xp0u4076
Well-Known Member
Completely random question (not that I'm ever going to attempt it) but how do you get a horse to do piaffe or passage - it has always baffled me!
Piaffe and passage
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Pasha
Well-Known Member
Some trainers teach from the ground... they have a person leading the horse and a person at the back with a schooling whip... they tap just above the top of the hock with the schooling whip to make the horse go into a very collected trot, then the person at the front restricts their forward movement
I'm sure there are many other ways - probably better than this.
I managed to get a Piaffe out of Pasha one day by accident when we were teaching him halt-canter... he got so excited and collected and was bouncing up and down like tigger - I asked for trot and he did Piaffe - my instructor was over the moon, but sadly we haven't managed it since
I'm sure there are many other ways - probably better than this.
I managed to get a Piaffe out of Pasha one day by accident when we were teaching him halt-canter... he got so excited and collected and was bouncing up and down like tigger - I asked for trot and he did Piaffe - my instructor was over the moon, but sadly we haven't managed it since
Tempi
Well-Known Member
you can teach it from the ground.
My horse is just starting half steps of both, but thats with me on board. I collect the walk, make sure ive got him through from behind and up into my hand. I then tap my stick on his bum and squeeze upwards with my legs. He then produces some half steps. However hes got a natural talent for piaffe/passage. Quite a lot of horses are taught from the floor initially.
My horse is just starting half steps of both, but thats with me on board. I collect the walk, make sure ive got him through from behind and up into my hand. I then tap my stick on his bum and squeeze upwards with my legs. He then produces some half steps. However hes got a natural talent for piaffe/passage. Quite a lot of horses are taught from the floor initially.
katiejaye
Well-Known Member
Louis has been learning it from the ground too.
However like P_G I have managed Piaffe on board when Louis has been working through correctly from behind and up into my hands. However Louis can collect very well so it seems to come to him quite naturally.
However like P_G I have managed Piaffe on board when Louis has been working through correctly from behind and up into my hands. However Louis can collect very well so it seems to come to him quite naturally.
Malibu
Well-Known Member
same as pg and katie, Rupert can naturally collect rather well and he will do it when excited or tense (show-off)
Llwyncwn
Well-Known Member
My trainer was telling me that some people do it over raised poles. Hopefully I will find out one day
Halfstep
Well-Known Member
I have been taught to introduce it in-hand and never under saddle, and have done this with horses in the past. However my present horse is extremely good at collection and sitting and has offered piaffe under saddle happily.
In hand you can see what the horse is doing and can time your aids (taps with the whip, voice and half halts) more easily. With a horse who is happy to offer half steps under saddle, I'd alternate in hand work with half steps from walk when ridden. Having someone on the ground when you are in the saddle helps a lot.
Kyra Kyrklund's book has a brilliant chapter on teaching piaffe in hand - highly recommended.
In hand you can see what the horse is doing and can time your aids (taps with the whip, voice and half halts) more easily. With a horse who is happy to offer half steps under saddle, I'd alternate in hand work with half steps from walk when ridden. Having someone on the ground when you are in the saddle helps a lot.
Kyra Kyrklund's book has a brilliant chapter on teaching piaffe in hand - highly recommended.
Partoow
Well-Known Member
How i start to train the piaffe and the passage really depends a lot on the horse.
I start the process actually in that when i pick up the hind feet they must hold them up while i tap the cannon bone with my hand . the foot can then be put back down when i stop tapping.
By training this reaction i can then apply it to work in hand. I position myself at the horses shoulder next to the fence holding the reins in one hand . My horse know that a touch from the whip on the flanks means walk forward which they must do without falling against the hand. so first step is walk , halt relax on the contact, i usually give them a piece of carrot or sugar. Then repeat until we can move in and out of halt in a relaxed way. Once i have done this out of the walk i will tap the cannon bones of each hind leg. First just getting a one/two; pat relax walk. Then feel the contact in the walk and then one, two ,three, walk . Each time just keeping the whole thing soft and concentrating on activity in the hind legs and light in the hand.
To then move onto riding i have an experienced person on the ground who does exactly as i have described and then i ride the 'aid' for , in this case the piaffe. The leg position is important, and is well back with the seat light i also use my voice , a tongue click[ forgot to tell you that bit] The connection is round and soft but not too deep as if you dont develope the piaffe from the walk they can step over too little ground i.e they have a base for the piaffe that is too small.
As with everything it is difficult to explain exactly as there is so much feel involved . For me it is important to be able to put the pressure on and then turn it off a bit like a switch. The other thing to be avoided is going wide behind and the jumping from one leg to another. It is important to encourage the hind quaters to lower so not asking for too much.
As for the piaffe the leg position is different is well for ward with both legs at the girth and i ride it from the trot that i progressively half halt , i then use the legs alternatively and hold with my thighs added to this you keep the contact round but up and in both reins.It is important watch the straightness as they tend to try and give you their strong side. this is another reason i always use the edge of the school to help support them in this straightness. Again 'ask' relax and reward is very important.
I ride the passage to 'normal' trot transition to improve the transition into and out of piaffe.
Thankfully i have had a horse that could do this work so he taught me so much and understand totally how to get what i want with him as relaxed as possible.
I start the process actually in that when i pick up the hind feet they must hold them up while i tap the cannon bone with my hand . the foot can then be put back down when i stop tapping.
By training this reaction i can then apply it to work in hand. I position myself at the horses shoulder next to the fence holding the reins in one hand . My horse know that a touch from the whip on the flanks means walk forward which they must do without falling against the hand. so first step is walk , halt relax on the contact, i usually give them a piece of carrot or sugar. Then repeat until we can move in and out of halt in a relaxed way. Once i have done this out of the walk i will tap the cannon bones of each hind leg. First just getting a one/two; pat relax walk. Then feel the contact in the walk and then one, two ,three, walk . Each time just keeping the whole thing soft and concentrating on activity in the hind legs and light in the hand.
To then move onto riding i have an experienced person on the ground who does exactly as i have described and then i ride the 'aid' for , in this case the piaffe. The leg position is important, and is well back with the seat light i also use my voice , a tongue click[ forgot to tell you that bit] The connection is round and soft but not too deep as if you dont develope the piaffe from the walk they can step over too little ground i.e they have a base for the piaffe that is too small.
As with everything it is difficult to explain exactly as there is so much feel involved . For me it is important to be able to put the pressure on and then turn it off a bit like a switch. The other thing to be avoided is going wide behind and the jumping from one leg to another. It is important to encourage the hind quaters to lower so not asking for too much.
As for the piaffe the leg position is different is well for ward with both legs at the girth and i ride it from the trot that i progressively half halt , i then use the legs alternatively and hold with my thighs added to this you keep the contact round but up and in both reins.It is important watch the straightness as they tend to try and give you their strong side. this is another reason i always use the edge of the school to help support them in this straightness. Again 'ask' relax and reward is very important.
I ride the passage to 'normal' trot transition to improve the transition into and out of piaffe.
clipclop
Well-Known Member
Something tells me you know your stuff
I love reading your replies.
I love reading your replies.
Llwyncwn
Well-Known Member
And about bloomin time too hun
Can we now have mounted Levade please
Can we now have mounted Levade please
Partoow
Well-Known Member
if you want to know about Levade i can do that too!! both under saddle and in hand!
Usually you use the piaffe to encourage the engagement required for the levade as the angle of the body of the horse should be about 45 degrees so the piaffe brings the hind leg under the body gets the croup to lower and as the piaffe should be carried from behind with the fore limbs light sitting and holding the Levade should then be EASY!!!!!
The main problem i have is when i am doing a dressage test is that my boy always thinks its cool to do this rather than the rein back!!!!! Humour less judge has put' rearing at start' to which my reply is 'hu dont you know a levade when you see one!!'
It all fun however and i love this journey of discovery these horses take you on
Usually you use the piaffe to encourage the engagement required for the levade as the angle of the body of the horse should be about 45 degrees so the piaffe brings the hind leg under the body gets the croup to lower and as the piaffe should be carried from behind with the fore limbs light sitting and holding the Levade should then be EASY!!!!!
The main problem i have is when i am doing a dressage test is that my boy always thinks its cool to do this rather than the rein back!!!!! Humour less judge has put' rearing at start' to which my reply is 'hu dont you know a levade when you see one!!'
It all fun however and i love this journey of discovery these horses take you on
Llwyncwn
Well-Known Member
Right O., bout to tack up and try it
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
partoow would love to see some pics
Dutch
Well-Known Member
You do get used to it, so does your horse, they are both my favourite movements to ride!! For Piaffe it can be trained by collecting the walk and using a few little taps on the hindleg/top of the hip whilst you half halt with your body to collect...again aim only for a few collected strides still moving a little forward at a time...most riders put their legs a little "out" and "back" and with the half halts soon the horse understands exactly what you are wanting, it depends how in front of the leg the horse is...also how strong and advanced he is ofcourse.
The passage is a highly collected trot so again you just use your body with half halts and he will go into passage, again putting your legs a little bit back and sitting upright will tell him to collect into passage, passage also requires a lot of energy from the horse and rider and a few steps at a time should be asked for in the initial stages....so this can only be attempted once a collected trot can be acheived to the aids.
Have fun, this sort of work takes time but will also develop your horse and his muscles....don't be afriad to play around a bit with this, but definately not every session or anything. Doing this in a snaffle to keep the contact soft and round is also a sensible plan if your horse goes well in one already.
Di
The passage is a highly collected trot so again you just use your body with half halts and he will go into passage, again putting your legs a little bit back and sitting upright will tell him to collect into passage, passage also requires a lot of energy from the horse and rider and a few steps at a time should be asked for in the initial stages....so this can only be attempted once a collected trot can be acheived to the aids.
Have fun, this sort of work takes time but will also develop your horse and his muscles....don't be afriad to play around a bit with this, but definately not every session or anything. Doing this in a snaffle to keep the contact soft and round is also a sensible plan if your horse goes well in one already.
Di