The piaffe and Passage
by Cynthia Shehata
 Possibly
the most intriguing exercises in dressage are the piaffe and passage. With
good reason. It takes years to train a horse to where he can even attempt
these movements. Whether you are at that stage or not, it might be useful
to know what awaits you. Of course, flying changes and canter pirouettes
also count as upper level movements, but I find passage and piaffe more
mysterious, so I'll save the canter work for later.
Once the horse has mastered the fundamentals,
he's ready to start upper level movements. Briefly, these are: obedience,
relaxation, rhythm, suppleness, swinging motion (Schwung), steady contact,
throughness, straightness, impulsion, collection, balance and self-carriage
In order to achieve these goals, one
can lunge, work over cavalettis and jump. Canter-trot transitions will
help his looseness; circles, voltes and lateral movements will increase
his straightness; halts, half-halts and rein-backs will improve his collection;
and turn on the forehand will work on his obedience.
Piaffe is basically balancing the
horse between the rider's hands and legs. How ever, it is best to do it
in-hand first. Begin with the horse on side reins (snaffle bit) and with
a lunging cavesson. You'll need someone to stand at the horse's shoulder
and hold the lunge line. You in turn, will stand so that you can use a
dressage whip right above his hock. The horse should walk first and then
trot a few steps, which should be short ened until he moves into piaffe.
Make sure the horse remains straight, and to maintain the forward motion,
allow him to move about one hoofprint forward. Once the horse does this
quietly and easily, you can do it alone using a dressage whip. Hold the
reins over his withers (facing the horse) and use the whip above his hock
(click, too).
You can start him under a rider first
by going back to the cavasson, lunge line and side reins. The rider should
just sit very quietly without touching the reins to allow the horse to
get use to his weight in the piaffe. When the horse is comfortable with
the rider, you can pick up a light contact with the reins. With your legs
and seat, shorten his trot strides until he takes a few piaffe steps (trot-halt
transitions with ever decreasing trot periods are useful). The rider must
sit relaxed in the saddle, with a bit more weight in the stirrups so as
not to interfere with the horse's hind leg movement.
 To
learn passage, the rider can make transitions from working trot to collected
trot, trying to keep the energy while the horse puts more weight in his
haunches. You should use small, rhythmic half-halts and collect the horse
with the legs to keep the trot. From the piaffe, the horse can be urged
forward using a more driving aids. He should keep his balance for a few
steps, then ride into a collected trot. Piaffe from collected trot should
be practiced until he can move from the piaffe directly into passage.
Text by Cynthia Shehata - http://www.shehata.com
Images copyrighted Dirk
Caremans |
