Starting Piaffe & Passage

[arabjumper]

My Arabian has successfully mastered all lateral work, and has fair collection and extension, but when I try to teach him piaffe and passage, he inverts his back and breaks gait. Any suggestions?

[Skyhuntress]

Have you tried starting to teach him on the ground with another person?

[S_F_S]

The fact you state he only has 'fair' collection is probably the source of the issue - these are both movements that requireextreme collection and strength, so until you have a spot on collected trot then you can't expect him to be able to cope physically or mentally with the more advanced movements.

I suggest getting a trainer to help you - you really do need someone experienced on the floor at first.

[Lgd]

Sounds as though he isn't yet strong enough to do it. They need tremendous strength in the back and quarters and even then they need to start with a few piaffe half steps.

It is best taught in-hand with an assistant and then with rider on with an assistant on the ground before doing it alone.

Some horses with natural ability will show baby steps quite early - breeds such as PRE and lusitano. Most other breeds will take longer to have the carrying power - TBs and Arabs in particular tend to come into this category as conformationally they have a tendency to be croup high.

Just looking at my two current competition horses shows the difference.

Peri is 7/8TB but was competing Advanced Medium (L3 + changes) and Advanced (L4) and was a 12yo before she was physically and mentally strong enough to establish the piaffe and passage, yet she was happily working all the other GP skills.

Tavia has a natural aptitude for piaffe (she is Russian Orlov, which is bred along similar lines to the PRE types) She offered me passage spontaneously as a 5yo when she was excited. She started piaffe under saddle as an 8yo when she was still competing Elementary (L2), she is currently competing Advanced Medium (L3 with changes) and has done one Advanced but already has a quality of piaffe that is good enough for GP, yet still lacks the skills in other areas of the GP work.

[jackbruv]

well i think that until your horse has SUPERB collection and extention then dont even go there. surely if they only have 'fairly' good collection and extention how can the passage and piaffe be taught, as these are extremely demanding, and if you have only got a fairly good collected trot the passage cant be taught as she/he wont be strong enough to carry you and perform the required movement.:)