Training the Horse – Circular Tracks
Chapter XIII (Excerpts from Dressage by Henry Wynmalen.
p. 151 (1952)
Lateral flexibility—Physical development—Rein-effects—The direct rein—The indirect rein—Seat and position of rider—Leg effects—Alteration of direction—Circular figures—The volt {sic]—Riding through the corners—Other circular figures
The riding of circular tracks is the most important of all training exercises.
Its purposes and effects are many.
Going on a circle the horse has to bend his body, from his head to his quarters to conform to the shape of the track. This is not easy for the horse. Hs spine, between withers and quarters, has but little lateral flexibility; in sympathy the muscles of the loins, which lie to either side of the spinal column, are not used to that side of the loin contract to the right, the muscles to that side of the loin contract and those to the other side of the loin extend. The exercise of extending and contracting these muscles is beneficial to their flexibility, suppleness and strength. We know how important those muscles are to the action of the quarters (impulsion), so it follows that, but improving the muscular structure of the horse’s loins, we improve his capacity for action.
Thought it is much easier for the horse to been his neck, in front of the withers, than his back, it is yet true to say that the horse comes none too easily to lateral flexions of the neck. Yet again, a degree of improvement in that lateral flexibility is of considerable importance. Hence once more re remark that the attractor muscles, responsible for moving the forearm of the front legs, are attached to either side of the horse’s neck. Improved resilience of these attractors muscles benefits the case and power of his movement in front.
I have here spoken of “a degree of improvement of the lateral flexibility of the neck” on purpose. I believe that ample improvement in this respect can be achieved by riding the normal circular tracks, and the exercises on two tracks to be discussed in a later chapter, without any need to resort to the special neck-bending exercises, standing still, advocated by Baucher and Fillis. Others have pointed out, and I share that opinion fully, that no advantage is derived from an excessively flexible “rubber’ neck. I believe the disadvantages of that particular procedure to outweigh the advantages and, at any rate, I am not frond of any work not done in movement.
As will be discussed in a later chapter, the trot is the gait par excellence for most of our schooling. The trot is a pace of two-time, in which diagonal pairs of legs, near-hind and off-fore, off-hind and near-fore, function together, with a moment of suspension as each pair of legs leaves the ground. It follows that in any normal trot, on a straight line, each hind-leg and each foreleg belonging to the same diagonal pair, travel precisely the same distance.
Obviously, trotting along a circular track, this is no longer so!
On a circular track, say to the right, the right foreleg and the right hindleg follow the smaller, and the left foreleg and the left hindleg the larger of the two concentric circles. It follows that the legs travelling on the outer circle have to take longer strides than the legs on the inner circle. This would be of little consequence, but for the fact that the left hindleg, which has to make a long stride on the outer circle, is a pair with the right foreleg making a short stride on the inner circle! And vice-versa for the right hindleg and the left foreleg! This discrepancy m ay not be very material on a large circle but it is most definitely so as the radius of the circle decreases. It requires a degree of adjustment in the horse’s locomotion which is not inconsiderable; unless the horse make that adjustment, his balance and his rhythm will be affected. Hence the undoubted difficulty in maintaining unaltered rhythm, and unimpaired impulsion, in riding small circular tracks at the trot.
The difficulty is not so material at the walk, which is a pace of four-time, wherein all four legs move independently of each other, nor in the canter, which is a pace of three-time.
It will be understood also, that the legs to the inside of the circle carry a greater part of the horse’s weight than the outside legs; this affects in particular the inner hindleg, which has to develop considerably increased energy.
Taking these various factors into consideration, the bending, the adjustment of stride and rhythm, the increased effort imposed on the inside hindleg, it is clear that we have, in the circular track, a physical exercise of the highest order.
It is not an easy exercise for the horse, and much of the time is required to perfect him at it. Naturally, we must begin with large, or ever very large circles, reducing the radius only gradually, in accordance with the horse’s proficiency.
I must have mentioned several times already that flexions are obtains more easily by the effect of won rein than by the effect of two. In that respect also, the circles are most helpful in obtaining flexions, both from the jaw and at the poll, quite naturally.
Provided only that we use the correct rein, seat and leg effects.
Most books on riding teach us to use the direct opening rein, when wishing to alter direction; so, to turn right, we shorten the right rein, and, to turn the other way, the left rein. And that, in effect is what most people appear to do when attempting a circular movement. There are two serious inconveniences. In the first place, it is essential that, in a circular movement, the horse shall be able to bend his head and neck freely to conform with the parabola of the movement. And, however much we use the direct rein, the horse will be quite unable to bend to its effect unless we lengethen at the same time the opposing, or indirect rein, proportionately.
And that is precisely what any number of riders seem to overlook entirely. As a result we see a horse being more or less forced to a circle, held tightly between a “pull” on both reins. Through the pull, or backward action, of both reins, impulsion and rhythm are destroyed, as also the possibility for the horse to bend; the exercise, done in this manner, is a travesty of the circle, and valueless.
The rider who uses the direct rein to “open” the turning movement of his horse, but who remembers to lengthen the indirect rein, so that the horse shall not be prevented from bending, does very much better, and can ride a quite acceptable circular movement. But even his action is by no means ideal!
Let us examine this proposition rather more closely.
Again, almost every riding book tells us that we have to use pressure of our outside leg, on the circle, to prevent the horse swinging his quarters out.
Now why is that?
In the system of lungeing that I use (Chapter IV), I do not get that trouble; I let my horse go freely on a very lightly held lungeing rein, with effects no pull on the hors’s head. Precisely, no pull! Consequently, the horse flexes himself without hinder to the direction of the track.
And the circular track is a direction!
It is not a turn!
The way a horse turns naturally on his centre; to turn his forehand to the right, he swings his quarters to the left (Chapter VI, p. 75). If the horse swings his quarters out, on the circle he does so because he is ridden as if to turn. He is so ridden by the use of the direct or opening rein. Using that rein to bring the horse’s head round, we have to shorten it, which cannot be done, however gently, without exerting some pull. Some pull in the direction of the quarters; the action of the rein in that position is so similar to that of the rein of opposition to the haunches (Chapter X, p. 122) as to make no matter; and, since we know that the action of the rein of opposition to the haunches causes the horse to move his quarters over, it follows that the use of the direct or opening rein has precisely the same effect.
Now it is perfectly true that this swinging the quarters out effect of an opening rein is not so strong that it cannot be countered by a contrary effect from the leg, pushing the quarters back again. But, surely, there is no point in creating effects that we do not want, even though we may be able to neutralize them again; particularly so, as all such contrary effects must affect the horse’s rhythm and forward movement adversely. And, above all, why do so if a much cleaner rein-effect is at out disposal, whereby these difficulties can be avoided?
I refer to the use of the indirect rein.
I will explain.
The riding of circular movements is essentially a form of collected riding. Consequently, when riding to commence a circle we have the horse collected, in front of the legs, straight and on the bit with even contact on both reins. Now, to commence the circle, there is no need whatever to take any action with the direct or opening rein. Instead, we lengthen the indirect rein. Since we take no action with the right rein at all, the question of setting up a force of opposition to the haunches does not arise. But we have our horse well in front of our legs, maintaining undiminished impulsion; the effect of this impulsion causes him to re-establish equal contact with both sides of his mouth; he does that by bending his neck to the right. Which is exactly what we want!
And our manner of obtaining it has many advantages, apart from that of avoiding opposition to the haunches. p. 145
We do not shorten the horse; we do not alter the length of his stride, nor his speed, nor his cadence. In fact, since the sum total of our two reins is greater than it was before, we lengthen him; we allow a certain amount of extension to his neck; this allows him to carry the heard a little lower, encouraging him to flex. It lightens the extra effort imposed by the circular track on the inside hindleg. Last but not least, it is a method of confirming the horse in the invaluable habit of pursing his bridle, of looking for it and of seeking, himself, to maintain contact!
This then, explains the principle in its simplest form. On a large circle, nothing else is needed. But on a small circle, the rein-effects become slightly more complicated. On a small circle, we require a considerable degree of flexion of the neck; to achieve it, we have to lengthen the indirect rein a good deal, and, in so doing, the sum total of the length of both reins; too much in fact to maintain the horse’s position and balance intact. Consequently, on the smaller circles, we are obliged to shorten the length of the direct rein sufficiently to cause the horse to contact his bridle in the right position. But, and this is important, whilst we lengthen the indirect rein to permit the degree of flexion required, we shorten the length of the direct rein just enough to insure continued contact by the horse on both reins. Without pulling on the direct rein. Merely enabling the horse to keep contact at the correct distance from our hand!
This lengthening of the indirect rein, to cause flexion to the opposite side, is its primary effect. It can be used on any horse, no matter what the stage of his training, provided only that there exists a fair acceptance of the bridle.
There is a secondary effect that may be used with advantage on horses that are far advanced in their training. It is the effect of exerting a light pressure with the indirect rein against the horse’s neck. It is mainly useful in beginning a circle, in riding through corners and in gradually reducing the radius of the circle, as for instance in riding a spiral track.
To turn to the right then, we lengthen the left (indirect) rein, we adjust the length of the right (direct) rein, and we bring the left (indirect) rein to bear against the horse’s neck, supporting the tendency to the right.
But we are here on dangerous ground! In the first place, the amount of pressure exerted must be so slight that the horse cannot feel any resultant effect of the indirect rein on his bridel; if he did it would be a backward effect, detrimental to his forward movement and to his flexion. In the second place the pressure must be so slight that it does not take the horses forehand to the inside of the pure circular track intended. In other words the horse must not be neck-reined, and swung, as in polo!
Slight effects of this kind cannot be operative until the horse is already very well balanced, sensitive and light to the aids.
But, apart from that limitation, the secondary effect of the indirect rein is really a logical outcome of the use of the rider’s seat and position in the saddle during circular movements. The horse’s balance and rhythm, during these movements is delicately adjusted and easily disturbed; it is most essential that the the “unity of balance” between horse and rider be as near perfect as possible. The rider’s seat, his body above the saddle, not forgetting his head, have to follow in sympathy with the horse; the rider must flex, just as the horse flexes; to lengthen the indirect rein, the rider’s outside arm, hip and shoulder move forward; to adjust the length of the direct rein, his inside arm, hip and shoulder move backward; as the horse’s neck flexes to one side, so does the rider’s; as the horse’s entire body leans over towards the inside of the circle, so does the rider’s, precisely in the same degree; as the rider’s body heels over towards the inside of the circle, so does the rider’s, precisely in the same degree; as the rider’s body heels over towards the inside of the circle, so do his hands, both of them; the heeling over of the outside hands needs to be accentuated but a trifle to cause the indirect rein to bear against the horse’s neck; as the horse looks where he is going, on the circular track, so does the rider!
In the beginning of the training, the rider “follows” his horse.
Later in the training, the rider “accompanies” his horse.
Finally in the training, the horse “accompanies”his rider.
The need for the horse, and the rider, to lean over towards the inside of the circle, requires some further clarification. The green horse, who lacks balance and sufficient supplness to ben along the circle, will have to lean over very markedly (le cheval se couche dans son cercle). The well-schooled, balanced and supple horse needs to do so much less, and will retain a position nearer the vertical.
I have paid considerable attention to the various rein-effects on the circle, in an attempt to explain them clearly; the horse’s performance is made or marred according to the delicacy of their precision.
Yes, precise and delicate rein-effects are impossible without full and frank acceptance of the bridle by the horse. And there can be no full acceptance of the bridle without generous impulsion, adequate for the movement with something to spare. There must be a measure of brio. The slower, and the more intricate the movement, the more difficult it is to maintain that brio, and the more necessary it is to have something to spare in the amount of impulsion produced by the horse.
[BRIO EXPLAINED by wiki.answers.com -- Brio in the horse world indicates a characteristic of both physical and mental qualities of horses with Spanish origin. Brio literally translates to "controlled fire". Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos are said to possess varying degrees or amounts of brio because of their fascinatingly fast, flashy, powerful gaits which they are able to maintain for tremendous lengths of time and for their extremely intelligent, yet gentle temperaments.]
That, precisely, is the primary object of the rider’s legs, when riding circles; they cannot be ridden really well without sufficient drive to maintain the forward urge of the horse into his bridle. The circular track in itself demands from the horse and the inner hindleg in particular is taxed more severely.
The rider’ legs have to be vigilant and allow of no relaxation in the forward contact, exerted by the horse on the rider’s hand, not by the hand on the horse’s mouth. That forward pressure may be light, certainly, but it must be positive, even when felt only through the weight of the rein! The entire horse must give the rider the feel of carrying him forward with a will, generously, with enthusiasm.
Whilst both the rider’s legs have to play their part in creating and supervising this impulsion, it is usually the inside leg that has to be the more attentive, since the more heavily loaded inside hindleg of the horse is directly influenced by it.
Now, whilst I stand by my opinion that there will be not tendency on the part of the horse to swing his quarters out if the reins are handled in the manner that I have indicated, that must not be taken to mean that the rider’s legs have no role to fulfil in steering the horse! Most certainly they have. I have done my best to make it abundantly clear, in Chapter VI, that the horse steers himself mainly from his quarters. Accordingly, it is quite impossible to steer the horse accurately, whether on a circle or on a straight line, without adequate control of the horse’s quarters. How this control is perfected will be dealt with in a later chapter.
Taking everything into consideration, the riding of a good circle taxes the abilities of both horse and rider to a considerable degree. The smaller the circle, and the more intricate the circular movements, the more these difficulties grow. Common-sense dictates that we shall start with large circles and simple movements and, as always, work for careful, methodical progress. A large circle, well done, is far more valuable than a smaller one leading to difficulties.
Whilst it may be comparatively easy to maintain a level balance on a determined track, on a straight line or even on a circle, any alteration of direction is liable to unbalance the horse causing him to lose impulsion, to change his rhythm, or to put in one or two uneven strides. This is a very real difficulty, The answer is to be found in demanding an increase of impulsion and firmer contact a moment or two before the alteration of directions is made.
CIRCULAR FIGURES
THE CIRCLE, THE VOLT, RIDING THROUGH THROUGH THE CORNERS, OTHER CIRCULAR FIGURES.
In the first place we have the circle (le cercle), and the volt (la volte). Colloquially the two expressions, circle and volt, are frequently mixed up. Yet there is a most decided difference; the volt is a small circle of a determined size, whilst the circle may be of any size, larger than the volt.
In commencing to school a young horse in the open, we may select a circle of any diameter, provided it be a large one, to begin with. If we have a regulation school, then the width would be twenty metres (twenty-two yards). Obviously our horse will have to go about eighteen inches away from the wall, so that the largest diameter of any circle possible in such a school would be about twenty-one yards.
That is quite a good size to begin with, and there would be not point, naturally, in reducing the diameter until our horse can perform really well on that large circle.
The volt is the circle of academic size; it is the smallest circle which the horse can perform either on one or on two tracks, the forehand turning round the quarters; in other words a turn on the haunches of 360% (la pirouette). Consequently the radius of the volt is equal to the length of the horse. This definition is given by Guérinière, and remains recognized as determining the correct size of the volt.
It follows that this radius is variable within narrow limits according to the size of the horse; but, since the average length of a horse is about three metres (ten feet), it is reasonably accurate to take the radius of the volt as being ten feet and the diameter twenty feet (six metres).
