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Pyramid of Training - Level I: Rhythm

Last Modified: January 11, 2001

Alex J. Wortmann of British Columbia, Canada is a full-time trainer and clinician. He received both his Reitlehrer degree and a Trainer 'A' licence in Germany. He holds an international trainer's passport and has been teaching and presenting clinics around the world, including Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and the United States, for over 35 years.

He will share his valuable training information with us in the first of a series of articles - Pyramid of Training - Level I: Rhythm

As a professional riding instructor from Germany, and having completed my equestrian apprenticeship program there, along with many years of teaching riders and training horses, I would like to share with you the method used in training horses from basics to Grand Prix.

To have the capability of training a horse correctly, the rider first must start with the most important basics, those being an independent balanced seat, and the right horse for the job. A good rider should teach a young horse, and a beginner rider should ride good quality, well-trained horses. In training, a rider must insure that the groundwork is really solid before progressing to higher levels. In dressage, you must ride with "feeling". You communicate with your horse as you establish contact from your hands through your reins. A rider must be flexible enough to adjust the response to each new movement that the horse makes.

By correct basics, I am referring to the "Pyramid of Training" (die Skala der Ausbildung), which, in Germany, is the standard for equestrian training. It is a systematic, progressive development of six basic qualities in the training of a horse: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection, governed overall by throughness.

Six Basic Qualities in the Training of the Horse (23Kb)

Like building the foundation of a house, a rider must insure that a horse's training consists of a solid foundation, and at each level, perfection has been achieved. The daily use of this method will build a horse with strength, athleticism, and throughness, thereby allowing the horse to accept your aids without any form of resistance or tension.

Rhythm is at the base of the foundation for correct training. It is the regularity and the purity of your horse's paces, and this is the most fundamental of all, for without rhythm, you cannot progress. Rhythm can be described as the spacious, temporal, uniform steps in all three gaits; the 4 beat walk, the 2 beat trot, or the 3 beat canter. The length of stride may change during a gait, but rhythm and tempo should stay the same.

Consistent rhythm must he maintained not just on straight lines but also during transitions and bend lines. No training or exercise is correct if there are rhythm mistakes, and no training method is correct if it causes rhythm mistakes, Keep in mind that unless a rider has achieved a balanced, correct seat, which does not interfere with the natural balance and rhythm of the horse, it will be difficult to avoid rhythm mistakes. A rider's hands must work totally independently of the rest of the body, and both rein and driving aids must be quiet. Common mistakes by the rider which tend to cause rhythm mistakes are:

: - bouncy, floppy legs and constantly aggravating spurs; - floppy knees and thighs; - springing reins

When training a horse, a rider can achieve rhythmical gaits by the following:

: - correct suppling; - by applying quiet but definite driving aids; - soft, feeling rein aids; - supple, balanced and correct seat; - recognizing and maintaining the horse's natural rhythmical tempo; - allowing the horse to stretch so that he can find his natural balance, ensuring that the horse's head does not come too low. The corner of the mouth should be level with the chest bone.; - soft, light, constant and steady rein contact; - not behind the vertical, but rather at or just slightly before the vertical.

A rider must be aware of the footfalls of the horse. The walk is a striding, impulsionless movement in 4 beats with 8 phases. The horse must stride rhythmically, diligently and spaciously forward. The various tempos are:

Medium walk: a free, regular and unconstrained walk of moderate lengthening. The horse walks energetically but ca1mly, with even and determined steps. The hoofprints of the hind legs touch the ground slightly in front of the hoofprints of the front legs. The rider maintains a light, soft and steady contact to the horse's mouth.

Collected walk: The pace should remain marching and vigorous with the feet being placed in regular sequence but each step covers less ground and is higher than the medium walk. In order not to become hurried or irregular, the collected walk is shorter than the medium walk, with the hoofprints of the hind legs covering the hoofprints of the front legs, but never further forward than the front hoofprint.

Footfalls of the Walk and the Reinback (31Kb)

Extended walk: The hoofprints of the hind legs extend further forward of the hoofprints of the front legs while extending the frame, but without rushing and without losing the regularity of the steps. The rider allows the horse to stretch out his head and neck without, however, losing contact to the horse's mouth.

In the reinback, the horse steps straight back, without suspension or impulsion, in diagonal 2 beat footsteps. The horse's steps must be very accurate.

The trot is a swinging motion in 2 beats with 4 phases. The movement must show impulsion and be elastic and spacious. The F.E.I. rulebook states:

"The quality of the trot is judged by the general impression, the regularity and elasticity of the steps. Originating from a supple back and well-engaged hind quarters, and by the ability of maintaining the same rhythm and natural balance, even after a transition from one foot to another."

The tempos in the trot are:

Working trot: the horse is properly balanced and remains "on the bit". He moves forward with even, elastic steps and good hock action. Good hock action does not mean that collection is a requirement of working trot; it only underlines the importance of an impulsion originating from the activity of' the hindquarters.

Medium trot: the horse moves forward with free and moderately extended steps and an obvious impulsion from the hindquarters. The rider allows the horse, remaining "on the bit" to carry his head a little more in front of the vertical than at the collected and working trot, and allows him, at the same time, to lower his head and neck slightly. The whole movement must be balanced and unconstrained.

Collected trot: the horse moves forward with his neck raised and arched. The hocks, being well engaged, maintain an energetic impulsion thus enabling the shoulders to move with greater ease in any direction. The steps are shorter and lighter.

Extended trot: the horse covers as much ground as possible, maintaining the same cadence. The horse lengthens his frame as greater impulsion from the hindquarters is achieved.

Extended trot: the horse covers as much ground as possible, maintaining the same cadence. The horse lengthens his frame as greater impulsion from the hindquarters is achieved.

The canter is a swinging movement in 3 beats with 6 phases. The canter strides must show impulsion, and be uphill and spacious. The horse should always remain straight on all straight or bend lines, with haunches neither in nor out.

The tempos are:

Working Canter: The horse moves forward with even, light and cadenced strides and good hock action.

Medium Canter: The horse moves forward with free, ba1anced and moderately extended strides and an obvious impulsion from the hindquarters.

Extended Canter: The horse covers as much ground as possible, while maintaining the same rhythm. He lengthens his strides to the utmost, without losing any of his calmness and lightness as a result of greater impulsion from the hindquarters.

Collected Canter: The horse, while remaining "on the bit", moves forward with his neck raised and arched in the poll. The collected canter is marked by lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hindquarters (characterized by supple, free and mobile shoulders and very active quarters). The horse's strides are shorter than in other canters, but he is lighter and more mobile.

Counter Canter: A collective movement, also used to check if self-carriage in the collection has been achieved.

In my daily training and teaching, I diligently follow this "Pyramid of Training" because it is important that horses be trained correctly. This pyramid cannot be built in a month - it takes years. It has no shortcuts and no gadgets. The basic qualities require gymnastic and strengthening exercises and time. But only through correct training, will you enjoy success and have a dancing partner for many years to come.

The above article and images were submitted by Alex J. Wortmann and are ©Alex J. Wortmann:
International Sales and Training
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