HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
So whilst I count the hours down until I can collect the keys to my new house, I thought I'd ask you lot on something that I'm confused by.
*Warning potential stupid question(s) coming up*
Why and where, does the modern piaffe shown in most international shows come from?
From my basic uneducated eye, a lot seem to bounce behind but with little weight being taken through the hind-end, so no real collection/ engagement? Then there are ones that bring the hind legs seemingly too far underneath but get penalised for becoming too base short, (like they are balancing on a ball with all legs together), why is this considered wrong in comparison? I thought piaffe was the ultimate (well not ultimate, but ultimate for competitive dressage) collection in the trot, so should the hind legs not come under to carry more weight?
I know how difficult it is as a movement, so I am aware that it could just be that for those horses it is the best piaffe they are capable of showing, but it almost looks like that's how people are training it (the bouncing behind piaffe) and it scores well generally? Is it that modern dressage horses are so expressive that it is also coming out in the piaffe with higher more 'expressive' steps?
Topaz is at the super duper exciting stage of piaffe training, we've done half steps and building it up and are now working on actual piaffe (I feel so unqualified to be doing this but hey that's what an amazing instructor can do for you ). We're currently trying to balance the energy onto on the spot(ish), and when it all comes together she feels like she really sits behind (it feels incredible and instructor says it looks great) and I'm just pondering how the top guys seem to get this very energetic behind piaffe and if that is the next stage from getting an established on the spot piaffe?
We will never be a competitive combination at GP lol, so this is all idle musings to pass the time, so over to you guys, modern piaffe what do you think?
*Warning potential stupid question(s) coming up*
Why and where, does the modern piaffe shown in most international shows come from?
From my basic uneducated eye, a lot seem to bounce behind but with little weight being taken through the hind-end, so no real collection/ engagement? Then there are ones that bring the hind legs seemingly too far underneath but get penalised for becoming too base short, (like they are balancing on a ball with all legs together), why is this considered wrong in comparison? I thought piaffe was the ultimate (well not ultimate, but ultimate for competitive dressage) collection in the trot, so should the hind legs not come under to carry more weight?
I know how difficult it is as a movement, so I am aware that it could just be that for those horses it is the best piaffe they are capable of showing, but it almost looks like that's how people are training it (the bouncing behind piaffe) and it scores well generally? Is it that modern dressage horses are so expressive that it is also coming out in the piaffe with higher more 'expressive' steps?
Topaz is at the super duper exciting stage of piaffe training, we've done half steps and building it up and are now working on actual piaffe (I feel so unqualified to be doing this but hey that's what an amazing instructor can do for you ). We're currently trying to balance the energy onto on the spot(ish), and when it all comes together she feels like she really sits behind (it feels incredible and instructor says it looks great) and I'm just pondering how the top guys seem to get this very energetic behind piaffe and if that is the next stage from getting an established on the spot piaffe?
We will never be a competitive combination at GP lol, so this is all idle musings to pass the time, so over to you guys, modern piaffe what do you think?