What is cadence?

[only_me]

Am a bit confused over the terminology of some training level words; when reading about transitions, they always say "cadence should be maintained".

But what is cadence?

And, once I understand what it is, how do I achieve it?

sorry for numpty question!

Whilst here
"The best confirmation and proof of the suppleness is that when the reins are given, the horse stretches the neck downward and forward to the bit, without loosing rhythm or balance"

How does that indicated suppleness? is it from being able to work over the back and therefore stretch?

Sorry, trying to understand a bit more about the training scales, and why we use them

 

[3DE]

Rhythm

It means that although you extend or collect the tempo of the pace shouldn't change

 

[only_me]

But surely rhythmn (sp) is a different thing alltogether?
I understand that the paces shouldnt change tempo, but then is rhythmn part of cadence or seperate?

 

[teapot]

I was always taught it was also about balance which should be equal (so legs striking the ground with equal force at the same level)

 

[kerilli]

cadence is (secure) rhythm. they're synonyms really afaik.
as for 2nd question, i think that shows suppleness because it is the opposite of tight, forced outline. if the horse loses its balance when the reins are given, it shows it was a false outline.
i think suppleness is more readily apparent through turns though, tbh.

 

[MegaBeast]

To me cadence is rhythm but also being in balance and not rushing, almost elevated (can't think of the right word). It's possible for a horse to rush at a million miles an hour and still be rhythmical so there's more to it than that.

ETA the dictionary definition is "balanced rhythmic flow"

 

[TarrSteps]

"Suppleness" is both longitudinal and lateral. The stretch is more about longitudinal suppleness, which is arguably slightly more pertinent at the Prelim level because lateral suppleness also necessitates the ability to load each hind leg, which comes with strength and schooling. So even a horse doing very basic work should show a good, even stretch but may not yet show a high degree of consistent, reliable lateral suppleness. That said, the two kinds of suppleness are connected so you're not going to get one without the other, to some extent.

As kerrili said, if the horse is forced/lurking behind/held, no matter how skilfully the rider "fakes it" then the stretch won't be correct. It can also show that a horse with perhaps some attention/ridability issues is basically correct in its work so it can be sort of "extra credit".

For cadence, if you look up the actual definitions of the word, especially those relating to music, it does make sense in a riding usage. It is rhythm but it's also the "phrasing", the emphasis, if you like. So the footfalls are in the same timing but also in the same strength, if that makes sense. In the example you mentioned, the idea is, say, in a trot to walk transition, the trot doesn't slow/quicken/shuffle/"thump" into the transition and the walk starts right away in a strong, four beat march. Easier said than done!

Holding the cadence is also a test of longitudinal suppleness, btw, as the horse has to be able to step under and "soften" the joints while using strength to step into the new gait without loss of balance or rhythm. It's all just pieces of a giant puzzle.

 

[Baydale]

I was always taught it was also about balance which should be equal (so legs striking the ground with equal force at the same level)

That's how I thought of it, so with rhythm you have a levelness/equality to every single step, like a player dribbling a basketball = working trot, or accelerating = medium trot.

 

[only_me]

Ah, thank all

I think I understand it better now; cadence is keeping the rhythmn of the footfall or tempo, in balance and harmony between paces?

Didn't realise There was lontidudinal supplenes as well as lateral, I always assumed it was lateral - now I know I can work on both
I suppose supplness comes from the cadence as well, as the more balanced and rhymitcal (sp) a horse is, the more supple it is?

Thanks v much all, I understand it more now

 

[oldvic]

Cadence refers to the measured power and elevation. A horse can work in rhythm but without cadence, in other words an even beat but rather flat and earthbound but there is no cadence without rhythm. It is a measured rhythm. There needs to be impulsion, a soft swinging back and engaged hind legs to allow the horse to develop expression and "air time". This however is different to a horse springing with a stiff back and hind legs out behind and possibly too slow a rhythm.

 

[Tnavas]

Someone once described it to me as the 'brilliance of the rhythm'

 

[Partoow]

cadence is the expresion of a step, ie. the energy used to motivate the step in balance and self carriage. its a poor translation of the german 'schwung'.
as has been said the brilliance of a step is a good picture.
the suppleness , in your second question is that to stretch and maintain correct flection on the long rein requires not only the long topline muscles to release forward but to maintain the rhythm the horse must articulate the joints of the hindleg more to balance and carry without the support of the hand as well as the longer muscles then being able to show greater 'body' flection so suppleness is shown on several levels.

 

[TableDancer]

Someone once described it to me as the 'brilliance of the rhythm'

I actually think this is a brilliant (sorry) description, I shall remember it I also (for once) agree with oldvic, you can compare two horses with an identical rhythm in, say, trot: but one will spend longer on the ground, the other far more spring and therefore longer moment of suspension - the latter one, provided as oldvic says it is going correctly without stiffness/resistance, is the one with better cadence.

 

[glitterbug]

With tempo being the speed of the rhythm, cadence is the expression within the rhythm, produced when the horse is supple and working through the back and is able to produce collection. It is when the horse becomes able to spend more time 'off the floor' so to speak.

 

[kerilli]

I was in a bit of a rush with my last answer, have had time to think more about it now. I see it as the difference between, say, trot footfalls that sound like
onetwoonetwoonetwoonetwo (rhythmical but perhaps a bit hurried)
and
One Two One Two One Two One Two (rhythmical but with a bit of 'up' in each step = cadence)
In my head though the rhythm is not truly established until it has a bit of cadence to it, when it's fast and unbalanced it isn't true secure rhythm yet.
b

 

[H's mum]

Cadence refers to the measured power and elevation. A horse can work in rhythm but without cadence, in other words an even beat but rather flat and earthbound but there is no cadence without rhythm. It is a measured rhythm. There needs to be impulsion, a soft swinging back and engaged hind legs to allow the horse to develop expression and "air time". This however is different to a horse springing with a stiff back and hind legs out behind and possibly too slow a rhythm.

I couldn't have put it better Lovely description of cadence. It's the whole manner in which the horse carries himself.
Kate x

 

[Honey08]

I couldn't have put it better Lovely description of cadence. It's the whole manner in which the horse carries himself.
Kate x

I agree! Brilliance of the rhythm also describes it simply and well.


I've always described it as a cross between/combination of energy and rhythm.

 

[Roody2]

Have a look at the way Super Nova is trotting in this clip from Badders this year (dressage demo). I think this is the clip where Carl demonstrates that the horse maintains the same rhythm throughout passage, collected and extended trot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe-0PXsSJkg

Cadence to me means there is almost a moment of suspension between each step, showing that the horse is in self carriage, it does have to be relaxed and not forced or tense suspension.

 

[pinktiger]

i always thought it was the 'up' movement along with rythmn(sp)! The push, the power, the athletisism, the front end being pushed up by the power of the hind, in balance and rythm, the look that at any min (there is soooo much power between hand and leg) the horse looks like its gonna explode!!!