Confused...Please Help...?!?!

Question

Okay well heres my question and it's a little complicated so be prepared lolz...I asked a question earlier about can your horse have impulsion without being in a frame and someone explained it and basically said that it should be established before the horse is even put into a frame...well does that mean that i have to spend like 10 extra minutes at the trot just trying to establish impulsion? or CAN i put my horse in a frame and then get it? because if i go into the show ring i cant spend like 5 minutes just cantering circles trying to establish impulsion and then go and do my course...lol can someone please explain all this to me?

Answer 1

I responded to your other question based on how you train the horse.  Once the horse's training is sufficient for you to be showing, you will be able to cue for collection and you will get impulsion and collection all at once.  You aren't ready for showing yet.

I completely disagree with smarty pants...that is completely backward.  You must have impulsion before you can frame the horse.

Answer 2

okay, try thinking about it like this.

Your end goal is to run (like yourself, no horse involved) with your knees going up as high as they can.  

You would have to start moving foreward AND THEN lift your knees in order to get the end result.. You would have much too hard of a time walking with you knees up and then running, right? (but you could do it, and the same goes for riding, you COULD get the head then the bum, but thats not how we ride.. we ride back to front)

Its the same idea, you need to get the foreward movement (impulsion) before you can get the control (collection).  You're riding from your leg to your hand always, back to front.. so impulsion to frame.

During the courtesy circle in a hunter course your horse should already be warmed up and ready to go, so you should ask for impulsion for a few trot strides, then get collected, and then go into canter with the collection.. If your able to show it shouldn't take that long to get the collection.  

Answer 3

Well trained horses go into stance immediately

Answer 4

Your horse must first be in frame to get impulsion. Your horse can't get the right kind of  impulsion if his back is not rounded, he isn't on the bit, and his rear end isn't under him. He has to be in frame to get impulsion...If he wasn't you sould be trotting around very fast with a hollow horse...not good.

Get him into frame and spend time getting his rear end engaged and his hind legs stepping under himself. You can do this with your inside leg and by posting higher at the trot. You want him to be moving forward with energy and purpose at a steady pace.

Answer 5

I agree with Galloppa, I ride Dressage and your horse has

to be forward moving with Impulsion before you even "Think" about putting your horse into a frame!