Does anyone know how to develop a better trot in a young horse...

[Diana Murphy]

I have a 3-year old filly who has now successfully competed under saddle in two large shows. Feedback from Anne Gribbons at Dressage at Devon was: "lovely character, very honest filly, she did everything the rider asked". She mentioned that my filly was somewhat flat at the trot, but she could tell it could be developed and brought out in her. Any advice as to how to develop more air/suspension at the trot? The filly has a lovely canter and really steps under herself. She is extremely soft and supple. Attached are a few photos -- you can see more photos in my album entitled "Belladora".

[Catherine]

Lovely mare. I got my guy as a five year old and he had a great walk and canter but also needed work on his trot. Working a lot on throughness over the back and focusing on the hind end seemed to help him. I would do some forward and back in the trot and really ask her to step up behind in the collection. Use strong half-halts but make sure not to stop the forward motion with your hands. Also make sure she does not get rushed in the forward trot, and if she does rebalance her then try only a few steps at a time. Lateral movements such as shoulder-in should also help develop the trot once your horse is older. Some horses just seem to take more time to develop and I have found that as you increase the degree of collection and bend their trots seem to become better. Make sure your mare has good balance in the gaits and is able to change the tempo when you ask. Good luck! I'm sure she'll develop with time.

[Diana Murphy]

Thanks for the quick response. We have been working on everything you mentioned -- lateral movements, shoulder-in, forward & back at trot, etc. She's very soft and supple and collection seems to come easily for her. She does sometimes get quick and like you said, we'll half-halt to get her focus back. What's weird is that when she takes her first step at the trot, you can really see "it" there - she'll sit on her hind-end and lift the front... Unfortunately, she just doesn't hold it. I was definitely hoping she naturally develops this as she gets older. This weekend, I tried something toward the end of our workout. I let her trot out on a loose rein so she could drop her head - and that actually seemed to help or at least it felt like she had a little more lift off the ground but it's hard to say.

I have a lot of different video clips on Youtube showing her progress from the time she was first started through DAD. If you have free time and want to watch, maybe you can see the quick, flat trot that we're trying to improve (search 'Belladora warmblood' or use the following link if you want to see a list of video's: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=videos&search_query=...).

Thanks again for responding so quickly.

[Catherine]

From watching the videos, she seems like she's definately improved. She already has a good hind leg, so once she learns to lift up her shoulders a little more for a longer stride it appears she'll have a nice trot. Stretching is definately a good idea, I always ride my horses long and low in the beginning and end of my rides so they can work over their backs and I agree that it improves the trot. I always try to keep a light contact so they have something to work into. It's a good sign that you can feel that first uplifted step, which means as she gets stronger she should be able to hold that throughout her work.

One exercise you can try is to come through the short side in a balanced trot, then in the corner do as small a circle as you can manage while keeping the balance, really asking her to engage her hind end. Then give a big half-halt and let her reach into the contact on the diagnal. For the first couple times don't ask for too much of a lengthening, just let her find her striding and encourage her to push herself forward. As soon as she starts quickening or losing balance, do another circle on the diagnal and try again. Always make sure she is over her back and not resistant in the bridle. If she feels tight, don't worry if you need to do a walk transition to gain the correctness back. Transitions seem to help the horse feel the kind of trot we want because, like you said, that first stride always seems to have nice lift and suspension. Hope this helps!

[Diana Murphy]

Thank you again -- for taking the time to respond and for watching the videos. She has improved a lot since being backed in June. She's young so I have to constantly remind myself to be patient. She is so easily trained and picked up everything so quickly... At the end of the day, she's still a baby and has plenty of time to continue progressing. So I will continue working and improving. Looking forward to the 4-year old classes next year! Thanks again!

[Catherine]

No problem. Good luck! I hope you two have a great show season! :)

[Diana Murphy]

Thanks! I'll probably give her a little break this winter and start showing again late spring/early summer 2010. Be sure to keep me posted on your progress!!

[Queenrider]

Try cavaletti. My 3 year old had a flat trot when I broke him in March but just lunging him over 4 poles on a 20 m circle for a couple of minutes without sidereins for 3x a week has really helped develop his trot. This is included in his regular work of 10-12 minutes of lunging follwed by 10-12 minutes of under saddle work.

[Diana Murphy]

Thank you! We've worked over ground poles from time to time, but haven't made it a part of our regular routine. Cavaletti's definitely sound like a good next step. Thanks! I will give it a try.

[slc2]

Just time and a lot of basic correct training to accept the bit, respond to half halts, get straighter, more supple, etc.

[Diana Murphy]

Thank you. Time may be the answer. As to the rest of your suggestions, I don't think that's what we're missing with this filly. She has received exceptional training since she was started late May with competition results that prove it (missed first place in Materiale at Dressage At Devon 2009 by .10%). She accepts the bit very nicely with plenty of salivation, she responds to the rider in every way and is extremely soft and supple, which is why Anne Gribbons commented at DAD on what a nice filly, with lovely character. The question I was asking about was improving her suspension, bringing out the natural lift that you see in the field. I like Queenrider's suggestion about cavaletti 3x's/week and think that's more in line with what my filly needs -- that and more time to grow up.

Check out her video (from Suitability at DAD - she was the highest placing filly in the class - against FEI quality stallions and competitors)...
>
Thanks again.

[slc2]

Suspension is about natural ability, natural balance, and as far as the training goes, what develops suspension is half halts. Cavaletti encourage a horse to lift his feet off the ground - that is not suspension.

Your horse in the video, on that day, shows a markedly quick, short, tense, stiff movement with her front legs at the trot. Cavaletti is not the full answer to this, and this isn't about suspension alone, but more the general quality of the trot. Cavaletti is beneficial to all young horses, but this horse needs to loosen, lengthen her stride, and her quick forelegs need to show down and her hind legs need to be the quicker.

This is a common problem with the modern, elegant type of warmblood. Often making the trot more sweeping has several ingredients - stretching, suppling work, fitting the saddle carefully so the back is comfortable, letting the neck looser and longer without lengthening the reins too much and giving up the balance, etc.

Suspension is not lifting the feet off the ground, it is the amount of time that all 4 feet are completely clear of the ground, and it means the horse pushes with his legs, and pushes his body up in the air, not just his feet or his knees lifting.

Half halts 'wind the spring' and create more power in the hind quarter. The energy goes forward to the front of the horse, meets the hand, and is recycled back to the hindquarter by the classical 'circle of the aids'. If there is no 'meeting' at the front of the horse, the energy is not recycled.

People argue all the time about how much to work with a young 3 year old and what to work on, but a skilled trainer can start to teach a 3 year old contact, half halts, the circle of the aids, and using his hind quarter, without forcing the youngster into too stiff or tight of a position.

[Diana Murphy]

Good observations... She was quick, tense and had stiff movement at the trot during this early morning class. It was her first class at Devon and only her 2nd show/2nd time off the farm after only 3 months under saddle. She was definitely more nervous/tense during this Suitability class. Fortunately, she was able to relax more for the Materiale class that took place later in the day (which was the class with the positive feedback and praises from Anne Gribbons). Unfortunately, I don't have video from the Materiale class, but the fact that she placed 2nd with a 71.5% and positive feedback demonstrates we're on the right track. Although she was quick and more tense earlier, I don't think that's totally uncommon in a young or inexperienced horse at their 2nd show (and judging by the competition, she really didn't do a terrible job -- the judge could differentiate between young nervousness and outright tense disobedience).

She does understand the half-halt and drops her weight onto her rear-end while lightening her front-end immediately. If she gets a little heavy on the front, we half-halt and remind her to stay light. But as with all works in progress, this is a matter of more time and continued training. We're trying to develop a happy/willing partner and not emphasize too much too soon. The Bereiter I'm working with will help us continue to progress this winter and we'll only work her lightly to allow her to continue growing (maybe 2 days/week). For now, I'll be looking forward to next year!