Читать книгу 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses - Jec Aristotle Ballou - Страница 23
EXERCISE 9: Long-and-Low Transitions
Оглавление| PURPOSE: | Promotes healthy use of the back musculature. |
Trotting the horse in a long-and-low neck posture is a widely used rehab strategy for the back. It opens the spacing between vertebrae, relieves pressure in the lower lumbar region, and ensures the horse is carrying his rider on the passively engaged spinal ligament system rather than the locomotion muscles that run along his topline and are designed only for moving, not carrying.
Transitions between gaits in this long-and-low position refine recruitment of this ligament system in addition to the spinal stabilizing muscles. Classical dressage training books often prescribed these transitions toward the end of the warm-up phase.
1 Begin in an energetic posting trot riding the horse in a long-and-low position (fig. 1.11 A).1.11 A: I begin by getting Diamante connected to my rein contact in a long and low posture. He reaches his topline outward nicely to my elastic contact.
2 Slow down for four strides and then make a gradual transition to the walk so the horse continues to reach out and down with his neck (figs. 1.11 B & C).1.11 B & C: I apply a half-halt and ask him to walk. He responds by stepping a bit farther under himself with his inside hind leg, while continuing to reach his neck outward and downward (B). We complete the transition to walk and Diamante maintains the same posture and connection to my contact (C).
3 After 10 walk strides, keeping the neck down, transition back up to trot.
4 Repeat these transitions. If they are happening without the horse bobbling with his head/ neck carriage, then proceed to some canter transitions as well.
Most horses perform these transitions better with the rider sitting lightly atop them, thus the reason for posting trot. A few, however, will prefer the support of the rider’s seat and legs in sitting trot to prevent them from wobbling around and losing balance. If your horse feels like a wet noodle, try sitting the trot to see if things go better.
