Collection & Extension

Stride Collection/Shortening Stride Lengthening/Extending Collection or shortening of the stride is easier than lengthening. In this lesson we will first work on the collection of the stride and then move to the extension.

The basics of collection: "Collected" is not slow or small, it is cadenced, balanced, and with great impulsion and suppleness. If it is "collected" that you want, it is not necessary to "compress" it - in fact, it is undesirable to do so. Rather than "compressing" the canter, I try to think in terms of "directing" the canter from "long and flat" to "elevated and bouncy", which will be, by default, somewhat shorter in length, without loss of energy. The feeling a rider needs is one of energy surging forward and upwards under the seat and into the horse’s mouth where the bit directs and controls it.

Exercise: First practice collection at the walk. When you urge with your legs and gently restrain with the bit, your horse’s energy in response to your legs is curbed somewhat by the bit and must come forth as a faster, more animated walk, rather than a trot. His energy is released as higher, springier action, not just forward motion. By fine-tuning how much bit and how much leg pressure you use, you can encourage his to do a slow collected walk, a medium collected walk, or a fast collected walk. Collected trot, ride your horse in a 15 meter circle at one end of your ring. Start by sitting the trot and use both legs in a quick, simultaneous, upward pinching movement – but holding the energy with hands. You will feel the horse create more impulsion and energy which, instead of being used to go faster, will elevate and shorten each stride. Once you have mastered the collection at the trot, you may use the same techniques at the cantor. Important points - rider must stretch "up" with upper body and "down" with legs, sitting exactly in the middle of the horse for successful transitions to collected canter, and must use the seat and legs to ask for the collection, NOT the hands - the hands should hold the contact, and ask the horse to direct the energy upwards and rounder for collection.

The basics of lengthening: The most important thing to remember when asking for a horse to lengthen or extend is that the rhythm be maintained – the only reason for the increase in speed is the longer or extended stride. First it is important to know that muscular strength and balance of your horse are essential for good extension or even significant lengthening of stride. In preparation for this you may want to work on lateral movements of your horse as well as transitions from walk, to trot to cantor. Exercise: A lengthened or extended walk should be produced by looking up and riding your horse toward your goal, (i.e. the end of the ring). Once you have established a good straight line, as him to extend by using your leg and make sure that there is no restricting pressure on the reins that could block his forward movement. Urge him forward with your legs in rhythm with his stride, timing your leg aids to the side to side shifts of his barrel. Horses often find lengthening easier in trot because of the natural lift of the gait. Prepare for lengthening by making sure that your horse is on the bit and has established a steady working trot. To extend the trot, sit up and hold the horse with your body. As you ask for lengthened strides, squeeze immediately behind the girth with alternate legs. Remember to give each hand as the horse lengthens his neck. This is a release-return movement with the fingers only of alternate hands. This technique id certain to produce lengthened strides. Finally, after you have mastered the walk and the trot you are ready for the cantor. In the cantor simply ride forward, giving a two leg aid in the movement of suspension and keep a contact on the outside rein while allowing with the inside one. John Bragg Bridgeport Farms, CA http://bridgeportfarms.com