this work greatly diminishes the chances of an explosion by a young horse. Toti has to learn to push more, then less when on
two tracks, then more again on one track by going in and out of lateral movements. This gymnastic creates the looseness and impulsion that reduce the natural resistances of any young horse. The ongoing lateral gymnastics, laced with frequent transitions within gaits as well as between gaits, will progressively bring his hind legs under his body and lift and project his front legs forward ahead of the mass of the body. He needs to perfect his balance in every direction by having his feet always moving ahead of his body. This is obvious in one track gaits, but not so much in lateral movement. This is why we want to teach him to open his shoulders and haunches away from the vertical axis of his body, so his feet are always landing well ahead of the upper joints. The movement of the legs landing ahead of the vertical in forward and lateral exercises counteracts the momen- tum of his weight. As with all young horses, we can see delays in the lift of one or the other of Toti’s feet. The asymmetry of their timing is caused by their innate resistances, which are the standard of yet-untrained horses. By increasing their quickness selectively in lateral exercises, we can improve their symmetry, which is the true source of impulsion. The progressive synchronization of the diagonal pairs reflects the improved throughness of Toti’s body. This work will eventually increase the height of his move- ment in the slower gaits and their honest reach in the longer gaits. None of that can be done by incessant half- halts restricting the gaits and killing the activity of the hind legs. On the contrary, by challenging his hind legs
to modify the intensity and direction of their thrust in order to match the reach of the front legs, they become increasingly quicker. From this, true collection emerges. The regularity of the tempo, allied with its controlled
variability, is the first goal of correct gaits. It has to be developed progressively by first increasing the lateral mobility of the horse and then by asking for the quick- ness of the hind legs on small turns to match the front legs’ activity in whichever direction the horse is going. Later on, the expression of the gaits will arise on its own, demonstrated by more elevation, roundness and grace- fulness. It will be the cherry on top of the cake.
Using Long Lines In practical terms, the lateral work and its combination with gait variations can be done very effectively on the long lines, a method Toti is already familiar with. Each time Cedar (my assistant trainer) wants him to start a lateral exercise, Toti must yield to one rein or the other. When she wants him to return to one track work, he must follow the contact by going forward toward the bit on a rein that is giving: Cedar advances that hand and marches in that new direction. On the long lines, the main activator of the horse is
the step of the trainer, just like the motion of the seat will be under saddle. Toti is learning to follow Cedar’s steps for direction by anticipating her actions, but without preceding them. His position (bend, angle) is modified by the reins (more give or more take according to the goal and his reaction to the aids). In this method, Cedar practices mostly counter shoul-
Right turn on one track coming out of the right counter shoulder-in (was going left in right bend). Cedar gives Toti the left rein so he can seek the contact while moving forward into the right bend. This is the moment in which the forward thrust of the hind legs and the reach of the front are re-established after the lateral suppling exercise. This strongly forward walk has a slight lateral tendency that will soon disappear with practice.
der-ins and turns, then eventually shoulder-ins and half- passes, in all kind of curves increasing or decreasing in diameter. For instance, a coun- ter shoulder-in on an increasing spiral will teach Toti to gain ground with his shoulder on the inside of the turn, while another one on a decreasing spiral will flex his hind leg on the same side. A transi- tion to a turn to the right on one track coming out of a right counter shoulder-in will teach Toti how to increase his left hind leg push just after it was flexed by the two track exercise. When Toti starts a lateral movement out of a one track turn, he has to decrease his thrust and learn to flex. This work of alternating thrust
and flexion sharpens Toti’s reflexes and makes him figure out for himself how to follow the mere indications of the rein that either
Warmbloods Today 39
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