Collection
This morning I was reading
Masters of Equitation on Collecting and Lengthening (Masters of Equitation Series)
and came across a
passage that tickled my funny bone. The original
is from Academic Equitation: A Preparation for International Dressage Tests (Classics of Horsemanship) .
The Rassembler (collection) is the disposition of the
horse's body which affects all of its parts and places
each one in the best position to ensure the most efficient
use of the energy produced by the efforts of the hind
legs.
These efforts can have an immediate and special
purpose, or can be a preparation for several eventual
purposes.
The race horse before the start, the show jumper before
going over an obstacle, the dressage horse before performing
a courbette, all collect themselves, but the disposition
of their body... is different in each case, and so is the direction in
which their energy is spent ultimately.
But collection can also prepare for an output of energy
that can be used for several purposes.
The 'rogue' who wants to resist and prepares himself to
do so, adopts a general disposition that makes it possible
for him to shy, to rear or to turn about, depending upon
the vicissitudes of his struggle with the rider. He assumes
an intermediate attitude that he can instantly modify.
He also is collected, but his collection can serve several
ends.
The kind of collection suited to academic equitation
belongs to this last category, though it must not be confused
of course with a preparation for resistance.
Masters of Equitation on Collecting and Lengthening (Masters of Equitation Series)
p 39
Really? Here is the remainder for completeness -
In the
first place, it must ensure to the horse the maximum mobility
in all directions and the ability to make rapid changes of
speed. Furthermore, it must enable him, in answer to
his rider's command, instantly to impart to his gaits the
maximum elevation compatible with the length of stride
that the rider wishes to maintain.
Masters of Equitation on Collecting and Lengthening (Masters of Equitation Series)
p 40
I have discovered over the years that it is indeed easier
to get a horse to do something if the horse had the idea to
do it itself in the first place.
One of my more delightful experiences with this was when my
mare decided to show off for someone across the fence line
- O my! Light, airy, floating, heaven! I find flying changes also come more easily when the horse
wants to do them, whether out in the field or at the end of
a diagonal. And it's amazing what horses can jump
when they want to. All of which require the ability to
collect in preparation for a purpose.
Yes, eagerness comes high on my list of prerequisites
for learning, right up there with safety and desirability.
When the horse thinks it's their idea and they're wanting to
do something, it's much easier all around.
Since there isn't always a handsome hunk of horseflesh
hanging over the fence, I have found that those old boring
mainstays are really quite good at re-balancing and
developing collection. (I have seen 'trainers' razz up
their horses, and this does, indeed, get some readiness,
but, for my tastes, this is getting a little too far from
"The kind of collection suited to academic equitation <that>
belongs to this last category," and a little too close to that which "must not be confused
of course with a preparation for resistance.") The
methods I've come to appreciate are:
- transitions! Done right, transitions are fabulous for
re-balancing. I had once read that all riding is done in
the transitions, and I now agree. Also, I've come
to appreciate how important it is to allow the horse to
do the transition on its own -- ie without 'aiding' with
the reins, legs, or weight. It's important to ask
and then allow. (aka get out of the horse's way!)
- the easiest transition is probably walk to halt
and halt to walk.
- next on the line is probably trot to halt and halt
to trot.
- one of my favorites is halt to reverse
- my next favorite is walk to canter
- and then there's walk -> halt -> reverse
-> walk, eventually getting rid of the halt
- or walk -> halt -> reverse -> trot or
canter off
these last four are wonderful for
getting the horse to use itself and introduce the
concept of being balanced and ready. The real
trick to all of these is that it can't devolve
into WWIII. It's necessary to ask clearly and
then give the time needed for the horse to figure
out what is wanted and how to deliver. Trust
the horse to be able to do this and you win brownie
points!
- within the trot
- within the walk
- within the canter
- changes in angle
- gradually, over time, ask the horse to carry
itself more-so with the inside legs lined up.
- changes in direction
- squares - or circles with corners in them,
re-balancing before and after each corner.
- walking turns on the forehand. In CR we do
this on a square, re-balancing before and after each
corner, which is where the walking turns on
the forehand are done.
- walking turns on the haunches. In CR we do
this on a square, too, re-balancing before and after each
corner, which is where the walking turns on
the haunches are done.
- leg yield left, leg yield right, leg yield left,
etc.
- a favorite from a dressage test:
- come down the center line
- do a 10m circle at D/G
- at X leg yield into the corner
- if you want, lengthen on the diagonal and
repeat the mirror pattern
this has just enough
in it to get the horse thinking, I need to be
ready.... The first few goes might feel
like turning the Queen Mary, but after that, the
horse will hopefully cotton on that life will be
very much easier if they stay awake and on top
of things.
- Jeff Ashton Moore recommends randomly aimed &
timed changes and since seeing this at one of his
clinics and trying it out at home, I agree! It
works like a champ.
And then there's other things, too, but this is
the start of it. Couple this with asking for the
balance and moving only with in it, giving many rests,
and the rewards will come quickly.
Have you had a chance to play with this in your
riding? What is your experience with this?
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