DADAR
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In this chapter we shall consider the progression of putting the horse on the bit, from the first steps to more advanced ones. For the horse to be on the bit there must be (1) position and (2) acceptance of the bit. By position we talk about the horse having his head on—or a little in front of—the vertical position (Figure 6-1). By acceptance, we speak that the action of the reins can act on the horse. That is, the horse is light and supple enough to accept the hands of the rider. The horse might appear to be on the bit, yet if he does not stretch his head to meet a giving rein or if a horse can evade a half-halt, he is not truly on the bit. As the horse's training progresses, the rider obtains (3) elevation, with the horse’s neck being able to be lifted higher for collected movements. The neck may never be lifted higher than the horse's training permits, of course, without loosing the lightness and acceptance we have spoken about.
At the trot, the horse on the bit is engaged, shows good suspension with correct engagement of the hindquarters. The tail of the horse is an indication of not only a quiet correct position of the head and engagement of the hindquarters, but also of the calmness and quietness of the aids. If the horse is not moving freely forward, the position of the head and neck are of no importance and useless. Even at the halt there must be a feeling of impulsion, a readiness to spring into action.
For the purpose of simplicity, this topic is put together in one chapter, but it should be understood, as with so many of the other subjects, that the progression of the horse will take a long time from the easiest to the most advanced levels. Putting the horse on the bit, like that of making the horse straight, is a task that is never totally finished or completed.
We have said earlier, that a rider should post rather than sit the trot until the horse is on the bit. Figure 6-2 shows how a horse on the bit can take the added weight on the back (the muscles of the back become taut as the neck goes on the bit), while one who is not will react by making the back more hollow.
: When the horse is on the bit, his back can accept the weight of the rider; when the horse is not on the bit, adding the weight of the rider at the trot causes the horse to hollow his back.
The horse can be on the bit within the vertical and "something" in front of that—depending on the amount of collection. Further in front of that point the horse will be above the bit, and the action of the reins will not be able to go through because of stiffness. Neither will the action of the reins function properly if the horse is behind the vertical, or behind the bit. In this case, instead of stiffness, there will be hollowness, or lack of contact.
When the horse is on the bit there are different degrees of elevation, from the ramener to the rassembler ).
At the trot, the horse on the bit is engaged, shows good suspension with correct engagement of the hindquarters. The tail of the horse is an indication of not only a quiet correct position of the head and engagement of the hindquarters, but also of the calmness and quietness of the aids. If the horse is not moving freely forward, the position of the head and neck are of no importance and useless. Even at the halt there must be a feeling of impulsion, a readiness to spring into action.
For the purpose of simplicity, this topic is put together in one chapter, but it should be understood, as with so many of the other subjects, that the progression of the horse will take a long time from the easiest to the most advanced levels. Putting the horse on the bit, like that of making the horse straight, is a task that is never totally finished or completed.
We have said earlier, that a rider should post rather than sit the trot until the horse is on the bit. Figure 6-2 shows how a horse on the bit can take the added weight on the back (the muscles of the back become taut as the neck goes on the bit), while one who is not will react by making the back more hollow.
: When the horse is on the bit, his back can accept the weight of the rider; when the horse is not on the bit, adding the weight of the rider at the trot causes the horse to hollow his back.
The horse can be on the bit within the vertical and "something" in front of that—depending on the amount of collection. Further in front of that point the horse will be above the bit, and the action of the reins will not be able to go through because of stiffness. Neither will the action of the reins function properly if the horse is behind the vertical, or behind the bit. In this case, instead of stiffness, there will be hollowness, or lack of contact.
When the horse is on the bit there are different degrees of elevation, from the ramener to the rassembler ).