The Education of Toti
advance. A good strategy based on in-depth knowledge of the opponent is important, but quick improvisations and even faster reflexes are essential. Trot/canter and canter/trot transitions are asked for
frequently in the training process. Trot to canter engages the hind end and rounds the topline, while canter to trot loosens up the shoulders. In order of difficulty, the canter is first asked when the horse approaches the wall, then in the first corner, then the second corner, then on the straight after the second corner and finally on the open side of the arena. There are three circles in an arena (both ends and the middle) and the rider must ask for all three circles in succession, first in trot, then in canter. Those little pieces of straight lines prepare the horse to go down the side of the entire arena at once. In the early stages of training, under saddle it is very
important not to use the legs, as the great majority of horses tighten against them and learn to resist forward movement rather than obey them as we wish. Impul- sion must be asked first from the lunge whip and the clucking, then from the riding stick. We use an “Endos- tick” of my design which has a foam ball at the end of it. It has the great advantage of not stinging the horse and creates good energy without resentment. Progressively, I weaned Toti off the influence of the lunge line and the lunge whip. Their role diminishes and the rider becomes independent.
Developing the Engine The beginning of training under saddle must be dedicated to the development of the impulsion that is necessary to create and maintain direction. Young horses “float” in the arena and have a hard time keeping consistent direction on straight lines and turns without frequent reminders that their “engine” must stay engaged at all times. The first goal of that phase is to develop their activity (quickness of the hind legs’ engagement) and a constant level of energy (power of the pushing action). An adequate speed is the main factor to judge that energy. If the speed diminishes without a rider’s request,
the impulsion is lost. If the speed increases without a rider’s request, the balance is lost. As training progresses, the need for actions of the whip/Endostick for energy dimin- ishes. In the trot work, the hand actions must be reduced to a minimum because young horses rarely lose their balance. In the canter work, some horses will tend to go a little too fast. It is much better to help them improve their balance by frequent transitions, some halts and even rein- backs in the worse cases, rather than by a direct manipula- tion of the gait. Halts and reinbacks are asked by a vertical raising of the hand (no backward action) with little vibra- tions (or big ones if necessary at the beginning). Once the horse knows to stop and shift his weight back (meaning that he is leaning less forward with his front legs), rebalanc- ing him within the gait can be done by a slight elevation of his head (a couple of inches generally suffices). As far as Toti is concerned, balance was never a problem in any gait as he was born in a perfect working equilibrium. The suspension in the trot and the search for a slow
tempo is a modern idea that obsesses dressage riders. It is a fine goal of training to slow down the tempo, but it must be pursued at the right time, for the right reasons and in the correct forms. Suspension is an effect of both the forward and vertical pushing power of all four legs. The forward suspension must appear when the horse learns to extend the trot: more powerful push means longer strides and at some point in the development of that power, the horse becomes airborne. At that moment, the tempo slows down as the horse spends more time in each stride because they are longer. If we observe Olympic high jumpers (humans), we see
them start their run on quick short strides to create the speed, then really extend their movement in long, slow strides and progressively quicken them as they shorten and transform the forward energy into vertical energy. Horses’ biomechanics are no different: even if we
7 52 November/December 2015
➐ Toti trotting free on a circle left, JP standing further away. ➑ Toti cantering free on left rein, but JP still maintaining impulsion with a little show of the lunge whip.
aim at performing transitions in an apparently constant tempo, the reality is different. The change of stride length (longer strides for faster, constant speed in exten- sions; shorter strides to accelerate and decelerate in departures and collection), means that the tempo also changes. The longer strides must be slower and the shorter strides must be a little quicker. The reverse is contrary to both biomechanics and the aesthet- ics of dressage: a horse that runs in his extension gains speed with quicker strides but never produces longer strides (no extension). Conversely, the same horse will slow down his tempo to slow down his speed, thus not producing the short
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