Improving the trot

[Governor]

I've decided to take the plunge and enter Gov into BD (he's had 4 dressage outings so far unaff) as he's going so well.

He works well from behind in a consistent outline in all paces now but his trot could really do with opening/lifting up as we work towards medium trot.

I've been using the Pessoa to lunge him which is getting him rounded etc and he's starting to stretch and work uphill in trot down the long sides but his stride still looks (and feels under saddle) fairly short. We're doing plenty of transitions on circles and going large - the one that does seem reasonably effective is trot - halt - reinback - trot.

I'd be grateful of any suggestions (sorry if the post is a bit vague!)...

 

[sillygillyhorse]

I would try lunging and riding over poles working up to raised poles. as he progresses make the distance between the poles wider so he has to stretch more. Hope that makes sense.

 

[KatB]

I evented a horse that had a terribly shuffly trot ( and by no means am I saying G has a shuffly trot!!) but the only way we got him going nicely was by really slowing down the rhythm, and concentrating on pushing every single stride out so squeezing to push the horse infront of you on every rise, if that makes sense?! By slowing the rhythm, it gave the horse more chance to extend and swing, if that makes sense??
Pole work can also help to lenghthen the stride, and get him swinging forward.

From what i've seen , he is gorgeous though, so good luck, and sure you'll be fine!!

edited because i'm half aslep and cant spell or make a sentence up!

 

[LEC]

My horse has a good trot but it could be fantastic I work on slowing the trot right down in sitting to get him between hand and leg and very active. I then move back to working and then move onto medium all the time chaging the pace and getting him active and moving forwards. Its getting better all the time and by chaging the pace you really notice the difference when you come back to working in the action and stride length.

 

[samp]

i would do lots of transitions to get him more responsive, then incorporate some leg yielding etc and 10m circles

 

[little_pink_piggies]

raised poles ona circle and put them so that he has to stretch for them dont work for too long over tham as it can be quite tiring though!!!

 

[not_with_it]

Ive been working on my medium trot in my lesson today so hope this really helps.

Do lots of collected work in the trot and walk to really get him taking weight behind. Things like shoulder-in, hanches in, pirouettes, half pass will all get him to bring his hindleg under more. Collect him on the short side in sitting trot and as you come into the corner think 'up' and go rising and push him on and let him open up through the long side then collect again through the short side. If he tries to tip forward onto your hand give him a little upward movement with the hand to say no.
With my mare the collection really helps the lenghthening.

Hope this helps

 

[DressageChick]

His stride will be short if he isn't supple enough over his back. To encourage more fluency and a more groundcovering stride you need to work on longitudinal suppleness (over back) this will improve elasticity also. So focus on all exercises that improve suppleness first, then you can work on engagement (scales of training).

 

[pootler]

Hmm interesting, what sort of exercises would you recommend dressagechick? I'm trying to get my boy to stretch over the back more.

 

[Peanot]

[ QUOTE ]
My horse has a good trot but it could be fantastic I work on slowing the trot right down in sitting to get him between hand and leg and very active. I then move back to working and then move onto medium all the time chaging the pace and getting him active and moving forwards. Its getting better all the time and by chaging the pace you really notice the difference when you come back to working in the action and stride length.

[/ QUOTE ]

I do this in my routine. I have been doing a lot of these exercises in my lessons to get my horse working more from behind. We do the exercise on a circle and in a square as the clover leaf exercise. We work on the basis of #trot 1, 2, 3 and 4. Trot 1 is a very short slow but energetic trot, trot 2 is a working trot with energy and trot 3 is a lengthened medium trot.
We are concentrating on 1,2,and 3 at the moment and it has really improved the trot and also the canter. Her outline is very good and very consistent now.
To get your horse to work over her back, work her deeply, Deep work on the lunge is very good to work through the back also,