Training Piaffe

[IrisSilverMoon]

Since I have awhile until the next sow I really want to get started trying to get George doing some piaffe. So I was wondering if anyone had any exercises that might help?

so far I've been doing things like walk/halt/back/walk and trying to sort of rock himback and forth, a step forward a step back. I've also been working on control of his walk so that i canget him really light and slow, a nice school walk. So far he seems to get one step and then his haunches shoot out and i have to restraighten him. He's very willing, but obviously confused since he's never had to do anything remotely like this before.

So if anyone has other exercise ideas that would be great! I want some help from Craig as to what to do, but he's out of town for a bit so I figure here would be a good place for some other ideas.

[galadriel]

Chapter 10 of "Common Sense Dressage" by Sally O'Connor: teaching piaffe in-hand, teaching piaffe under saddle, and riding piaffe.

[Lgd]

Piaffe must be forward, so I would stop using the step back tactics immediately.

You start teaching ridden piaffe using what are called 'half steps'.

This means that you really collect the trot for a few steps so that the horse elevates and shortens the step but maintains some forward movement and keeps the trot tempo. As the horse becomes stronger the steps become more in place and can be maintained for longer. Even at Inter II and GP level a degree of forward travel is permitted in the piaffe, any hint of backwardness is penalised heavily.

The horse does eventually have to commence piaffe from walk but they need to be really established before they can do it successfully and correctly.

Unless you have someone with you who knows how to work piaffe from the ground I wouldn't attempt to work it in hand yourself.

[IrisSilverMoon]

Thanks guys!

Originally posted by Lgd

Unless you have someone with you who knows how to work piaffe from the ground I wouldn't attempt to work it in hand yourself.


I am going to get some in hand lessons to try this. I can do in hand work, but I've never done piaffe in hand so I definately want guidance.

[babe]

my instructor is teaching me piaffes at the moment. it damn hard work but fun. it will feel so good when i finaly can but im sure the work will b worth my while.