Harris' notes
The process begins whilst the horse is in natural outline, working on a long, semi-loose rein, which is gradually shortened to the point of contact. From this, acceptance of the bit is developed and correct head carriage will ensue. The import element is balance. From the start, the idea is to train the horse to become self-supporting and well balanced and, increasingly, this will reduce the load on the forehand. Although, the horse may move with a low neck, it is nothing like the 'deep and low' often seen in modern dressage; the rider should ensure that the poll is not below the line of the withers and, by doing so, make it possible for the horse to travel along the ground, and not into it.
When correcting and retraining difficult horses, particular stiff ones, there is a stage when the horse feels full of himself and desires to express the power of freedom- at this stage he must be allowed to stretch and go forward and downward. This is the vital stage of retraining; only when this is established and not before can 'school movement work' be commenced.
(Loose rein in ordinary walk, trot and canter with free changes of transitions is the sign that the horse is supple and going freely forward prior to school work.)
The dropping vertically of the head and neck limits the forward extension of the limb actions and retards progression.
Unbalanced horses always 'nod on one leg' as an aid in locomotion.
Energy is both mental and physical exhilaration.
The horse always favours a certain leg to 'work' (or jump) from , due to his restricted physical (muscular) stiffness and balance. Hence he must be conditioned to accept identical efforts from either of the pairs of fore or hind legs.
Whatever the amount of head bent behind the perpendicular, so the hind legs are, to a similar abount, wrongly actioned.
When over bent the forehand becomes weighted and control fo the complete hindquarters is unobtainable.
For a walk to be nicely balanced-free, animated, well cadenced with a good tempo, it is necessary that the horse remains supple enough mentally and physically to have the freedom to notice any object of interest around or passing by-tightness of any description will cause the horse to jump.
When overbent at trot the front legs are all action, (but of little value). The gait is running due to the forelegs incorrectly lifting weight while the hind legs keep pushing (wrong kind of impulsion). In other words, by a cramped anatomical form it is impossible for the horse to use himself efficiently.
When overbent at all gaits, particularly the slower ones, the horse must use excessive energy and strain the hindquarters to lift and impel the forehand.
Continual head bobboing up and down denotes that the hind limbs are not fully engaged-and when, accompanying bobbing up and down, there is also wbbling from side to side, this means that the gait is irrebular, stiff and completely unbalanced-although the tempo might be good (regular in beat only).
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April
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