Let's talk Collection.  Collection, when properly integrated into a horse's training, allows the horse to move in a more balanced, athletic way.  Collection is identified in three ways, by the length of the horses frame, the loading of the horse's hindquarters, and the relative height of the top of the croup to the top of the withers.  Collection is at the top of the training scale pyramid (rhythm, suppleness, contact and connection, impulsion, straightness, and collection), however, just because it's at the top of the training scale doesn't mean it's not attainable at the lower levels, it's just the degree of the collection that differs between the first level horse and the Grand Prix horse. 
     Picture your horse without a head and neck and your horse's body is built like a table - balanced on four legs, but when you thankfully add the head and neck to the proper end of the table, it tips the natural scale of balance to the horse's forehand.  He simply carries more weight on his forehand because he has a large head and neck to accommodate.  As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of Jane Savoie, so I'm going to use her explanation of the changes in collection through the levels since she describes it best (thank you Jane)!  
     At training level, the horse is in horizontal balance meaning his balance is like it is in nature, with 60% of his weight on the forehand, and 40% of his weight on the hindquarters with his top line parallel to the ground.  
     At first level, the exercise requirements change to include leg yields, 10 meter circles, and lengthenings, so consequently the weight of the forehand shifts slightly to the hindquarters with about 55% of his weight on the forehand, and 45% of his weight on the hindquarters. 
     At second level, collecting exercises are introduced which include shoulder-in and haunches-in, and other exercises such as counter-canter, and simple changes (walk/canter), which all lead the horse to a weight distribution of about 50% on the forehand, and 50% on the hindquarters. 
     Starting with third level, the balance of the scale tips in the other direction, and the horse beings to exercise true collection.  Exercises such as half pass, volte (small circles), turns on the haunches, steeper counter-canter, and flying changes, require the horse to sit more on his hindquarters in order to perform the movements in balance, and consequently about 45% of his weight is on the forehand and 55% is on the haunches. 
     At fourth level and above still more weight is shifted to the hindquarters, compacting the horses frame, loading the hind legs, and moving the relative height his top line to an uphill frame, with his croup lower than his hindquarters.   
     Remember, collection is a gradual progression, just like the training scale, and when performed in balance and harmony, it's poetry in motion...at all levels.  :) 
Happy Riding!

There are so many things I like about Phillip Dutton's Advanced Dressage test on March 9th.  His mount, Mystery Whisper, has beautiful, expressive movement.  He's a treat to watch!  And of course, the horse wouldn't be  successful without his expert rider and trainer, Phillip Dutton.  Throughout the test, the rhythm of the trot and canter stay very consistent throughout the working, medium and extended gaits.  The shoulder-in and half pass display beautiful, consistent bend.  The rein back and final halt are very clean, and of course the flying changes are too.  Along with many other fans, I'm on the Phillip Dutton/Mystery Whisper bandwagon and will be following them during the 2012 London Olympics!  Go USA!

For the first time, I was able to observe an equine dentist in action.  Wow, what an impressive process!  After the initial exam, Dr. Boal sedated the horse, applied the mouth speculum, and used a bright spotlight to illuminate and thoroughly examine the mouth.  Custom made dentistry tools, which are design to shape the horses teeth without injuring the soft tissue of the mouth, were used with amazing precision.  You can literally run the tool heads against your thumb and they won't cut, but run it against a hard surface, and the results are quick and obvious.  From adjusting the plane of the molars, to removing the hooks and sharp edges from all teeth, the dentistry job was extremely thorough and precise.  Much to the relief of the horse (and owner), frequent breaks from the mouth speculum were given throughout the process.  If you've not had a professional equine dentist work on your horse's mouth, I highly recommend it.  You'll get to see just how far equine dentistry has progressed.  It's impressive!

     Ride the horse from the outside rein.  Yep, it makes sense.  It's also easier said than done sometimes.  The outside rein has many important functions, for example, it's the rein of opposition.  If you were to ride with only the inside rein, when you went to turn your horse, you'd simply go in a circle with your horse falling on his inside shoulder, while his outside shoulder bulged into the next county.  If you were to add speed to that turn, you'd simply go in the same circle faster and faster.  The function of the inside rein is to control inside bend and flexion, but by sitting up tall, slowing the following action of your seat, adding inside leg, and closing your hand on the outside rein, you control the size of the circle and the speed in which it's traveled.  
     The outside rein is also the turning rein.  It works as a unit with the bending inside rein, so when you apply pressure from the outside rein toward the direction of movement, you influence the shoulders which helps turn the horse.
     And finally the outside rein is the connecting and collecting rein.  You want your horse to stay balanced and straight relative to the line of travel.  To remind the horse to stay connected from his hind legs through to the front of his body, momentarily close your seat, leg, and hand and depending on the length of the aid, ask the horse for either for a brief moment of collection to further load of the hind legs and thereby elevate the forehand, or to better connect his body from back to front, while you recycle the captured energy using the all important outside rein.
     Happy Riding!