Correct Feel of a Dressage Trot- Lengthening/extension?
I know I have asked this question before a year or two ago, but I want to see if there are any better insights. An instructor is not possible for at least a couple months, and the indoor doesn’t have a mirror. All other dressage enthusiasts at my barn are only at intro/training.
Can you explain what you should feel on a horse that is starting to lengthen/extend? I am talking about a horse that doesn’t naturally extend. She has good collection, but we are having trouble with the extension at the trot. At the walk and canter, we are fine.
I can feel her shoulders free up, and she is moving with a bit more power from behind more than a normal trot, but I think I need to get her to sit back on her haunches more. I imagine that I should see her head and shoulders get more elevated than at a normal working trot- but it doesn’t seem like they do.
She does speed up when I ask her to lengthen, but I remember reading somewhere that it is ok for when they are learning, as long as it is still controlled and they are light, which she is.
I have tried it from an extremely collected trot (for a 1st level horse), from a shoulder in, and from a leg yield. From the collected trot she starts out straighter, so I am guessing that is my best bet to go with.
The rest of the first level test is pretty solid for her.
Can anyone tell me what a rookie lengthening/extension is supposed to feel like?
Any tips?
Should she be keeping her head up in a working trot position or stretching it more?
She stretches out her neck and back and thus lowers her poll a bit more, though her shoulders don’t drop. Is that ok or should I make her hold her more upright headset?
It’s quite difficult to describe but it should feel like your horse is flipping his front legs out. He will become light on the forehand and his neck will stretch. You will be able to see a small gap between the girth area and the shoulder and it should feel like you are floating. Sit back so you get off of his forehand and use lots of squeeze and release. Don’t let your horse hop between the trot and the canter. If this happens simply keep your leg squeezing and half halt. This also work s to get your horse off of his forehand. Your horse should flex at the pole and seek the bit if he’s more advanced. Most riders make the mistake of just squeezing and not using any rein to engage the hind quarters.
Try this exercise:
Lengthen down the long side, collect on the short end and then lengthen across the diagonal and repeat. Your horse will catch on eventually.
Good luck!
Here’s a good way to start: collected into a very collected trot on the short side of the arena, and then turn at K (or M or H or F) and go across the diagonal. As you go, ask for a gradual lengthening, with the most extension over X, and then begin to collect again. This helps to encourage the horse to keep the trot instead of cantering, and keeps them from "running" which isn’t great.
You’ll be able to tell that she is lengthening because as you post, the beat in which you are up will feel longer, and you’ll probably feel like you’re being pushed up out of the saddle more. If you look down you’ll see her legs come kicking out in front of her shoulder. Ideally, an extended trot will be slightly faster than a normal trot but not extremely fast.
I know the 1st level test – watch your circles, make the tight turns as precise as possible, and don’t let her get on her forehand. Good luck!
Everything you said so far seems right. I don’t know how to really explain it, but when my horse is extending, I can almost feel his shoulders "pop" (for lack of better discription) and there’s split second of hesitation in each stride. Sorry I can’t explain it any better:-(
well the best way i can describe is like this:
you ask for the lengthening
and you feel a lift, the horses haunches and shoulders open up and you feel a widening in the steps, not necessarily quicker steps, but bigger steps and you feel a suspension and lift in the trot, you also may find it harder or easier to sit to dependning on your seat.
with a true connection with the horse you should feel a sense of covering ground effortlessly and it should feel open and smooth not rushed or hurried with a scrambled of feet.
but for a beginner horse, you really want a connected trot that the horse is taking in its stride with bigger floaty steps than the working trot.
you really just wanna feel more power, and lift, and freedom in the movements,
its difficult to explain
but i can tell you when the horse gets it exactly right you definatly be able to feel it.
good luck with your mare.
for lengthening across the diagnol, down the center line, and on the long side are best for practicing, and then collecting on short sides and through corners.
its sounds like your doing everything very well.
happy holidays