhythm. The walk should be worked on for extended periods EVERY DAY until it is solid. The horse should be able to move forward and come back without tension or loss of rhythm.
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Merrie Velden, Escondido, CA
riding Don Fiereto,
a 5 y.o. Oldenburg gelding
The horse should also move forward and come back in trot. Expect long strides coming from behind, with equal rhythm. The contact should be consistent when asking for forward (riders have a tendency to drop the contact)--there must be SOME weight in the hands or the rider loses ability to communicate through the mouth.
Trot/canter/trot transitions are useful to get the horse forward to the bit. Let the horse take his nose forward, so that he is round but not so close in the neck and maintain the flexion/bend. Halt if the horse tries to run through the bridle.
Ask the horse to move forward and come back in canter. Don't ask for too much forward--the canter should remain easy and jumping. This is good preparation for pirouette work later as the horse is becomes better able to balance himself and come back to the rider. Don't ask for more collection than the horse can manage without losing rhythm or breaking gait--when you have reached that limit, immediately ride him forward again. It is often helpful to ask for the forward strides on the open parts of the circle (circle at A or C), and use the wall to help collect him and bring him back. Be sure not to hang on the inside rein, or you will interfere with his jump.
Collection should not be short and quick--ask for it slowly and more from behind. The horse must be allowed and encouraged to jump.
In the flying changes, make the horse wait for the change, and collect the horse before asking so that he is able to jump in the change. Try to maintain a consistent rhythm. It is easier to teach the changes from a change of rein across the short diagonal.
Try riding transitions between piaffe and trot. Try to take the trot swing with you into the piaffe. Piaffe is a forward gait. Do not ask the horse to go any shorter than he can and still maintain his rhythm, roundness and swing. Repeat and play with this. This also helps to
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prepare for future piaffe/passage transitions. In half pass, ask the horse to bend but allow him to go forward. Ask for the change by sitting back, collecting and changing the bend.
Third Level
Karin Cassidy Lencyk, Clint, TX
riding Kanoa,
8 y.o. Dutch Warmblood gelding
In the walk, try to give on the rein without letting the horse run away. Use flexion to alternate sides (a few strides of each) to help loosen a tight neck. You can also use shoulder-in to soften the horse. Once the horse is soft and through in the walk, trot work can begin.
In the trot, let the horse swing while maintaining flexion to the inside. Keep using the leg to get the horse through. If he canters, bring him back and ask again. Allow him to take his nose forward, but don't lose contact. You are looking for a long, swinging rhythm. When you ask the horse to come back in trot, his head should not come up.
In canter, soften the inside rein so that you don't interfere with his jump. The inside leg should be quiet and long, with deep heels, and the rider should sit back. Make the horse rounder, then allow him to move more forward to get more stretch.
Anita Williams, Engle, CO
riding Morocco, 6 y.o. Oldenburg stallion
If the horse offers piaffe, allow it but make it forward. You may need to touch him a bit with the whip in order to get the forward. ALWAYS ask for forward, not backwards. The horse cannot work through his back when he is ridden backwards (from the hand and not the leg).
The horse must start trotting through his neck and kept round--do not lose forward.
Reprinted with permission of Dressage un Ltd. ©
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