The Power of Position

The following is taken from the book “from the Horse’s Mouth” reproduced here  by the kind permission of  the author, Erik Herbermann. It is copyright protected.

In the book this subject is covered in  Chapter 10  Two-track 'Ins and Outs'

The sub headings and references to other chapters  have not been removed and appear as they do in the book

10.1 The main purpose of this chapter is to present a detailed study of the various single- and two-track gymnastic training positions for the horse. It describes their purpose, their influence on the horse, how and why they work, and the sequence in which to use them for best results.

10.2 When used in the manner described, these positions will be found to be of great value in fortifying a rather commonly found weak area in the training of so many horses that lies somewhere between the early introductory work of the young horse and the point at which the more advanced training can proceed. Clearly, it is best when training develops smoothly and seamlessly, which it can, if we always let the horse's actual ability and level dictate the speed at which we proceed.


10.3 The work described below is entirely in accord with, and encompasses, the six basic training guidelines (rhythm, relaxation, contact, straightness, impulsion, collection), and is a safe, practical and systematic medium within which these can be successfully developed.

10.4 One of the greatest benefits gained from the appropriate use of these positions is that they assist the rider to gain systematic and unforced access to the giving of the horse's hindquarters: i.e. the deep bending or flexing of the three major joints - the hip, stifle and hock. This results in the lowering of the croup which gives horses the desired uphill quality in their way of going. This element is indispensable for achieving correct collection (10.25-10.29).

10.5 We will be starting the work described below under the premise that the young horse has already been kindly started (not before four years old); that he has been properly longed for six to eight weeks (4-5 days a week for about 20-30 minutes per day), and is now under saddle, content to carry the rider. It is essential that this initial phase has been well laid down. It has little value to begin with the stages presented below until a degree of steadiness has been achieved, especially improved basic control over guidance on simple, large school figures at the walk and trot.

10.6 As a part of the introductory training just mentioned, it is also useful to do some turns on the forehand (sparingly, to prevent looseness of the hindquarters), and a little leg-yielding. These two exercises are not really to be considered part of the gymnastic effects that will later be achieved through the proper use of the single- and two-track phases described below. They are useful, however, to initially help the young horse understand lateral responsiveness to the rider's legs. When judiciously used, two-track work in general is also useful for the rider to learn how to coordinate the aids; especially with regard to gaining control over straightness and alignment.

Important points to consider

10.7 I ask the reader's forbearance, as there will be some patience needed with the following admittedly copious details. But, since the devil is in the details, they will be found useful to any serious student of the horse. The following general information applies to all the stages.

a)    Accurate riding of the school figures is vital to success. Two-track work can only bring reliable results when we can position the horse accurately relative to the line (school figure) on which we have chosen to ride. Sloppiness regarding school figures can only lead to indifferent results.

b)    During all work we need to change the rein fairly frequently, about every 3-4 rounds of the school; or 4, 5 or 6 times around a circle. It is best not to work the horse more on his difficult or less-preferred side! See 6.8 regarding frequency of changes.

c)     For horses who are physically awkward or very one-sided, at the rising trot it can be helpful to switch the diagonal on which we are rising, without changing the rein, irrespective of on which hand we are riding. Change the diagonal every 6-10 strides or so; the frequency of switching to be adjusted to the horse's needs.

d)    The normal infusion of variety in the work is important. The work can always be freshened-up with a little canter, but only if the youngster doesn't become tense, unsteady, or fussy.

e)    It is wonderful to use the forward-and-down stretching exercise as part of the daily work.

f)     We need to keep in mind a suitable balance between work and rest periods during any ride, and to schedule adequate days off work as well as days spent hacking outdoors. Physically tired or mentally soured horses don't learn much, other than ways of evading work.

g)    Any time we run into difficulty while going to any of the higher stages described below, we should simply spend a little more time in the previous stage(s) until the horse is more solid in that work: When in trouble, do less! Brief trial runs (literally just a few steps) can always be done in the higher stages to test the water, so to speak. That is likely a good policy across the board, whenever proceeding into areas which are new to the horse or rider. When things go well, continue for only a little while longer (20-30 seconds) then rest and praise the horse.
At all cost, avoid grinding. Do exercises with measure so the horse does not get an aversion to the work.

What is the difference between single-track and two-track work?

10.8 - Any work is considered single-track work as long as both hind legs track anywhere within the dual paths made by the two front legs (see Stages I, Il and Ill below).

⁃                  In two-track work the forehand and hindquarters each travel on their own separate paths, hence 'two' tracks; this is irrespective of whether the horse's individual legs make three or four separate tracks. Thus, only when one or both hind legs are deliberately made to track to the outside of the dual path made by the front legs, would the work be considered true two-track work (see Stages IV, V and VI below).

⁃                  Correct two-track work should not be confused with un-wanted, accidental crookedness.

Note Before going into the specifics of the various single-track and two-track positions of the horse, it is highly recommended that the reader review the essential points about the rider's leg position (5.20-5.23). Likewise, review the time-honoured standards for the horse's head position (6.20). It is essential these criteria are closely adhered to. It is especially critical to avoid the horse's head/ears tipping during two-track work.

10.9

In summarizing, despite the fact that no two horses, riders, or circumstances are alike, it is recommended that the stages of this guideline be followed in the order they are given. The only variation in the work from horse to horse would lie not so much in rearranging or skipping stages but, depending on the horse's talents or difficulties, one would spend more or less time at any given stage before proceeding to the next. Let's begin.

STAGE I

Straight riding: The swinging-leg phase. (Figure 10. 1)

10.10 - Ride forward.

⁃                  Use mainly rising trot.

⁃                  No bend, anywhere!

⁃                  Line up the outside legs.

Main goal To stabilize the young horse through forwardness and straightness.

This is the first step in establishing control and stability over the hindquarters relative to the forehand through mechanical straightening, using diagonal aiding in forwardness, whereby the horse's energy can begin to be deliberately directed. Through the use of a steady, rhythmic, forward gait the horse learns to reach for the bit, and begins to accept both reins more evenly. (For more on diagonal aiding see 4.70, 4.71, I0.14.)

Crookedness

10.11 Most horses, like humans, are one-sided. This is simply a natural preference of one side over the other. This causes the horse to want to avoid loading his less-preferred hind leg by going crooked (he evades by going outside of the dual path made by the front legs 10.8). As a result the horse also loads the diagonally opposite shoulder/rein more heavily. Crookedness is not a disobedience. It is a natural avenue for saving the less-preferred hind leg.

The rider can help the horse overcome this lateral imbalance through straightening in forwardness which is developed by this first phase. This helps the horse find better balance by gradually engaging both hind legs more evenly (7.7, 7.8).

Detailed description

10.12 In this first swinging-leg phase we must keep the horse's entire spine absolutely straight, no bend anywhere. 'Swinging-leg' means the horse moves freely forward without any particular degree of impulsion or collection in the gaits. We must ride forward, full school (5.37), preferably at rising trot, and line-up the horse's outside legs (those closest to the wall). For example, on the right hand in the school, align the left shoulder (left front leg) with the left hind leg. Keep the neck straight!, absolutely straight, especially at its base, and accept quietly, patiently, and steadily, any unevenness (extra weight) the horse might put in one of the reins. Do not half-halt, fiddle, or muck about with the heavier rein, and especially don't try to bend the horse with the rein on the stiff or heavy side*. Why? There are several reasons for this.

a)    It does not address the cause of the one-sided heaviness (less preferred hind leg).

b)    Attempts at active correction of a symptom, without addressing the cause, only put the horse's mental and physical powers actively against us, which is much worse than a bit of temporary passive leaning on one rein.

c)     Half-halts can only be properly understood by the horse once he has learned to accept the drive, reach for the bit, and come on the aids from behind.

10.13 The only viable, long-term solution is to, 1) keep the neck straight;

2) accept the heavier rein passively and quietly; 3) send the horse forward!; 4) align the horse's outside legs with a diagonal aiding influence, to produce a mechanical straightness: leg on the side of the evading croup - rein on the side of the evading shoulder (4.74). A truly resolved dynamic straightness, which encompasses the even, balanced loading of the horse's legs throughout all school figures and exercises, is approached only over years of patient gymnastic work.

(*We certainly may help the horse to bend in his body through the correct positioning of our legs, but that comes into play more in the next stage.)

•               10.14 If necessary, to achieve this mechanical straightness we may initially need to put whichever of our legs back as much as necessary on the side of the evading croup. For example: when riding on the left hand in the school, if the horse's croup swings in to the left, and the shoulder presses right, out towards the wall, we may put our left leg back, and feel (be aware of) the diagonally opposite right rein in order to passively align the horse's right shoulder in front of his right hind leg. During such aligning, it is essential to maintain the straightness of the base of the neck. Furthermore, do not try to achieve straightness by pushing the hindquarters over to line up behind the shoulders. That only produces fishtailing or looseness in the quarters. Instead, think of the diagonal influence (leg active if necessary - for energy; rein usually passive) to realign the shoulders in front of the hindquarters. Crookedness is best corrected in forwardness, rather than in a sideways or lateral manner. In the above example, the rider's right (outside) leg may temporarily need to be placed in the forward 'inside position (for explanations see 5.23-5.25, 6.3 and Figure 10.3 page 162)

•               10.15 The overall success of this phase comes only by forward riding without rushing the horse. We must keep an even rhythm, and a pace just a bit stronger (more ground covering, not quicker in tempo) than the horse might want to offer on his own. This kind of work is like longeing from the saddle (7.I6). At first it might take from 30 to 45 minutes before the horse begins to use his less preferred leg. We will feel this happening as the horse begins to seek less support on the heavier rein, and becomes more even in both.
As this becomes more habitual, day by day this evenness in the contact will come a little sooner. Further, the horse will also simultaneously begin to yield at the poll (never to be forced by the hand) and to chew on the bit. It is the first rudimentary step of coming on the aids. Only time and patience bring home the real product.

10.16 Concepts previously placed in 10.16 have been merged in other sections where those concepts have been expanded.

10.17 If the horse becomes steady at remaining straight most of the time, and loads his hind legs more evenly, made evident by the nice even acceptance of both reins, we can then proceed to the next phase. Depending on the horse, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to achieve this. With the use of this straight work, as with all things, the happy medium is always best. Though wobbly young horses with skinny, loose necks would initially gain from doing this work, if it were done too long with well-balanced, athletic youngsters, they could become ungainly or laterally stiff. Again, so much depends on the experience and talents of the rider, and the degree of difficulty presented by the conformation, temperament, and sensitivity of any given horse.

STAGE II

Bend while going straight (Figure 10.2)

10.18 - This is single-track or microscopic shoulder-fore.

⁃                  This is not yet two-track work.

⁃                  Bend must be introduced mainly in the body.

⁃                  Continue to align the outside legs while bending.

⁃                  Continue to use straight lines as much as possible. Once familiarity and stability are established, then circles can also be ridden in this position.

⁃                  When used on straight lines this could be considered just a hint of the first phase, or type of bending: bend and move away from the bend. This is more clearly indicated in Stages IV and V.

- Once consistency is established, the counter-exercise may also be used (10.21).

Main goal To teach the horse to bend in his body while maintaining the straightness of his tracking on the school figure and the continued even acceptance of both reins. It is the first inkling to help the horse to understand and accept the outside rein and leg.

Note 1 This position can be safely used for the bulk of the work until the horse is adequately prepared for the next stage. It is important to repeat, this is not two-track work!

Note 2 It is the subtlety of these positions that is the key to their success. More angle is not better!

Application

10.19 By increasing the weight slightly in the inside seat bone (51:50), leg and stirrup, and by the appropriate placing of the rider's legs (inside leg close to the girth, outside leg approximately 4-5 inches back [see 5.20, b!]) we invite the horse to bend mainly in his body.

We need to take care to bend the neck only very slightly, especially avoid bending it at its base, by keeping the shoulders well contained between the seat bones, knees and reins (5.7). The reader will perhaps already have foreseen the potential danger that can occur while we shift our legs to achieve a bend in the body. The horse could very easily become crooked again by bringing the croup in, instead of bending while continuing to track straight.

Therefore patience in these first stages will pay off in large dividends later on. We may need to go back and forth repeatedly between Stage I and Stage II, so that, when the bend is introduced, we do not unintentionally have the horse become crooked again

- that is our responsibility, not the horse's! (4.27).

10.20 It is critical that we initiate the bend while continuing to keep the horse's outside legs aligned. This is the steady, all-important constant on which we must build our training and by which we can judge the speed at which we may progress in these earliest phases. If we can, a) manage to keep the outside legs lined up, and

b) keep the horse stepping evenly into both reins while bending, then among the great benefits of the bend-while-straight work is, just because of this bend in his body, the horse will automatically begin to travel with his inside hind leg closer to the outside hind leg. The inside hind leg will therefore also automatically track between both front legs. As is commonly known, good balance can best be fostered when the hind legs begin to travel closer together. This wonderful exercise helps us to start bringing about that requirement.

Counter-bend while going straight (Figure 10.3)

10.21 Once the above work has progressed to the point where the horse allows himself to be bent while maintaining all the necessary criteria mentioned above, then we can introduce the single-track counter-bend while going straight. The outside legs (relative to the bend) are to be lined up. We must take care to guard against the croup swinging loosely into the school, or towards the wall.

Also, the counter-exercise should only be done on the long sides of the school, not yet on the short sides, through the corners, or on circles at this stage of the training. Remember to switch the diagonal of the rising trot during such counter-exercises.

10.22 Only if the horse can go easily in the single-track shoulder-fore, and its counter-exercise while,

a)    Staying aligned with his outside legs, (relative to the direction of the bend); and

b)    Continuing to step evenly into both reins, on simple school figures (full school, across the diagonals, and large circles) without tending to crookedness or becoming heavier on either rein;

then we can safely begin with Stage III, and start lining up the horse's inside legs. A word of caution: there are potentially considerable dangers in starting too early with the next phase because the horse's stream of energy or alignment, can only be easily and correctly contained once the horse has correctly learned to understand and accept the outside rein and leg (through adequate preparation in the first two stages). He must also have learned to carry his shoulders more evenly in the balanced energy of both hind legs. These would be signs of correct lateral and longitudinal balance. If we were to line up the inside legs prematurely, the horse's outside shoulder would all too easily fall out. The rider would have no recourse to prevent this, other than by using inappropriateforcefulness with the outside rein/leg. The horse would consequently load that loose outside shoulder more heavily, and bore on that outside rein yet more; thus affording the rider very poor control over the energy, balance, and straightness (4.33, 4.34, 5.8).

STAGE III

Bend in while going straight (Figure 10.4)

10.23 - This is a microscopic croup-in or travers. It is commonly known as 'position', that attitude which the rider will be using for most work from here on (if a bend in the horse is wanted).

⁃                  It is not yet two-track! It is still single-track work.

⁃                  The horse must remain even in both reins, while now staying lined up with the inside legs.

⁃                  Because of the bend in the body, (as described earlier in Stage II) the hind legs will continue to travel closely together, only this time the outside hind leg will be traveling on a path between the two front legs.

Begin to teach the horse this work on straight lines. When this position is ridden in single track on a circle it constitutes the second phase, or type, of bending: bend, and move in the direction of the bend (Figure 10.5, A-2 and B-2).

10.24 It can not be sufficiently strongly emphasized the importance of working on straight lines while initiallyteaching the horse how to bend his body while keeping his inside legs lined up. Why?

Because it is easier to control the straightness of the horse's travel on a linearly straight line, and thereby gain and maintain the accurate direction of the energy from the hindquarters into both reins. Usually, once such control on straight lines has been well established, will the transition to riding this position on curved lines be more easily and successfully made.

Addressing the bending or flexing of the three major joints of the hind legs

10.25 Once this work can be transferred to circles or curved lines without causing lateral crookedness, then this Stage III position becomes the first avenue through which we can deliberately begin to affect the amount of bending (flexing or compression) in the joints of the hind legs. Let's see how this works. (Figure 10.5, A-2 and B-2.)

Figure 10.5 Circle work. At A-1 the horse is shown in single-track work on a large circle with the outside legs aligned. The same in B-1 but on a small circle. In this case the inside hind leg travels under and across the horse's body. Here the joints of the inside hind leg will not be as prone to flex or bend as when the inside legs are aligned (A-2, B-2). When the inside legs are aligned, then the smaller the circle the more the inside hind leg is addressed to make shorter higher steps which results in greater bending or flexion of the three major joints - a prerequisite to correct collection. C-1 shows the horse in two-track work with the croup-in on the small circle. This could be developed into a turn on the haunches, C-2.

10.26 When traveling on a circle with the inside legs lined up, the inside legs travel a shorter distance than the outside legs. If the horse expends the same amount of energy with both hind legs as he should (made evident in that he remains even in both reins), then the inside hind leg will use up that extra energy by bending its joints more, resulting in a higher, rounder stride. The outside hind leg will continue to make a somewhat longer and flatter step. The smaller the circle the more we would need to bend the horse's body (to maintain the same bend in the spine as the arc of the curve being ridden and the more the horse would subsequently have to load and flex the joints of his inside hind leg. By contrast, the horse would hardly feel the need to flex the inside hind leg while doing this position on straight lines.

10.27 Choosing a suitable size of circle for the horse's level of development is therefore important, so that we do not overbend or overload an ill-prepared horse. We should introduce these concepts so gradually that the horse remains unaware (through stress, fatigue, or pain) that his hind legs are being bent or loaded. Overfacing here is indeed most counter-productive, because we would readily teach the horse how to find self-protective evasions.

Using force to bend hind legs

10.28 If a horse has been forcibly trained, the above-mentioned benefits will not show themselves. This applies in particular to those which have been forced into a head position with hand-oriented training. When the horses are hauled together into an artificial frame, crammed between the seat/leg and hand, the hindquarters will tend to stiffen, rather than flex or bend elastically and lower.

The supple bending in the major joints will not occur. This is true regardless of either the amount of bend in the body, or the supposed suppleness that might have been achieved through the commonly implemented lateral overbending or see-sawing of the horse's neck with the hands; or overbending with the face behind the vertical: the chin-on-chest Rollkur. Both are injurious to the horse's wellbeing. Such misdirected influences only achieve slackness in the neck, reserved forwardness, and not a supple horse at all. True suppleness is only achieved through energetic forward impulse which liberates the horse's body because of improved balance.

10.29 Steinbrecht, in his book Gymnasium des Pferdes, warns us that, if we try to coerce the hind legs to flex through forceful means, not only will we most assuredly fail to achieve our goal but the horse will likely end up breaking down in his hocks, and/or in his back (tying up, spasms of the loin muscles) because of this.

These are certainly common 'diseases' of some dressage horses. To view rare black and white video of riding at the old (circa1935) Spanish Riding School which shows horses going correctly uphill with deeply bent haunches, see the Google search detail on page 3.(Vienna. I cavallerizzi di un‘antica scuola di equitazione si esibiscono in passi classici di alta – You Tube)

General comments

10.30 Most of this Stage III work should be done in a good, forward, rhythmic, working trot. Alternate between sitting and rising trot.

Change the rein reasonably frequently, giving each hind leg time to work/bend/load as an inside leg, and then to rest (relatively speaking) as an outside leg. Again, do not spend more time on the horse's less preferred side. Use some forward-and-down stretching to assure continued elastic suppleness and 'aliveness' in all the muscles, and therefore fluidity in the gaits. Give reasonable work/ rest cycles. Don't overpractise, especially when the horse starts to get the idea. Endless grinding only sours horses, whereby they become less willing to offer the rider anything on their own.

10.31 At this point transitions, half-halts, halts, turns on the haunches, some rein-back, and small variations of lengthen/shorten strides, gradually become more and more useful tools. Moderation is the key to success. Remember that transferring the weight to the hindquarters can only be successful when the hind legs are bent (flexed) unforcedly and easily. And, when they do begin to bend, avoid becoming greedy and end up overloading them, either by spending too much time in collection, or by overcollecting (over-compressing) at any given moment. Hurry up slowly! Things can turn sour very quickly. Through alternating judiciously between moments of putting greater stress on the hindquarters by using smaller circles and, on the other hand, freeing the horse up with more open working gaits on large school figures, we can experience how to balance out the forward-pushing impulsive energy, with the flexing/loading, collecting energy.

Note It is also a useful exercise to practise riding the Stage III attitude on straight lines and alternating that with the occasional circle or volte; in the same fashion as described in Figure 10.8 on page 172; doing so, in this case, without the shoulder-in angle along the long side.

10.32 If the horse plays along easily with the requirements of Stage

III, we can proceed with the next phase. How do we know? The horse will be bright and eager when he sees the rider coming with the saddle and tack the following morning! The horse will readily accept the work and remain even in the reins, the gaits will remain pure, fluid, elastic and rhythmic through all the work. The back will remain easy to sit on.

STAGE IV and STAGE V

Two-track shoulder-fore and true shoulder-in  (Figures 10.6 and 10.7)

10.33 - True two-track work begins here.

- The shoulders are brought yet further into the school, going through a four-track phase (correct two-track shoulder-fore, Figure 10.6, with each leg tracking on its own path) just before arriving at the desired goal of true three-track shoulder-in, with the inside hind leg tracking exactly in the path of the outside front leg, Figure 10.7.

10.34 These positions/exercises confirm the horse yet more clearly on the outside aids, and solidify the balance and suppleness. They help increase the lateral bending in the body, which leads to a yet greater bending (flexing) of the three major joints of the hind legs. They are therefore a viable means to develop higher degrees of  collection. Do not overbend the neck laterally, especially at its base. The counter-exercises can be usefully implemented once the normal' shoulder-fore and shoulder-in have been well established.

Figure 10.8 Shoulder-in to volte is an excellent exercise for both horse and rider. This diagram illustrates this as the shoulder-in is ridden along the wall of the arena A it can easily be converted at point B into a single-track circle with the horse's inside legs lined up (C, D, E). Furthermore, this demonstrates how, as the circle is completed, the shoulder-in can commence further along the wall once again from point B towards F. Because the bend in the horse should remain constant throughout this exercise, it underscores the importance of the rider's inside leg position remaining absolutely steady at the girth all the time.

10.35 Begin the exercise by riding a single-track volte at the beginning of the long side, then flow into the shoulder-in angle along the wall (Figure 10.8). Strange as it may seem, it is best not to think of shoulder-fore or shoulder-in as being two-track work!

This usually only gets the rider into an unhappy "sidewaysing' of the horse. Initially, it may be found helpful to practise riding the shoulder-in angle without any bend at all, just for a few minutes as a temporary exercise, to come to understand and feel what the correct energies of a shoulder-fore or shoulder-in are like (especially learning how to control the outside shoulder and maintain independent balance). Keep the perception of the horse as remaining one chunk from head to tail, absolutely straight in his neck and body, while riding along the school wall in that three-track shoulder-in angle (5.29, 7-9). Once this unified quality has been adequately experienced then, while keeping that feel and understanding, begin to do the exercise with a bend. A yet more advanced and worthwhile exercise is to do shoulder-in on a large circle. However, great care must be taken to avoid the common errors described in 10.36.

Note It is important always to look through the horse's ears, even during two-track work.

Common shoulder-in errors

10.36 Using the above concept of practicing the three-track shoulder-in angle, while temporarily alternating between riding it with or without a bend, helps the rider get away from the following common shoulder-in errors.

⁃                  Overbending the neck, cracking it off at the withers (4.77, Figure 4. 1).

⁃                  Trying to shove the horse sideways by jamming the inside rein against the neck/withers (see common misuses of the inside rein 4-78).

⁃                  Shoving the horse sideways with the inside leg (instead of the inside leg doing its actual most important job of providing forward energy as needed - which the passive outside leg shunts to the bridle - and the outside rein then uses that energy to place the shoulders to the inside. After all, the exercise is called 'shoulder-in', and not 'shove the horse sideways!'; nor
'push the croup out!').

⁃                  Falsely achieving the exercise by putting the inside leg back towards the horse's flank or croup, resulting in a poor form of leg-yielding - or 'croup-out' (5.22).

⁃                  Looking up the wall of the long side during shoulder-fore and shoulder-in, instead of continuing to look through the horse's ears, in harmony with the direction of the bend.

These aberrations cause a stopping-up of the horse's forward energies by restricting the free movement of the inside hind leg which leads to poor quality, broken-apart gaits.

10.37 It is important to know that shoulder-fore and shoulder-in do not of themselves cause greater bending (flexing) of the hind legs.

Instead, they are exercises, or positions, which besides assisting in furthering overall suppleness of the hindquarters and greater responsiveness to the rider's weight and leg aids, give us access to greater lateral bending of the horse's body (especially behind the withers), which in turn, when ridden as single-track work on bent lines, in Stage Ill mode, causes the joints of the hind legs to flex more, lowering the hindquarters. This quality is then taken into the following work and exercises; at first for only a few strides, but with time and care it begins to suffuse all the work. In other words, they are accessing exercises or door openers. This is why it can be productive to alternate between riding the two-track shoulder-in up the long wall, and converting this directly into single-track 1om circles or voltes at various intervals on the long sides of the school (Figure 10.8 page 172). The greater lateral bending in the body gained during the two-track shoulder-in work is immediately converted into greater flexing of the joints of the inside hind leg while on the single-track circles. Back and forth between these two modes is the key to success (in moderation, of course!).

Summarizing shoulder-in concepts

10.38 If we were to take the shoulders yet further into the school we would begin to head into leg-yielding angles (four-track shoulder-in, Figure 10.9); and normal leg-yielding at approximately a 45° angle relative to the line being ridden, Figure 10.10. These variations are not necessarily incorrect. Horses usually gladly move more sideways away from the rider's leg, but are not as challenged by that greater angle (beyond three tracks, that is) to flex and engage the hind legs. Leg-yielding emphasizes lateral responsiveness. The three-track shoulder-in emphasizes supple-ness, bending, engagement and collection.

Figure 10.9 Four-track shoulder-in.

Figure 10.10 Leg-yielding away from rider's right leg at 45° angle to the wall. Shown here with the horse's nose facing into the arena.

STAGE VI

Travers or croup-in

10.39 - The croup is ridden more to the inside, either on three tracks (Figure 10. 11), or on four tracks (Figure 10.12). Both are correct.

⁃                  This is the most advanced, third phase, or type, of bending: bend and move into the bend.

⁃                  It is a bending, suppling, collecting exercise.

⁃                  It is two-track work.

⁃                  The counter-exercise is renvers.

This position is the last to mature because, as a prerequisite to successful travers/croup-in work, the horse needs to be well seasoned in his understanding and responsiveness to the inside seat bone/leg (as a forward aiding influence; as a passive bending presence; and as a lateral yielding influence) and to have subsequently learned to understand and accept the outside aids (especially the outside rein). This can only be achieved through adequate preparation in the previous stages, in particular Stages II, IV and V.

Thus, progressively:

•                  single-track shoulder-fore (Figure 10.2);

•                  two-track shoulder-fore (Figure 10.6); and finally,

•                  the true shoulder-in (Figure 10.7)

These three are the foundation exercises for all two-track work.

Travers (croup-in) is built on these.

10.40 The work must be considered seriously faulty when the outside leg/inside rein are the predominant aids to achieve either turns-on-the-haunches or the travers (half-pass, croup-in, or renvers) positions. On a continuous basis there must be a shoulder-in within the travers, and a travers within the shoulder-in. This means that the horse has properly learned to be soft to the rider's inside leg, and with a forward intent has learned to come up to - is received by and accepts - the outside aids. The shoulder-fore and shoulder-in are the best positions to learn to construct the desired inside-leg/ outside-rein oriented riding, which then naturally carries over into the correct travers/croup-in/half-pass position.

Note The terms 'travers' and 'half-pass' apply when Stage VI croup-in attitudes are ridden across the diagonal of the school, or from the centre line or quarter line back to the long-side wall of the arena.

10.41 A useful exercise to practise along the long wall of the school is going from shoulder-in, to single-track volte (Figure 10.8); then to croup-in, to single-track volte (Figure 10. 13); then again shoulder-in, to single-track volte again, and then again croup-in, to single-track volte, back and forth. The exercise helps the rider to feel and understand how these two positions are interrelated and coordinated.

10.42 Through the appropriate use of travers, in judicious combination with the other positions described above, gradually and imperceptibly over the months and years the haunches grow in suppleness and in their ability to lower and carry more weight, until the ultimate manifestation of high degrees of collection are achieved. Even the deep levades, are possible without damaging the horse's joints and tendons. At this stage, transitions and turns-on-the-haunches are other useful training exercises to further polish, hone and balance our living work of art.

Figure 10.13. Croup-in to volte. This diagram shows how the croup-in at position A can easily be converted into a single-track volte at point B with the horse's inside legs lined-up around the circle (C, D, E); then to return again to croup-in along the wall again from B towards F.

10.43 In concluding, it can not be sufficiently emphasized that two-track work is not an end in itself, but a temporary adjunct to training. Two-track work is only a form of exercising aimed at helping augment the malleability of the horse and thereby increasing the quality of the gaits in single-track work, where most of our riding and training should be carried out. The more advanced the rider is, and the further along the training of the horse has progressed, the more the two-track exercises are used just very briefly, and often only microscopically, to refresh the alignment and balance of the horse as needed. These adjustments become ever more imperceptible to the observer. That is, after all, the true goal of fine riding: invisible interaction between the rider and horse!