Another very interesting article

Brilliant! I do lots of things in walk and indeed teaching on the ground also has to start in walk.
 
Hmm, lots of good stuff in the article (if rather common sense - I'm not sure how common it is to attempt to teach lateral work in trot before walk...), and I do agree that the walk can be a little neglected as a training pace at times. However, I absolutely do not agree that all horses who amble in walk do so due to a severe restraining rein contact. Some horses just amble, because, well, it's just how they like to roll. And that statement undermined the writer's viewpoint a little for me....particularly as they devoted none of the article to how to create impulsion in the walk, which is absolutely vital to getting straightness and quality in the other exercises that they discuss. The most common issue I ever see with walk work is lack of impulsion.

So yes, not a bad article - good principles but a bit puritanical and naiive for me. I liked the discussion on collecting and stretching though.
 
i found that really interesting as i had a very hot horse and used to do lots of work in walk and found the lateral work really helped to get her soft through her back and neck.....i always thought it was the right way for my horse but had some criticism from others....this article makes me feel i was on the right track after all.....
 
Thank you for sharing this. I love working in walk and have a trainer who uses it a lot in training. It's really helping my horse to supple up and engage better.
 
DabDab said:
Hmm, lots of good stuff in the article (if rather common sense - I'm not sure how common it is to attempt to teach lateral work in trot before walk...), and I do agree that the walk can be a little neglected as a training pace at times. However, I absolutely do not agree that all horses who amble in walk do so due to a severe restraining rein contact. Some horses just amble, because, well, it's just how they like to roll. And that statement undermined the writer's viewpoint a little for me....
Click to expand...

If the horse ambles and / or walks laterally when loose in the field then yes

If not then 99% of the time it's to do with training, discomfort or both
 
Wheels said:
If the horse ambles and / or walks laterally when loose in the field then yes

If not then 99% of the time it's to do with training, discomfort or both
Click to expand...

Well yes, I'd say anything that negatively impacts a horse's natural way of going is rider/trainer error or discomfort 100% of the time.

But saying that a particular trait like the propensity to walk without much purpose is always a very specific rider error is just plain wrong.
 
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I think something may be lost in translation? I believe he is referring to a kind of almost lateral but not quite lateral walk - uneven 4 beat walk rather than lacking purpose?

The article does seem to differentiate between those pre-disposed and those horses that have had the walk ruined.
 
Yes Wheels, you are right. It doesn't mean "amble" - going in a lazy manner, but the 4 time walk.

Before dressage and carriage horses, a riding horse like a Palfrey would be an ambler as the gait is quick and comfortable when riding long distances. It was the introduction of carriages where the 2 time trot looked smart and the fashion for dressage in 17th century where the horse had to do a diagonal trot to develop their muscles evenly.
 
Ah OK, if that's their meaning then that makes more sense.

However, have just re read the article to find that bit and I'm still not overly convinced that it says a great deal.
 
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