NCDCTA News/Ask the Experts – May 2010

Q: Judges have told me that my horse is tense in the topline and that I need to develop a more elastic connection. Can you explain what this means? Do you have any suggestions for addressing this issue? Sincerely, Tense

A: Dear Tense,
Connection, the third building block on the Dressage Training Scale, is defined as “acceptance of the bit through acceptance of the aids.” According to the Object and General Principles of Dressage (USEF Rulebook, DR101, 2.d.), the goal is to demonstrate “the acceptance of the bridle with submissiveness throughout and without any tenseness.” It is sometimes difficult to interpret what judges mean by their brief comments, but it sounds like they are seeing tension, resistance, and a general lack of suppleness.

I picture the ideal connection as a continuous and uninterrupted circle of energy. Power originates from the horse’s “engine” (hind legs), then flows sequentially through the rider’s body (hips, thighs, lower back), the horse’s neck, the poll, mouth/jaw, and back to the hind legs. The horse should be stretching his neck out of his shoulders -- from back to front, engine to bridle -- with the entire topline stretching to the bridle, and with no resistance in the neck, poll, or jaw. When the connection is good, the rider will feel that the horse has a degree of forward-going “intention,” even in the halt and reinback: pressure into the reins feels “alive” and elastic; the horse’s shoulders are “moveable” left, right, and up; the neck is “bendable”; the poll and jaw are flexible; the hindquarters are lively; and the horse is straight (shoulders in line with hindquarters).

When the connection lacks one or more of the above qualities, a piece of the puzzle is missing: somewhere, the free flow of energy is being blocked. Therefore the harmonious “picture” will not be complete. Following are two common examples that you might have experienced:

1. If your leg clamps on your horse’s side like a vise grip, the tension will undoubtedly travel to up into your seat, and it will block the free flow of energy. (Furthermore, you will be “clashing your aids” by telling the horse to go with your leg and stop with your tense seat at the same time.)
2. If your horse is “leaning” on one or both of your reins, he is blocking the free flow of energy. Therefore, you must investigate the source of the “deadness,” which might be in his mouth – or it might be that your horse is leaning on his shoulder(s). If you try to fix the weight in the rein(s), but do not address the “move-ability” of the shoulders, you may not get to the root of the problem. And you will both become frustrated.

I suggest that you test the “move-ability” of all the parts of your horse – poll, neck, shoulders, haunches, etc. – throughout your ride each day. For example, when you ask your horse to go forward with both legs, does he? When you put one leg back, does he move sideways from the placement of the leg, without a lot of pressure (or spur)? When you ask your horse to bend his neck, do you have to “hold” him in the bend with your inside rein aid? Or does he stay in the bend when you let go? If you ask him to move his shoulders left and right, does he? Will he flex left and right in the poll, with or without neck bend? As you test each part of your horse, make sure that you have a clear expectation for the desired response to each aid that you apply, and then see each aid through to its intended fruition. That is, get a response!

As you test each of the individual parts of your horse’s body, you will inevitably find “blocked” spots, where the free flow of energy is interrupted. If you continually remove those “blockages” as you discover them throughout your training sessions, your horse will become more “elastic,” and give you that fluid feeling and harmonious appearance that delights judges!

Lynn Leath of Chapel Hill has been owner and head trainer of North Star Training Center since 1983. Lynn has the distinguished honor of earning her USDF Gold Medal on a horse that she bred, raised, broke to saddle, and trained herself to Grand Prix. Lynn then purchased d’Artagnan as a barely-broken five-year old, and the pair made their Grand Prix debut in March, in Florida, proudly placing second with a 64%. Read more about Lynn and her training philosophy at www.NorthStarTrainingCenter.com