subject: The More Even The Beat The Smoother The Ride [print this page] . In observing this I have noticed the two beat trot becomes an even two beat. A collected 4 beat walk becomes an even four beats. The three beat lope and the four beat gallop that the evener the beat you can accomplish in collection the smoother the ride. Then we get into horses with a gait gene -- the lateral 4 beat gait as it is evened out in collection becomes smoother. The fox trot a 4 beat diagonal gait the same, even a two beat lateral pace.
One of the exercises I have my students do is learning which foot is rising and falling. Starting with the left front as one we learn the feel of this foot rising and falling through our legs and seat bones. Next the right front we call two, left rear we call 3 and right rear we call 4. We begin by counting with each foot separately until we get the feel or action of each foot in our seat bones. Then we work on the two front feet then the two back feet and then all four. As we get to all four feet we begin to feel the beat. Is the beat even or not?
We then begin to work on collection understanding as we ask for the shoulder to raise this raises the back and the back feet move further under the horse. As we accomplish this we count and feel the beat, it becomes even and the ride much more comfortable and easy to ride.
Although this sounds like it should be easy to accomplish, for most is isnt. Some students have good rhythm and some do not. Those that have rhythm a lot of times find this easier to accomplish. The more we practise it the easier it becomes and the more naturally we can accomplish collection and an even beat and thus a smoother ride. What ends up happening is the rider begins to feel the rhythm of the horses movement and is able to ride with that rhythm. Try it - it is amazing how well it works.
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