The Education of Toti
rein in the turn (push forward with the hind legs in the turn). These are the two fundamental elements of contact: yielding and following. These turns to the outside of the circle, contrary to the inward turns on the lunge line, are combining turn with bend, increasing the range of motion by advancing the outside lateral pair of legs. This work must alternate with straight lines and circles
on one track to make sure the horse doesn’t anticipate and offer the last exercise we taught him while forget- ting all previous knowledge. Halts and departs are very important to practice at every location of the arena and any stage of a movement. This helps the horse control his balance and increase his impulsion, as well as his degree of attention to the trainer, regardless of his location in the arena. With long lines, we can place ourselves on either sides of the horse, closer or far from him, and make sure all communication remains clear wherever we are placed in relation to him. Long lines is also an easy way to teach the horse to
push more or less in the trot by simply changing our own step and teaching the horse to adjust to it. Steinbrecht said very clearly that a fundamental aspect of the training is to teach the horse to increase and decrease his thrust without ever shutting it down completely. This is the basis of the half halt: the horse learns to half halt himself on the slightest signal, regardless of the technique used. Slow- ing down and accelerating are the basis of gait variations, which increase the attention of the horse, his self-control and his adjustability. The horse is the one who must do the half-halts, not the rider, and the long lines allow him to learn that idea with no help of the rider seat, just a signal from the hand. Another fundamental exercise is performing transi-
tions between gaits on voice commands, then on rein commands, but always forward. Cantering on increasingly smaller circles and eventually on straight lines will come next, but Toti is not there yet.
Under the Saddle Thanks to Toti’s willingness to work and understand- ing of the long line work, from there we can progress to the same work under saddle. Many transitions and variations of speed, variations of tempo (slower in extensions and quicker in slower trots) and changes of angles and directions are all the keys to an all-encom- passing gymnastic train- ing program for the young horse. With this work, joints become supple, muscles strengthen and relax and the brain participates and forgets about resistance and evasions. In short, the genetic potential of the horse has a chance to become expressed.
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SHOULDER-IN LEFT IN WALK. Toti is well bent in the body, pick- ing up his left hind immediately after landing the right front (in the four-beat walk with the diagonal tendency the lateral work should produce). Cedar’s head is turned to the right, look- ing where she want to go (along the wall to the next corner). She is still using more left leg than will be needed eventually, as Toti is still in between shoulder- in and leg yield.
Recognize Individuality Each individual and each breed reacts differently to the demands of training and needs a tailored progression. Some horses take years to become supple, others take years to become strong. Toti has many physical gifts that will make his future performance very impressive, but his great strength is also his obstacle to more suppleness. My Lusitanos often present the opposite problem: they are easy to supple but they take longer to strengthen. No horse is perfect. One of Toti’s most important assets is that he likes to play and we make his work like a game: he likes the complications of transitions and exercises. As he works
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CIRCLE RIGHT IN ACTIVE, UPHILL TROT. Gait variations are fundamental work. Here Cedar is asking Toti for a little more trot with marked lowering of his hind legs in the forward movement VERY SMALL CIRCLE RIGHT IN CANTER. Using long lines is an easy way to start collec- tion of the canter. This is easy work for Toti, who is very balanced. He remains upright on the turn with a correct bend of his back, lowers his inside hind and stays light in the bridle. Progressively, he will learn to do some short straight lines with Cedar following him. STRETCHING AT THE CANTER. After every short session of active trot or canter, Cedar lets Toti stretch down and “take the bit” without opposing any resis- tance to his downward stretch. However, he must keep his balance and maintain his speed. Changes of posture are another form of transitions.
50 January/February 2016
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