Getting the Extended Trot through the trot?

Question

My pony has started extending but will do it for one or two leads only at B or E and then continues with an extremely fast trot. I have my inside leg behind the girth and my outside leg back further. We are past the stage of him getting the aide confused with the canter. How can I continuously have him extend trot. My aide is obviously nearly right but what else will keep him continuing the extension.

People w/ experience in Dressage riding and extended trot only thank-you.

Answer 1

The Key to the extended trot is actually collection. Try to maintain a slightly collected trot through the short side of the arena, and then deep into the last corner, at which point do a half halt to obtain utmost attention from your pony and then slowly let the pony reach forward into the bit by ever so slightly releasing the contact, and by release I do not mean throw away, you must feel contact through all steps. Once a horse "speeds up" he has shifted his weight onto his forhand and lost collection and thus has to speed up to catch himself as he or she is now off balance. Collection is needed to bring the center of balance back and the weight load onto the hocks to be able to maintain thrust or power from the hind end which enables the horse to reach into the bit and lenghten his topline and stride.

There is no reason to work to much on the extended trot, focus on collection and then occasionally go down the diagonal and "permit" the horse to lengthen. like a happy accident. If you work to often in extensions you can blow tendons. Sounds impossible I know, and it can help to do this when your pony is feeling full of himself some day..natural energy can then be tapped into and released. Collect, collect, collect! And not by just holding short reins...you gotta shift your pony into back-wheel drive for maximum power, so think of lifting your pony's front end and making it lighter with the use of half halts, and lateral movment such as shoulderfors.

Answer 2

The main thing he needs is to get stronger. If you are getting one or two strides where he really reaches through, keep doing what you're doing until he can do three, then four, etc. As soon as you feel him lose his balance and fall down in the shoulders and start to rush, do a transition (either to a working trot, or give him a break and go to the walk). Use transitions to balance and strengthen him. Dressage is about building the musculature of the horse, it takes time and patience. Stay balanced and straight, riding him from the inside leg to the outside rein, adding in half-halts as needed. Soon you will be able to travel the whole long side in a nice extended trot! Good luck and have fun.

Answer 3

Carson and Lindiane are right. It sounds like you are doing everything right. If he is picking up the extending trot at your cue, then I wouldn't focus on that. Unless you are losing your balance and causing him to rush. From my personal experience, I doubt that is the case. It sounds more like your pony is needing to work more on his muscle and balance. I think you are asking too much for him at this time. He is likely not ready for this gait. I think you should do transition work. Only ask him to do a few strides at a time and transition into something easier for him. Then slowly increase the number of strides you ask. This will help strengthen him as well as boost his confidence. Sometimes when a horse can't do what you want them to. But continually ask a lot of them, they can go "backwards" and quit trying. Try to avoid this.

Lots of baby steps in dressage. Be patient w/ your horse and do some research on exercises. Work w/ your trainer and see which exercises would be best for your pony. Check out this site http://www.dressage.to/preresearch/dressage_excercises_html there are lots of exercises and recommendations.

Answer 4

He needs to build muscle,but it sounds like you're doing it right.It's not your aids he's having a problem with,it's actually doing it.Just keep doing what you're doing,until he can do a few more strides,then a few more.Also,maybe look in a horse encyclopedia or something to see if there are any stretches or activities you can do to muscle him up.