working horse in outline?

[Em 1]

This is going to sound really silly but......

......is it possible to ride a horse such that it's hindquarters are engaged, the back is rounded and it is moving forward freely without the horse having it's head in the classical 'outline'?

[Yann]

According to one of our fellow liveries, who knows her stuff, yes. She's recently bought a veteran dressage competition pony who was able to do so, though I think he is working more conventionally now:) I suspect that if the horse has sufficient physique then it might be possible.

[S_F_S]

Edit; read the question wrong.

Yes, I entirely agree it is possible.

Think of your warm up- pushing the horse forward from his hindquaters, working correctly over the back, but without the collection of the forehand- the head stretching down and neck long.

The horse IS working correctly, but the head is not at the vertical position, with the 2nd vertebrae highest.

Sometimes I will work my horses over their back, long and low without asking for the head to work directly onto the bit- particulary when trying to relax them and build up back and topline muscles.

Hope this helps;

Emma.