0220 transitions

It's all about the basics

While we were working with the canter last month, we knew that it is one part of the never ending development of the basics. I explained some easy step by step in how I prefer to build up the basics of canter.
In this blog I will talk about the basics in general. How I see them as such important building blocks for everything else. 

The main topic of February are transitions, and I believe that our difficulties about transitions often is caused by the lack of certain elements in the basics.
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The tree of education
In a the last blog I talked about how I see the education of the horse, as a growing tree. You need to start from the ground, and grow equally strong branches to form a strong and healthy stem. This needs a constant maintenance through out life. Both for horse and rider. If you constantly grow tiny little twigs on each and every branch of your education, you will grow the most beautiful  tree ever.

One of my favorite trainers, Christofer Dahlgren, talks about The Basics for the Horse, in four elements: relaxation, lightness, balance and roundness. To think of all these elements, and their need to be established in the horse's training, has helped me a lot in the education of my  horses. They are great reminders, and points out what might be missing/lacking in a particular movement or exercise.

The Basics for the Horse:
1 Relaxation
2 Lightness for the aids
3 Roundness
4 Balance

The Basics for the Human:
1 Relaxation
2 Understanding 
3 Feel
​4 Influence

To expect the horse to understand what we want him to do, "The Basics for the Horse" list, depends on certain qualities from the rider/trainer as well.  I have therefore added a short list of "Basics for the Human", which is equally important to accept, and  work with.

The horse
1 Relaxation, the adrenalin is low, and the horse is ready to take in information, and learn
​2 Lightness for the given aids from the rider
3 Roundness of the movement and the spine. Lifting its back while keeping a fluent, forward thinking, movement.
4 Balance, horisontal and lateral

The human
1 Relaxation in body and mind, so you are able to follow the movement of the horse and recieve information
2 Understanding of the secondary aids, and their influence on the horse
3 Feel the balance and roundness/self carrige in the horse
4 Influence and devellop the balance and the roundness of the horse

So, let's be honest, and ask:
"Where am I, in our (the horse's and mine) education, right now?"

We can divide us into two types of riders:
1 Novice (passanger)
2 Influencer

As a Novice, I am most concerned of how to relax and how to do things correctly in my own body. Step 1 and 2 in The Basics of the Human. From the the horse I would not expect more than relaxation and that he listens and tries to understand what I try to communicate. Step 1 in The Basics for the Horse. 

As an Influencer, have more or less automated, when and how, to communicate my aids. I am most concerned of the balance and movement underneath me. Step 3 and 4 in The Basics of the Human.
My goal is to improve the communication, skills, strength and the suppleness of the horse. Step 2, 3 and 4 in the Basics of the Horse​.

Transitions

The word "transition" can be used for any change in shape, gait or movement of the horse. 

This month we will focus on the change of gaits, and how it fits into the elements of the basics.

The horse needs to be relaxed enough to be able to listen to his trainer. He also needs to understand the aids that are given, or be relaxed enough to be able to learn them.

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The rider needs to know how to give the aid. He/she also needs to feel the tact and balance of the horse, to be able to know when to give the aid.

I think that is why it is so difficult to ride a transition from a higher to a lower gait. We, as riders, have a tendency to do the downward transition by using the reins and half-holts, more than riding the transition from the hindlegs and as a change of rhythm. In that way we loose the forward thinking and the roundness of the horse.
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For Bolcher and me, the main tasks this month are those downward transitions. We will focus on the forward and the change of rhythm, and try to be accurate in when and where to do them. This will challenge me in my feel (Riders basic 3), and Bolcher in his lightness and roundness (Hors' basic 2 and 3). 

Hopefully, at the end of the month, we can also feel into both our basics 4, and develop the suppleness further.

Ronja and Gladiador, will work with the gait transitions in general, but also have focus on Gladiadors responsibility to keep his own gait.

This means, that he must learn to keep the gait given to him. When trotting, he shall keep trotting until he is told otherwise. When cantering, he shall keep cantering, etc. In this fase of the education, Ronja will allow him to build up his stamina in the higher gaits, gradually. Transitions will be a natural part of the training, but the fluentness  will be less important than the actual understanding of them.

Gladiador will then be in his basic stage 1 and 2 regarding the transitions, and 3 and 4 when it comes to keeping his gaits.