Questions about collection and lengthening

[ems]

Hi, now I can ride but thats simply walks, trots, canters, gallops. I was just interested in how you collect and lengthen strides. Any information would be helpful, thanks.

Ems

[Lgd]

Collection - horse needs to shorten his steps and outline, take more weight in the hindleg but at the same time maintain impulsion. Ask by becoming lighter in the seat (feel as though you are growing taller), maintain the impulsion with legs, use tiny half halt aids to help shorten the step and ask the horse to put more weight into the hind leg. The degree of collection the horse can achieve depends on his level of schooling, if it is not used to collecting you will need to start with just a few steps and then go back to the working trot.

Extension - opposite, horse needs to lengthen the frame and take longer steps without going faster, ie ground cover not speed. Need to deepen the seat (feel a LITTLE heavier in the saddle, be careful not to tip back or get too heavy as this will hollow the horse), really lengthen your legs (feel as though you are reaching down for the hindleg), allow the horse's frame to lengthen by giving the reins forward slightly (don't let the contact go loopy) give a slightly stronger leg aid to ask the horse to start lengthening then just enough leg to maintain the impulsion, if you keep asking too much with the leg the horse will tend to run onto the forehand and lose balance. Like the collection the length of stride achievable will depend on level of schooling and again it is better to ask for a few strides and then collect the trot a little, then lengthen again.

Hope that makes sense, there is lots more to it than this but it would take quite a few pages to describe all the potential problems and solutions. Best idea is to ask someone to watch you and tell you what you are doing wrong/right.