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
http://fdhorsetraining.com
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Dear Farah,
ReplyDeleteThis is great, thank you. I have started to become mindful of straightness with the groundwork I do with my mare. My idea is to work on straightness in hand, loose in the picadero and on the lunge before doing it mounted to help her strengthen and supple without the weight of me on top. Would your guidance translate easily to ground work, leading along a straight line with a friend to watch from the back, for example. Also, i tried to teach her shoulder in from the ground but the forward movement with the usual signal to turn confused her so maybe something to slowly work on or build up to following more picadero work?!
Thanks,
Hey HDI! thanks for your comment. I would teach the shoulder in and shoulder fore on a circle at Liberty or with the Cordero (Neck strap) with the line on the circle. I think this will help her get it better and yes it takes patience. But the Shoulder fore is a good place to start. I do have a Cordero video that touches on this if you'd like check it out let me know.
ReplyDeleteShoulder fore is a straightening exercise that's why I mention it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Farah, i'll look into it.
ReplyDelete