Training Scale: Straightness

Straightness comes after Impulsion in the Training Scale and refers to Straightness in the body of the horse and not just going on a Straight line.

Straightness is confusing sometimes because it is about geometry and how the horses' geometry matches the shape you are riding. For example, If you are riding an actual straight line, the horse is literally straight from nose to tail. He is not looking left or right, and his shoulders and hips are parallel. This gets tricky when we want the same thing on a curve, circle or corner. Often on curves, horses shoulders or hips will be to the side of the shape you are riding. Try riding some straight lines and circles and see if you can notice this. A lot of riding is first learning how to feel and notice things and the figuring out how to visualize and ride the right thing.

If you have worked well in the Previous Training Scale elements, You should have a substantially straighter moving horse. Not perfect, but better. Remember as we add elements we continually dance back and forth with all of them until we can get them fairly consistent. There are lots of straightening exercises but as always I like to keep them simple and straight forward (no pun intended!). Riding pefectly straight lines is a great way to practice straightness and then graduate to curves which I think is harder. Best to get a feel for it on the straight line first.

Once you've found a spot to practice straight lines, pick a visual point to focus on like a dressage letter, cone, fence post, tree, husband, friend, etc. Start by riding toward it and just notice how straight or wiggly your horse feels. Keep riding the same line and gradually become aware of the your own body becoming straighter. Your shoulders stay parallel, and your hips stay parallel. Notice some more passes on the lines. What are you observing? As you improve your straightness, add some halts as this is a good way to learn square halts and practice stopping and starting straight on the same line. Here is a video of the exercise with a clip. Let me know how it goes in the comment section : ).
See clip at link below:
http://fdhorsetraining.com/Dressage.html
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Next on the Training Scale is...Impulsion

Impulsion is after Contact in the Training Scale. It is suggesting that the best time to add Impulsion is when the first three Rhythm (Relaxation), Suppleness, Contact are fairly consistent. That said this is merely a guideline and there are times when you need to be outside the box with certain horses. It is always best to listen to your horse when applying any principle or idea to your program.

There are some horses that are so backed up in there energy and movement that forward, high energy exercises may be prioritized before other areas. I find Liberty work especially helpful with these types. It builds the bond and Connection while simultaneously working on the technical aspects of the Training Scale and Natural Impulsion. I find this preferable to using a lot of artificial aids and force which can have the reverse effect of shutting a horse down and sending them introverted. And worse breaking the horses' desire and enjoyment of the interaction of riding.

Impulsion and being in front of the leg also go hand in hand. I want to put my leg on and feel a surge of energy no matter what. I have to feel a change in energy on some kind. If there is a problem here I will work within the Scale on the ground and mounted to help the horse and I overcome it together.

True Connection (the physical kind), Straightness, Roundness, and Collection, cannot be achieved with out a good gas pedal and the understanding of how to balance the energy coming from behind so we are not just pushing the horse faster and faster and more on the forehand. A feel for the horses natural fitness is important also as you can ask for more than they are truly capable of and wind up creating other problems here instead of getting more quality. The photos show two horses moving nicely forward with the first 4 elements of the Scale being applied. Remember breaking each element down will allow you to bring them all together with experimentation and different patterns. The last pattern I posted of circle to straight line of 6 or more strides to another circle and so on is also a suitable pattern for working on impulsion. Sometimes as a horse moves with more Impulsion on a straight away, they lose their balance, rhythm and suppleness. Going back to the circle and staying there will help get those elements (Rhythm, suppleness, contact) back at which point you can go back on the straight line and work on Impulsion. That's where the problem solving value comes in. You keep working on all the pieces until they all come together. Don't hesitate to ask questions or comments below!
FDT
http://fdhorsetraining.com/

With Rhythm, Relaxation and Suppleness comes...

See several examples or different outlines at Liberty, Bitted, and Bitless

Contact, The Frame, or a good Outline. So following this line of thinking, Each area needs to be fairly consistent to have the other. So they are all connected to the whole end product or resulting picture.

It is a sometimes back and forth dance in the training scale because as you work with one thing, you can lose another. So here is where the problem solving value of the Training scale is.

If we have Gotten to "Contact" on the Scale, it implies that we have the first 3 elements fairly intact. Rhythm, Relaxation, Suppleness equals Contact in theory. As the Contact gains quality, We can start to add "Impulsion" which is the 5th element on the Training Scale.

The problem solving starts when we lose something when we start asking for more of something else. For Example: As I start to add Impulsion, I lose Suppleness and therefore Contact or Outline. I would go back to working on Suppleness to regain the Contact and then if I felt it appropriate, I would try to add Impulsion again.

Another example of problem solving with the Training Scale would be. I have a good Rhythm, and when I go to Supple further, I lose the Rhythm or the Tempo changes. So I have to go back to settling the Rhythm to where I want it before I go back to Suppling again and trying to work toward Contact.

All of this can take Minutes, days, weeks, or months to achieve consistency so don't just think this will all come together in one ride. You just stick to a program and you'll know when it is appropriate to add the level of difficulty. My rule is, we have to be fairly consistent at each element before going to the next and be prepared to back up the whichever is necessary to maintain the foundation components. Basically that is what the Training Scale is. The foundation of all training and if there are cracks in the foundation, they'll be problems in your training.

What does good Contact look and feel like? Well it is a result of what the horses whole body is doing that produces a good, soft, outline. It is often thought to be fixed at the mouth or poll but this is not really true. The poll plays a small role but it is something that the horse OFFERS when their body and back are relaxed, supple, and moving in a good rhythm. The correct head and neck position are a by product of a good work program. Also this can be achieved at Liberty, Online and under saddle. As always, I like to start a concept at Liberty, Carry it through online, and then under saddle. The transition is so easy for the horse then, that is fun and simple. How training should always be!

Remember, all conformations, fitness levels, and disciplines seek different carriages (Outlines). At Liberty it is easiest to see what the horse is most naturally capable of and then build up from there over time. Some horses will be naturally heavier in the Contact , and some are naturally lighter as well as softer vs. stiffer. Work with what your horses' natural tendencies are and you will see improvement over time. More videos soon!
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