Training the trot

WHETHER THE HORSE HAS EXPRESSIVE RHYTHMICAL PACES OR RESTRICTED ORDINARY ONES IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS RIDERS, TRAINERS AND JUDGES TO PRESERVE AND NURTURE WHAT NATURE HAS GIVEN. IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES BY JANE KIDD, WE LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ACHIEVE THIS, LOOKING THIS TIME AT THE TROT. Fundamental to a good trot are the backs of both the horse and the rider. From the horse’s perspective the propulsive force generated in the hind uarters needs to fl ow through a supple swinging back along the neck to the mouth where the rider can feel a forward elastic contact. The rider’s back needs to be balanced and supple enough not to suppress the movement and, as required, be a driving aid to encourage the generation of the propulsive force.

The EI’s description of a good trot is The uality of the trot is judged by the general impression, i.e. the regularity and the elasticity of the steps, the cadence and impulsion both in collection and extension.’ This uality originates from a supple back and well engaged hind uarters, and by the ability to maintain the same rhythm and natural balance within all the variations of the trot and in all transitions.

It all starts, as always, with the basics and acceptance of steady progressive training of the whole horse that saves the development of expression until the horse is stronger and more established.

The fi rst aim is rhythm to which there are three stages, the fi rst two relating to regularity 1. the correct se uence of the footfalls when the diagonal pairs move alternately with a moment of suspension between . the tempo which is the speed of the rhythm, crucial to getting the horse to produce its best trot . ultimately cadence where there is a pronounced rhythm, clear impulsion and lightening of the steps without increasing tension.

Finding a tempo that helps a horse to let go and work well is a primary task. Too fast and the horse is tense and not listening, too slow and it is being la y and not using its body well. Correcting the speedy horse is done through half halts, transitions, giving and retaking the reins, circles and use of the voice. Any strong or pulling contact will inhibit the correct controllable forward tendency that starts in the hindquarters.

It can help to make an over eager horse la y enough for the rider to be able to put the leg on.

There are many suggestions as to how to encourage the lazy horse to be more reactive, from giving more feed, making the work more fun with exercises in the country and jumping, when in the arena a fi rm kick and or tap with the whip and a reward if the horse responds, to use of voice and avoiding work in small circles and intricate patterns.

Working forward to the bit is particularly important for the trot. The rider must be able to use the driving aids while the horse keeps the desired tempo and accepts the contact in the bit. It may be necessary to freshen up the trot, to ride more forward to achieve this, or to steady the tempo until light driving aids can be applied without any speeding up.

Work to encourage a soft swinging back needs focusing on to make the most of a horse’s trot. It is achieved through developing the scales of training, rhythm (see above), suppleness, contact and as the horse gets stronger and more receptive, impulsion. The greater the impulsion as controlled power, the more expressive the trot can be. Any lack of straightness will inhibit the swing through the back and it is only if the training has been good that collection becomes feasible and ultimately piaff e and passage.

At the start most trainers strengthen and supple the back by stretching and building up those muscles and ligaments along the top line. This can be achieved by getting the horse to stretch frontward and down towards a forward tending contact. With persistence over time this stretch can be turned from the back being straightish and the forehand a little heavy, into engaged hindquarters, a rounded back and neck, with the rider feeling a pleasing forward light elastic contact. This can be maintained when working in circles and serpentines or during a break, at the beginning and end of work sessions, or for a few strides as a reward when doing normal work.

ABOVE: MOST RIDERS FIND THAT GETTING THE HORSE TO TAKE A FORWARD FEELING CONTACT – AND WHEN EASING IT THAT THE HORSE TAKES THAT CONTACT FORWARD AND DOWN – IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF ENCOURAGING A SOFT SWINGING BACK.

iders have a signifi cant role in establishing a good trot. It is the pace riders can improve more easily than any other and also worsen. The rider needs: • To be able to give controlled driving aids with legs and seat so that it is clear to the horse what is required. • To be able to hold the reins so the thumbs are uppermost and the arms fl exible enabling a forward feeling elastic contact that is not rigid and only pulls back in an emergency. • To develop a seat that is supple enough to follow the movement and strong enough to hold an upright balanced position.

These are the aims for the rider to work towards to help the horse’s back muscles to strengthen and swing. There is always the option to rise rather than sit to the trot and even the most competent riders use this with young horses, at the start and end of sessions and in advanced work when they feel the back needs freeing.

LEFT: A STRAIGHT HORSE IS MORE ABLE TO STAY BALANCED AND PRODUCE QUALITY WORK. THIS IS RELATIVELY ACHIEVABLE IN THE TROT ON STRAIGHT LINES BUT IN CIRCLES THE TENDENCY IS FOR THE QUARTERS TO AVOID THE COLLECTION AND SWING OUTWARDS.

ABOVE: LENGTHENING THE TROT STRIDES AND SHORTENING THE STEPS WHILE MAINTAINING IMPULSION AND QUALITY.

Horses are born with different ualities to their trot and it is up to the rider to work within the possibilities. Encouraging the development of a back that is supple, and swings as the horse moves from one diagonal pair to the next, will help all horses, including those born with restricted flat steps.

For the horses born with trots where the whole body moves and the moment of suspension is clear, they can find it di cult to stay balanced and calm. Such horses need to have the driving aids for impulsion taken off and even a slowing of the tempo until they get stronger, less tense and can keep their rhythm.

The important factor is to recognise and work within the capabilities of each individual horse, to keep developing the scales of training and as these consolidate seek consistent movement through the back and the development of impulsion and expression.

Polework can develop joints that are flexible, limbs that are active and encourage the horse to stretch forward and down. eg yield supples the back and helps the momentum to go through it.

A classic exercise to promote this is to start on a 0m circle, spiral in to an appropriate smaller one and leg yield out to the bigger one to take some medium strides or to stretch forward and down. Good transitions are the exercises that are beneficial in all aspects of training. That can mean between paces and within the trot. ital, is to keep the same tempo. In downward and shortening transitions, riding forward to apply half halts and keeping the engagement. Into longer strides ensure they start from the hind uarters and not letting the horse pull from the forehand (see article on the canter in issue for details of the exercise).

ABOVE: LEG YIELD IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF SUPPLING THE BACK, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY STAGES. AS THE TRAINING ADVANCES, ALL OF THE LATERAL EXERCISES CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THIS AIM.