Repeat the exercise, asking for more during the trot on the long side. First, ask for a lengthening of the working trot and then for more extension, each time with an easy downward transition to walk and then the half walk pirouette to turn around.
This exercise highlights one of the extremes of collection, which is the collected walk required for a walk pirouette. Perfecting this will help you transition to an extended trot because the horse must remain active in the hind legs and do so with a correct bend. The pirouettes give you a moment to gather confidence, establish balance and reward the horse for thinking in the right direction.
In the process, you form the horse as you focus on the integrity of your position to maintain looseness, bend and flexibility. This allows your driving aids to flow through the horse’s back to maintain the looseness that keeps the energy flowing.
It is also important to remember that the extended trot is not all that natural to many horses. In nature most horses will run away from danger by galloping. Occasionally, you will see loose horses start to extend their trot, but they usually break to canter because it is simply easier and more efficient. Because of this, it is imperative that you build your horse’s strength slowly and methodically, work on excellent footing, be judicious about the repetitions of extensions and, as always, finish your sessions when you know that your horse has done the best he could on that day. In addition, remember that rewarding your horse is critical to his mental and physical well-being and understanding. During moments of success, tell your horse that he did it right with an encouraging voice and a relaxed but supporting body.
To improve extension in the trot at any level, experiment with how far you and your horse can go out of your comfort zone to improve—like a singer training her vocal cords to reach the limit of her range. On one end of the spectrum, how far can your horse extend? On the other end of the spectrum, how close can he get to ultimate collection?
Before you take these questions to the ring, make sure your horse is sound and well-shod, that you have good help on the ground and you’re working on at least moderately good footing. Take an honest look at the qualities built into your horse. It’s only fair to ask him to improve according to his specific range of capabilities, which are influenced by his breed, psyche, conformation, age, fitness and training. This is true of all horses at every level.
Arlene “Tuny” Page is an international dressage rider and trainer. Her current competition goal is to have at least two horses get to the Olympic selection trials in June. Her top competition mounts are the 13-year-old Danish mare, Alina, and Wild One, her 15-year-old Danish gelding. She is also campaigning 10-year-old Ice Cup, who will compete in his first Grand Prix in early 2012. Page owns Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, Florida. The facility is home to internationally recognized riders, including Robert Dover and Oded Shimoni. Page has trained with Klaus Balkenhol, Kyra Kyrklund and Hubertus Schmidt. In 2006, she was the U.S. freestyle champion and the U.S. representative to the FEI World Cup and an alternate to the 2006 World Equestrian Games team. In 2007, she represented the United States at CHIO Aachen in Germany. Page serves the dressage community on the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Board of Trustees and the U.S. Equestrian Federation High Performance and Active Athlete Committees.
