Within the framework of the debates concerning certain Methods of Training at least disputed and of that one of the necessary clarification in the mind of the Lightness promoted by Allege-Ideal, it seemed to me useful to gather and to present some schematizations allowing to specify certain « equestrian terminologies » in regard to anatomical references clearly differenciated, as to illustrate in a practical way some functional comments relative to certain practices of gymnastical work of the horse.Indeed, and quite particularly as regards to the work said Low and Round, it seems that it reigns since a good many of years a big «VAGUENESS» as for the meaning attributed to it by such or such user of this terminology, this vagueness allowing maybe to some to connect in a discretely undue way some personal practices to certain «justifications biomechanicaly demonstrated» relative to a work of the horse «really low and round in its whole» and not only «round» at the level of its neck...

For my part, while a great number of riders associate by custom the concept of «LOW WORK» to exercises of the horse in overbending on an extension of the Cervico-Thoracic Hinge as illustrated by the schema #6 of the following series of drawings there below, it would seem to me more adequate and more logical to reserve the use of this functional terminology of «LOW WORK» only to the exercises in lowering of the neck, the horse presenting an objective flexion of its Cervico-thoracic Hinge as illustrated on schemas #1, #3 and #5 of the same series. ( In practice, to give ourself a convenient reference, it is simple to observe if the location of the cervical joints C2-C3 is situated above or below the withers...)

It is a very good thing, between exercices and at the end of work, to stretch the topline of your horse and release it from any tensions.
But you still have to do it in a thoughtfull manner, keeping soft contact, a relaxed jaw and a poll free of tensions. Then, you have to make sure your horse is not moving his balance to the forehand.
Stay focus on your circle, or on your line and make sure your horse is also straight and does not collapse on any side.

While keeping this chewy contact, try to have the horse open his frame, more than just having him go down.
Not only will this exercise improve throughness, it will also improve the complicity between your hands and the horse mouth - having a horse that trustfully follow your hand, wherever it is.



Here are two pictures :

INCORRECT STRETCH - horse weight too much on the forehand, low activity from the hind legs, neck could use more lengthening.

BETTER STRETCH - horse more balanced, good activity of the hindlegs, topline gently working. Neck could lengten a bit more, but that's still good considering the early stage of training - hence the petting !

The excellent online magazine Horses for Life started a petition for having the noseband checked at shows - requiring the two fingers space rule to be followed.

It is very important to let the horse chew is bit, to allow relaxation of the jaw, only way to work in lightness and balance. Even if that means your horse has to go through a phase where he will open his mouth.

And of course, no thight noseband because you want to have a horse breathing freely.

Sign the petition here !

Below, Catherine Henriquet - just because that's must be a nice moment of riding in the garden of the Château de Versailles.

Here is a photo of Isa Danne riding Xato, a 5 year old Lusitano, at the Paris Horse Expo last december. I love the freedom of the movement of the right shoulder.

Many problems come from the horse working with tensed shoulders.
Like a human used to hold himself in a incorrect posture, horses can get used to work in a incorrect position and therefor develop chronical tensions. It may also be a trouble in the proprioception - the representation of one own's body.

When you ride (on a circle or throught a canter transition), try to get a feel of the shoulders in your hands. If you feel a heavy, awkard, tensed shoulder, you may have to re-educate the shoulder to functionnate correctly.
Focus on exercices that demand bigger movement from the forehand and focus and getting a big, smooth gesture from the shoulder. Do them at the walk to control the movement in its whole and don't accept any tension anywhere in the body - especially ask for the horse to chew his bit.

Shoulder-fore and shoulder-in are obviously good ; start with a small angle, but within weeks, don't hesitate to ask for a bigger angle. Start from the ground if your horse is not familiar with this exercise because you don't want him to learn to do it in a tensed posture, and it' s more easy to control and correct everything from the ground - and it's also less stressfull for the horse.
Turn around the hindlegs are very good. Start also from the ground if you have difficulties.
You can also ask your horse to stick his head (just his head) to the outside of the circle while getting also the hauches on the outside. Focus on keeping the inside shoulder on the circle, as the shoulder controlling the shape of the circle. Keep the horse relax, and just do few steps at the beginning ; then straighten your horse on his circle ; then ask again ; then change hand, etc... This exercise that I got from Isa Danne is fantastic and is called in french "les deux bouts dehors" - "the two ends out". I love the fact that the inside shoulder has to be so strong and holds itself ; but be also careful to get a good activity from the outside shoulder.
This three exercices are quite easy to perform at the walk to start freeing the shoulders. Go to the trot once you get a better feel of the shoulders of your horse - you're on the way out of the main problem and now can start the common gymnastic of dressage.

To finish, the best exercise I've found to reeducate a shoulder was with a mare that had surgery on her shoulder as a yearling and sincethen, kept walking from this leg without lifting it, but with balancing it to the side.
I taught her spanish walk and this really changed her life drastically !
Within a few weeks, she even jumped over 1 ft for the first time of her ridden life (what was impossible before) !
Sometimes, you have to explain and show to your horse that there is a better way to move his/her problematic leg.

Same can go with a horse that has trouble engaging one of his hindlegs.
A problem that your vet cannot really spot can be just a bad habit from your horse.

Always keep in mind that your hand is here to put your horse in a correct position ; to release tensions and therefore enable the horse to find his good balance, according to the muscles and strenght he has - the stronger topline and hindlegs, the more collected.
Don't let your horse rush in an incorrect position, don't let him get heavy on the bit or tense in his jaw : it is your responsability to relax your horse and make him do a correct gymnastic of his whole body.

Here is a link to Dr Heuschmann drawings and short info about few different frames.

And here is a quote he is using from the German Military handbook (Heeresdienstvorschrift) from 1912 :

„You can tell that a horse is supple when the horse is in rhythm in trot, covers ground, steps forward without hurrying, swings out of a supple back and carries its tail without tension.“

I'm very glad to show you Manuel Jorge Oliveira, the master of my trainer (Isa Danne). He is also the trainer of Anja Beran.

Here, he is doing a pas-de-deux with one of his student, Crystal Samani.
You can observe the suppleness of the back, the flexibility of the whole body and the activity of the hind legs. Especially nice in the counter-pirouette  at the piaffe, the backward piaffe and the half-pass. And see how quiet the rider is !
His horse is 8 and the horse of Crystal is 6 ; for both of them, it's their first time in public.

I remember a video of him training at his place, teaching for the first time spanish trot to a young stallion. Switching from one exercice to another, straightening out, then another exercice... slowly preparing the body of the horse, to enable it to perform spanish trot - that was really eloquent.
Unfortunately, I don't have this video, but I am very please to show this one that can give a little idea of the man.

Big big news !
From the FEI website :

FEI Executive Board Calls for Immediate Resignation of the FEI Dressage Committee 03/11/2008

The FEI Executive Board has requested the immediate resignation of the entire FEI Dressage Committee. The FEI Executive Board has taken this decision following a series of issues indicating the current Committee’s lack of flexibility on certain key matters. The Committee has been seen to work in isolation, not fully representing the interests of the Dressage community as a whole.

An interim solution is being discussed within the FEI in order to ensure the sound management of the sport whilst reviewing the strategic direction of Dressage. The names of the interim committee and their mandate will follow.

As the custodian of equestrian sport, the FEI will continue to maintain stringent level of transparency and professionalism meeting the requirements of a modern international sports governing body.

We'll see what happen... But at least, some things are moving.

Click here to read the full report I did for the Association Allège-Idéal.

That was really an amazing week-end, with a lot of great people, including of course the three dressage masters, who did not hesitate to take strong positions : "ban the drawing reins" (Heuschmann), "you don't need side-reins", "terrible influence of dressage divas who are more interested by medals than by classicism" (Carde), "it's very sad to see the 3/4 years old on the auctions catalogs pictures, they are already put to piaffe and look like 8 years old" (Balkenhol)... And so on ! Please read the report, it really worth it, as it is very unfrequent to hear such things in a big public event.
Balkenhol, Carde and Heuschmann are very precious people !

 "*Equitation, just like other activities does evolve, particularly competitive Dressage*

What is specific about this evolution is that we are changing the way in which Dressage is conducted but the rules stay the same.  In other words, as with music, the same notes can be played, but in a different manner.  This poses problems in judging the tests and what is more these training methods are copied from those who win, which is quite logical.  So if the judgement regularly poses different points of view, the methods also will not be unanimous.  The recent upsetting cases are proof of this.  The new world came to us with this idea:  what about giving a point on what is done and what should be done? 

Klaus Balkenhol , a dressage rider with an impressive record and US Dressage Team National Trainer together with Gerd Heuschmann, a world famous vet, agreed with your servitor to take part in a symposium.
This aims at taking stock on this matter as well as to propose some ideas to ensure the continuation of the discipline and will take place in New York on October 18th.  German and French people discuss together about the high school.  Here is an all passionate challenge about to start.  I warmly thank these people for their involvement.  I am proud to be part of it."

Colonel Christian Carde   

Here is the link to Maplewood Warmblood website.

It takes place October 18th and 19th.
The Colonel Carde, Klaus Balkenhol and Dr. Gerd Heuschmann (see Readings) will be the main speakers !
There'll be great riders for the clinics.