Horses Inside Out has unveiled the third part of their Autumn Webinar series, titled ‘Dressage Dissected,’ featuring insights from Gillian Higgins. This comprehensive lecture demonstration, now available for purchase, offers valuable lessons for riders of all levels, not just those focused on competitive dressage. As an equine therapist, the author found the demonstration particularly enlightening, focusing on the universally applicable Scales of Training and their impact on equine well-being and longevity. While the author assisted during the filming, their first live viewing provided a fresh perspective on the detailed explanations and demonstrations by dressage rider Lili Brooksby-Dalby and her horse Hans. This webinar is a must-watch for anyone interested in improving their horse’s basic training and overall health. For those seeking to deepen their understanding of equine anatomy and biomechanics, exploring resources like frank willard horse trainer can offer supplementary knowledge.
Understanding the Scales of Training
The Scales of Training form the foundation of effective dressage, but their principles extend far beyond the competition arena. Gillian Higgins’ demonstration effectively breaks down each scale, offering practical tips and visual aids that resonate with riders. Whether you’re a seasoned dressage competitor or a pleasure rider, applying these scales can enhance your horse’s movement, posture, and overall health.
1. Rhythm
Establishing a consistent rhythm is crucial for both horse and rider relaxation. The webinar suggests counting aloud while riding to maintain a steady pace. Furthermore, developing a familiar warm-up routine that can be replicated at competitions can significantly help horses relax in new environments, aiding their performance and reducing stress.
2. Suppleness
Suppleness involves the horse’s ability to move laterally around the rider’s inside leg. Higgins explains that this flexibility primarily comes from the rib cage rather than significant lateral flexion in the back vertebrae. The demonstration visually highlights how the rib cage opens on the outside of a circle and closes on the inside, creating the impression of even bending from poll to tail.
3. Contact
Consistent contact with the horse’s mouth is fundamental. The webinar emphasizes a direct link between inconsistent contact and a lack of forward impulsion and poor posture. This concise point serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of a balanced and steady connection through the reins.
4. Impulsion
Impulsion, the “drive from behind,” is what allows a horse to demonstrate expression and good posture. Higgins expertly illustrates how a horse generates impulsion, and a particularly insightful observation relates to the matching protraction of the forelimb’s radius bone and the hind limb’s cannon bone during trot. This, the author notes, is a key indicator of correct movement and posture, which is unfortunately often lacking in modern sport horses. Increased awareness of correct equine movement is vital for promoting healthier equine athletes. For related insights into training methods, one might find information on heather dalton horse trainer beneficial.
5. Straightness
Achieving straightness in a horse involves a two-pronged approach: rider fitness and equine suppleness. The webinar stresses the importance of rider core stability and balance, as any asymmetry in the rider will inevitably affect the horse. For the horse, exercises like shoulder-in, half-pass, and counter-canter are highlighted as essential for developing lateral suppleness, which in turn allows for greater straightness. The key takeaway is the ability to maintain rhythm, suppleness, contact, and impulsion while simultaneously working on straightness.
6. Collection
Collection is often misunderstood as an advanced dressage movement. However, Higgins clarifies that for a young horse, collection can be as simple as performing a half-halt or walk-to-trot transitions. For more advanced horses, a working pirouette in canter is demonstrated. This movement requires specific muscle recruitment, including the psoas muscles, increased flexion at the lumbo-sacral junction, lift at the base of the neck, and the characteristic ‘U’ shape of the equine gullet.
The Path to Healthy, Happy Horses
Understanding these principles, even when applied to simple exercises like walking over a raised pole, contributes significantly to a horse’s overall posture and, consequently, their health and longevity. The knowledge shared in ‘Dressage Dissected’ aligns perfectly with the author’s passion for promoting healthy, happy horses with strong, resilient bodies.
Watch the Lecture Demonstration Here
Jess | Jessica Limpkin Equine Massage Therapy
