Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today. Classical riding is the art of riding in harmony with, rather than against, the horse.
Correct classical riding only occurs when the rider has a good seat and a correct and well-balanced body position, moves with the horse's motion, and gives and times the aids correctly.
This natural ability to collect is visible in every horse of any breed, and probably inspired early trainers to reproduce that kind of behavior in more controlled circumstances. This origin also points out why, according to most Classical dressage trainers, every healthy horse, regardless of its breed, can perform classical dressage movements, including the Haute Ecole jumps, or Airs above the ground, even though it may perform them a little differently from the ideal performance due to the build of its body.
The ultimate goal of dressage training is to develop a horse to its ability as an athlete: maximum performance with a minimum of effort. The training scale (as set for in the German riding instruction) is to physically develop the horse in a consistent manner with longevity in mind. Dressage is fitness training and needs to be treated as such, with thought, compassion and patience.
Collected paces: walk, trot, canter: show more cadence in the horse's stride, but the same rhythm and the same tempo.
Every horse will have a slightly different collected pace. Not all horses collect well (basically the horse either collects or shows great extravagence in his/her paces). Usually a collected horse will not track up. The long strided horse will have amazing extensions (if riding correctly, etc etc). An incorrectly schooled horse will not collect, truly.
The ultimate collection at walk is collected walk: horse may not track up, or will track up if very long strided. A rider must be careful teaching the collected walk as a good walk is easy to lose. A pacing or lateral walk is then seen.
A judge will know the true extent of a horse's walk when the horse walks out of the arena on a loose or long rein at the end of the test. The horse will be very relaxed (as the rider is thankful it is over and is relaxed).
The ultimate collected trot is the passage (trotting forward in slow motion) and piaffe (trot on the spot without moving forward or backwards..very bad). It is wonderful to ride a piaffe and passage. It takes core strength.
The collected canter is also wonderful to ride. The power of the canter is directed up (as in the other paces) but you really feel the up. The horse's hindleg will not come under the rider's seat.
The degree of collection depends on the training of the horse. Most young dressage horses are 9 when they compete in Grand Prix dressage. That is after 4 years of serious work. The 9 year old is not really competitive at a top level at that age. The horse is not strong enough, experienced enough.
It takes strength and suppleness to be really collected (like a Grand prix dressage horse) so sthe hrose is worked over the 4 years (from 6 on) to be able to do collection.. Like a weight lifter has to work to be able to lift great weights or a dancer dances for years to achieve great leaps.
A talented horse still has to have years of work to build up its strength. Otherwise he will break down.
Terms.
tempo: how fast the rhythm is rhythm: the beats eg walk is 4 beat, cadence: air time , verticality of the steps
Americans might have a different definitions. (I was at a clinic and an American woman kept correcting the world famous instructor on his teminology use. I trained in Britain so use European terms)
How is collection seen: the hindquarters lower so the hindfeet step under and carry more of the horse's weight. The back rounds up (look behind the saddle) the withers rise, which raises the neck, and then the poll. The poll should be the highest point (a horse worked correctly (classical dressage) will develop a lot of muscles on the top of the neck, wither area, back and hindquarters. The barrel in the flank gets rounder too. Some horses develop a lot of muscle along the crest of the neck which may even make the poll look lower (the Baroque horse tend to do this a lot, TB a lot less). There will be no under the neck bulge. The whole topline of the horse should have an upward bow.
Ray Hunt threw horses. Horse think they are dead when you throw them. Like chickens on their back…they quit struggling. Gross. It that what you want in a partner? Total obedience and subervience? Classical dressage trainers do not throw their horses, not do the others, I am sure.
I would use another word than "collection" for what you mean. It doesn't follow the classical terminology. Western riders have other terms for trot and canter which is good. They are not the same as in classical dressage…
Some people to read:
- Alois Podhajsky (1898–1973): became director of the Spanish Riding School in 1939; his books in English translation form the basis of Classical Dressage today My Horses My Teachers is interesting, The Complete Training of Horse and Rider is a bible He is the Captain that saved the Lipizzaners from the Russians…if you have every seen Disney's Miracle of the White Stallions.
- Egon von Neindorff (1923–2004): author of The Art of Classical Horsemanship
- Alois Podhajsky (1898–1973): became director of the Spanish Riding School in 1939; his books in English translation form the basis of Classical Dressage today
- Egon von Neindorff (dressage) (1923–2004): author of The Art of Classical Horsemanship
Arthus Kottos, form Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School has dvds and books out and does clinics in North America
Conrad Schumacher
From Wikipedia on Classical dressage: collection
This natural ability to collect is visible in every horse of any breed, and probably inspired early trainers to reproduce that kind of behavior in more controlled circumstances. This origin also points out why, according to most Classical dressage trainers, every healthy horse, regardless of its breed, can perform classical dressage movements, including the Haute Ecole jumps, or Airs above the ground, even though it may perform them a little differently from the ideal performance due to the build of its body.
The ultimate goal of dressage training is to develop a horse to its ability as an athlete: maximum performance with a minimum of effort. The training scale (as set for in the German riding instruction) is to physically develop the horse in a consistent manner with longevity in mind. Dressage is fitness training and needs to be treated as such, with thought, compassion and patience.
