Tell me about extended trot please......

[Monty]

Why is it that I only know I've achieved a successful extended trot if I feel very uncomfortable and very unsteady???
Isn't there another way of telling...... or rather is there a way of achieving it, without feeling that way??? Somebody please do tell. I know what I'm after. I can tell immediately if someone else is riding Rebel whether he's got it, or is just trotting faster. But the only time I can be sure when I'm riding Rebel, is when I've got him on the bit, I'm rising very high and going with him, as Rachel says, and not pulling him back like I'm pushing a wheelbarrow down hill, and I feel so bounced at the pounding of his hooves that it hurts me, and is exhausting. There has to be a better way.......doesn't there?

[Maria]

Hi Monty

Technically a horse needs to be working well in collection before you get a good extended trot. So it's a bit daft that dressage tests at the lower levels ask for lengthened strides IMHO. I've seen arguments for including this work at novice level but most of the time you see a change in tempo rather than a genuine lengthening of the stride.

As I'm sure you know, the tempo of each of the different trots should remain the same, the horse just covers more or less ground with each stride. You shouldn't feel like the trot is getting faster. A good extended trot should feel uphill.

Years and years ago when I was first taught "extended trot" in a lesson, I was told to remain rising through the gait. You might like to try this Prince was a large long black German warmblood on short legs but he had quite an impressive trot.

Maria

[mikka]

Hi Monty, I wonder if what you're feeling is the same as what I've had on my big mover. Whilst most might, at least those I've ridden, move with 12 steps along a 40 m side, mine gives 8 or less, at a slow trot.

[Monty]

Sorry, that's what I was trying to say. I DO remain rising.Rebel's working trot is even too bouncy for me to sit to. Normally, rising in working trot, on Rebel is energetic but comfortable. But his extended trot, when I've got it, is colossal. He extends from in front and from behind, and it's just just so HUGE that it nearly bouces me out of the saddle, despite my furiously trying to rise to it. Guess this is just 'tough luck' eh?

In RDA tests ( I'm not familiar with BD Tests) you usually have to show just a couple of lengthened strides, accross the long diagonal. It's so huge, I find it VERY difficult to gather him up, if you understand what I mean, before we hit the corner. I'm terrified that one day, I won't manage and we'll belt into the corner in a massive swinging trot, so that we can't take the corner!!

Music is also good for telling you whether you're just going faster, or whether the horse is truly extending, because if you go faster, you lose the beat.

Mikka, I think it may actually be the same problem again, with nothing much i can do about it, except grin and bear it!

[Heather]

Hi Monty,

To be honest, if the horse is truly moving though his back, the extended trot shouldn't be too difficult to sit to, or rise as the case may be. It should feel like being carried on the crest of two big waves, but not rough or horribly bouncy- which means that the horse is running and throwing his legs out, rather than lengthening the stride.

Send me some more video down!!!

Heather

[Wally]

Monty, I think I know exactly what you are saying. I do not often ride horses with big movement, you, until recently didn't.

When I rode Ringo at Heather's it was a bit of a baptism of fire, perfect gent as he is he has a big trot and when Heather asked me to ask Ringo to extend I felt as if I was going into orbit, I have a jolly sight more flex to my spine than you and am another few inches taller, no wonder you feel a bit phased, I certainly did.

I felt like I was bouncing about all over the place, Ringo, bless him, obliged as I heard this little exclamation of amazement come from the other lass, sat in the corner of the school, on the course with me.

I think it is something that just takes getting used to..if you can.

I have ridden Arabs in extention and it feels different to a Warmblood extending, not so much elevation and oomph. more ping, ping, ping, if you see what I mean.

[virtuallyhorses]

Its all about true balance - I've really only learned about really being in balance at any gait recently. Now when everythings clicking together I feel like the energy of the horse is sitting in a big ball around the pommel of the saddle, my hips, hands and forearms enclose it. Its almost tangible. Everything else feels still.

If I ask for extension when I have this feeling, we fly in giant bounds across the arena and yet I am still balanced. I simply open my hips and soften my back to allow the movement.

If I try it in my old position I tend to be bounced out of the saddle causing me to grip with my toes, lock my knees a little - a cycle of tension and imbalance. The key to everything lies in finding that 'golden position' - once you've had the feel of it nothing else will do until you can keep it automatically. The bad news is - its a combination of good teachers, practice and struggle to get there...

[Monty]

Therein lies the problem, Virtuallyhorses. I can't open my hips any more, and my knees naturally grip, or at the very least on a horse as relatively narrow as Rebel is, they close on the saddle and I cannot move them away.The two movements belong together.One can't be done without the other. I'm glad you said that, it has sort of made it clearer in my mind.

I want a below waist transplant, and I want it now!!

God, I must be the only person in the world looking forward to a hip replacement.

[virtuallyhorses]

Sorry Monty, if its any consolation its taken me 3 years to feel that wonderful feeling - and I'd still quite like a lower back\pelvis replacement myself. I have one of those typical female backward tilted pelvis' with lordosis of the spine and assorted sacral injuries that can sometimes mean I spend 5 mins readjusting my spine (clunk!) so that I can lie flat on my back ....

I don't know if it'll help but I just thought of another image - do you remember those ridiculous fore runners to the bike, where you sort of sat in the saddle and then took long gliding strides on either side of the wheels to move forward.

Try that when you are thinking extension - to be honest I sometimes lose my own legs when I'm really riding well- like my hips are connected directly to Imp's back legs and my own legs are just a part of his sides. Then move your hips as if you are straddling one of those walking-bikes and taking big strides with your legs. I find it amazing how much the mind can actually override physical limitations, if you ignore them.

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~awoodley/pics/reg/velocipedes.jpg