Dressage, often perceived as a discipline reserved for elite riders, holds fundamental principles that can benefit every horse and rider, regardless of their chosen path. Gillian Higgins’ “Dressage Dissected” webinar series, specifically part 3 of her Autumn Webinar series, offers an insightful deep dive into these principles, making them accessible and actionable. This lecture demonstration, available through the Horses Inside Out Academy, provides a comprehensive understanding of the Scales of Training and their application in everyday riding.
The “Dressage Dissected” webinar is a valuable resource for anyone involved with horses. While the focus is on dressage, the core concepts of flatwork are essential for all equine disciplines. This demonstration breaks down complex ideas into understandable segments, supported by practical demonstrations and actionable tips.
The Scales of Training: A Foundation for Every Horse
Gillian Higgins emphasizes the importance of the Scales of Training as a framework for developing a well-balanced, responsive, and healthy horse. These scales, when applied correctly, not only enhance performance but also contribute to the longevity and well-being of the horse.
1. Rhythm
Maintaining a consistent rhythm is the bedrock of good training. The webinar suggests that simply counting aloud while riding can help riders focus on maintaining a steady pace, which in turn aids in relaxation for both horse and rider. Developing a consistent warm-up routine that both horse and rider are familiar with can be particularly helpful in settling a horse in a competition environment, allowing them to perform with greater confidence.
2. Suppleness
Suppleness refers to the horse’s ability to move freely and elastically. During the demonstration, Gillian Higgins illustrates how encouraging the horse to move around the rider’s inside leg engages the rib cage, creating the impression of lateral flexion. It’s important to understand that while significant lateral flexion in the horse’s back vertebrae is limited, suppleness can be effectively achieved through engaging the rib cage. The webinar highlights that riders can create the impression of a horse bending evenly from poll to tail through skillful riding.
3. Contact
Consistent and light contact with the horse’s mouth is crucial for clear communication. A thought-provoking statement shared in the webinar is that “Inconsistent contact equals lack of forward and poor posture.” This underscores the interconnectedness of contact, the horse’s willingness to move forward, and their overall posture.
4. Impulsion
Impulsion is the energetic drive from the horse’s hindquarters, leading to a more expressive and engaged gait. The webinar explains how impulsion is generated from behind, allowing the horse to demonstrate greater expression. A key takeaway is the ideal matching of the forelimb’s protraction (radius bone) with the hind limb’s protraction (cannon bone) during trot. This alignment is indicative of good posture and correct movement, a principle often overlooked in modern sport horse training. Awareness of this correct movement, as highlighted in the demonstration, can significantly contribute to a horse’s long-term soundness.
5. Straightness
Achieving straightness in a horse involves both rider and equine factors. The webinar stresses the importance of the rider’s core stability and symmetrical posture, as any imbalance can negatively impact the horse’s straightness. Riders are encouraged to prioritize their own fitness and symmetry. For the horse, lateral work, such as shoulder-in, half-pass, and counter-canter, significantly aids in developing straightness and suppleness. The demonstration explores how to maintain rhythm, suppleness, contact, and impulsion while simultaneously working on straightness.
6. Collection
Collection is often misunderstood as advanced movements like canter pirouettes or piaffe. However, the webinar clarifies that for a young horse, collection can be as simple as performing a half-halt or walk-to-trot transitions. The demonstration showcases a working pirouette in canter, explaining the recruitment of the psoas muscles, increased flexion of the lumbo-sacral junction, lift from the base of the neck, and the characteristic ‘U’ shape of the gullet involved in this movement. Understanding these principles, even at simpler levels like a horse walking over a raised pole, contributes to good posture, which is fundamental for a horse’s health and longevity.
The knowledge shared in “Dressage Dissected” is invaluable for promoting healthy, happy horses with strong, functional bodies. By applying these principles, riders can foster a deeper understanding of their horse’s biomechanics, leading to improved well-being and extended athletic careers.
Jess | Jessica Limpkin Equine Massage Therapy
WATCH THE LECTURE DEMONSTRATION HERE
