| Are you confused about whether or not your First | | | | or 6 strides, and then halt. Then trot again for only 5 or |
| Level Dressage Horse is ready to move up to Second | | | | 6 strides, and halt again. The main thing that you want |
| Level or your Second Level horse is ready for Third | | | | to strive for during frequent transitions is that there are |
| Level? Here are some guidelines. | | | | no dribbly walk steps in between the transitions from |
| Let's say your dressage horse is solid at First Level. | | | | trot to halt and back again. |
| Look ahead to the Second Level movements. Check | | | | You can do the same type of transitions to collect the |
| out the dressage tests. You'll see that you need to | | | | canter. Ride five strides of canter and then five strides |
| work on shoulder-in, haunches-in, renvers, simple | | | | of walk. Repeat this several times with no dribbly trot |
| changes of lead, reinback, and turns on the haunches. | | | | steps in between. As you do the down transition to |
| You'll also notice that the big difference between First | | | | the walk with your back and outside rein, visualize your |
| and Second Level is rather than schooling at the | | | | horse lowering his haunches the way a dog sits down. |
| working gaits like you do at the Training Level and First | | | | Use this mental image to support your aids so that the |
| Level, you're now asked to show modest collection. | | | | croup lowers as your horse steps into the down |
| That means the balance of your horse is more uphill. | | | | transition. |
| And from that modest collection, you're asked to show | | | | Another very simple thing that you can do is ride |
| medium gaits. Medium gaits are basically the | | | | smaller circles. As the arc of the circle becomes |
| lengthenings that you showed at First Level but in a | | | | tighter, the joints of the inside hind leg bend more. |
| more uphill balance. | | | | Obviously, there's more bend in the joints of the inside |
| By doing the lateral work with bend like shoulder-in, | | | | hind leg at 10-meters than there is at 12-meters. And |
| haunches-in and renvers, you automatically develop | | | | there's more bend of the joints at 8-meters than there |
| that slight shift of center of gravity back toward the | | | | is at 10-meters. So by decreasing the size of your |
| hind legs. The shift in the center of gravity creates the | | | | circles while making sure your horses spine directly |
| degree of modest collection that you need at Second | | | | overlaps that arc, your horse shifts his center of |
| Level. | | | | gravity back. |
| Then if you're schooling your horse at Second Level, | | | | The final thing you can do is "collecting half halts". I've |
| look ahead to Third Level. You see that you need to | | | | talked a lot about "connecting half halts", or the |
| learn the aids and the preparation for movements like | | | | connecting aids, which is the third ingredient of the |
| half passes and flying changes. But now, the big | | | | training scale, but collection is the sixth and final |
| difference between Second Level and Third Level is | | | | ingredient in the training scale. |
| that your horse needs to show the difference | | | | With collecting half halts, I like to give three half halts (a |
| between collected, medium and extended gaits. In | | | | hardly visible, almost simultaneous co-ordinated action |
| other words, he needs to show three gears within | | | | of the seat, the legs and the hands) in a row-take/give, |
| each gait. | | | | take/give, take/give. |
| Keep in mind that medium and extended gears grow | | | | Be sure to time the half halts when the hind leg you |
| out of collection. That is, the degree to which your | | | | want to influence is on the ground. That's because the |
| horse bends the joints of the hind legs and lowers his | | | | only time you can influence a hind leg is when it's on |
| croup is the degree that his forehand comes up. His | | | | the ground just before it pushes off. You can feel |
| outline begins to look like a see-saw or an airplane | | | | when a hind leg is on the ground because your |
| taking off. That degree of collection determines just | | | | corresponding seatbone feels like it's pushed "up" or |
| how good your medium extended gaits are. | | | | "forward". |
| So what should you work on to develop the degree of | | | | When you give those collecting half halts, focus on |
| collection that you need at Third Level in order to also | | | | two things. |
| be able to show medium and extended gaits? | | | | 1.With each collecting half halt, decrease the amount of |
| I'd suggest work in four areas to increase collection | | | | ground that you cover per stride. |
| and, therefore, be able to show a clear difference | | | | 2. Keep the same rhythm and tempo as you shorten |
| between collected, medium and extended gates. | | | | the strides. |
| Those four areas are lateral work with a bend, | | | | The "collecting half halts" shift the horse's center of |
| frequent transitions skipping a gait, decreasing size | | | | gravity back. When you trot or canter forward, be |
| circles, and collecting half halts. | | | | sure to maintain the same balance you achieved |
| You've already stared lateral work with a bend when | | | | during your collecting half halts. You don't want to |
| you moved from First Level to Second level. Just | | | | collect your horse with half halts, and then charge |
| remember this equation. Bend plus sideways equals | | | | forward. If you do, your horse will unload his hind legs |
| engagement. Engagement refers to the bending of the | | | | and shift his balance to the forehand. |
| joints of the hind legs. And as the joints of the hind legs | | | | To sum up, following the dressage tests gives you a |
| bend or "fold", the croup goes down. As a result of the | | | | good general program for advancing from First Level |
| croup going down, the forehand comes up. | | | | to Second Level to Third Level and even higher. |
| If you bend your horse and go sideways, you're going | | | | Check out what's coming up next, and start to add in |
| to shift the center of gravity back. That will create a | | | | little bits of what's in the next level. In that way, you'll |
| certain degree of collection. | | | | systematically and progressively add new work. Your |
| But there are other things that you can do to develop | | | | horse won't even realize that he's being asked to do |
| collection such as frequent transitions skipping a gait. | | | | anything more difficult. |
| For example, if you want to collect the trot, trot for 5 | | | | |