Articles

In Transition

by Sharon Biggs

Photos by Lesley Ward

from the April 2008 issue of Horse Illustrated, page 84

Sharon Biggs is the author of

In One Arena (Half Halt Press)

and Advanced English Riding (BowTie Press)

Riding a bad transition is like riding a pile driver. Bumpy and bouncy, it's hard to keep your seat and your patience. It can be difficult to work out why your horse is having so much trouble with transitions - after all, you've seen him move smoothly from trot to canter and back to trot in the pasture - so it's easy to chalk it up to disobedience. But before you take a terrible transition personally, consider all the alternatives first. Leslie O'Neal Olsen from Dressage Simply Southern in Georgia is a Grand Prix dressage trainer and U.S.E.F 'R' level judge. She says that many riders often assume that a horse is the one at fault, when in reality it's often the rider. She gives us a few tips to make a rough transition go smoothly.

Photo by Lesley Ward

The Ideal Transitions

O'Neal Olsen says that ideally a good upward transition should look light and fluid with the frame remaining the same. The horse shouldn't change his balance drastically. There shouldn't be a hesitation in the transition. If you go from trot to the canter, you don't want the horse to slow down in the trot and then change to the canter. The rhythm and suppleness should stay the same in the trot. The only thing that should change is the gait. A good upward transition should be fluid and effortless.

A good downward transition has to be supple and light in the horse's shoulder. The activity of the hindquarters has to remain energetic. This is because the hindquarters keep the front end up and light. If the hindquarters aren't active and under, even in trot to walk, the transition will be bumpy and awkward looking.

The Rider's Seat

Riding the transition can be difficult if your horse is at all unsteady or off balance. But although this may be the case, O'Neal Olsen says that riders should still remain seated. "The rider should stay in the correct position, no matter what happens. Many times the rider will collapse their position or lean forward. When they change their position it changes the horse's balance. And the hardest thing to do is stay the same when the horse does something weird in the transition, but that is what an independent seat is all about. If you don't stay correct in your position you'll actually cause the horse to be more off-balanced and more on the forehand."

Photo by Lesley Ward

Aids for the Transition

In the downward transition, simply weight your seat down. But don't force it, says O'Neal Olsen. "If you brace your back and shove, the horse will brace his back against you. You have to lift your back as much as you push your weight down. In the canter, your inside seat bone is prominent. When you come to the trot, you weigh down into both sitting bones and into your elbow. As the horse comes down into the transition, lift your chest to soften, this will help the horse's shoulder's stay light."

And make sure that your seat changes as the horse changes gait. Your seat must mimic the movement of the gait. Your seat should swing slightly from side to side in the walk, slightly up and down in the trot, and forward to back in the canter. For the upward transition, apply the aid for the gait - if you're going into the canter, inside seat bone and outside leg. Ride the half halt before during and after an upward transition - just a simple close and release of the hands. O'Neal Olsen says to allow the transition to happen and don't get restrictive with the hands or you will block the rhythm of the gait and stop the hind legs and the energy. "If you get desperate for the transition you forget to ride," she says. "Sometimes less is more, but being very still and quiet is sometimes the hardest thing. If the rider thinks about riding to the best of their ability the horse will get better and better."

Common Faults and Remedies

Forget the Head - People get too wrapped up with the horse's head, so O'Neal Olsen says to stay light and savvy with your contact and try not to pull on the reins. "Keep a steady contact. The horse will make the transition with whatever strength they have for that day. If you force the head up or down, the transition will be forced. As you do more transitions, the horse will have increased strength behind."

Communication Error - If the horse constantly runs into or out of a transition he's probably misunderstanding the aids. He may think you simply want him to trot faster. "Remember that horses aren't out to get us," says O'Neal Olsen."The horse can get confused and frustrated and they don't know what to do. If there is trust they will try to work out what you want. To me miscommunication is a rider's error more than the horse's. So half halt, bring the horse back and try again. And never chase the horse into the gait. It's important that he understand exactly what you want. When starting a young horse it's important to teach them the voice aids on the lunge, then use your voice in the saddle along with the aids so they understand. If you're really having a problem, go back on the lunge, teach the voice aids and then go back and ask from the saddle. And keep your seat the same; don't change your seat just because he doesn't understand. It's important to keep your good position."

Unclear on Leg Aids - If your horse doesn't go when you say go, there are exercises you can do to get him to understand your leg aids. "You can do a moving turn-on-the-forehand, which is a turn-on-the-forehand that is not at a standstill, instead it begins from the walk and keeps marching forward as the horse turns," says O'Neal Olsen. "Take a few steps in turn-on-the-forehand and then ask for the trot or the canter. This exercise is also beneficial because as the inside hind leg crosses over, the inside hip has to lower and the inside shoulder has to come up. It's a great way to teach this important position as well as lightness and balance. You can also use a few steps in the leg yield and then ask for the transition upward to create a similar effect."

Photo by Lesley Ward

A slight shoulder-fore (a shoulder-in with a slight angle) will help with a downward transition to create lightness and a good response. When you ride the shoulder-fore correctly, the inside hip has to lower and the inside shoulder raises. In the canter, using the shoulder-fore for the downward transition also helps with straightness.

A huge part of the horse's training shows up in the transitions. Proper transitions demonstrate that he is correct and well-balanced. "They give you a clue of where your horse is at in his training," says O'Neal Olsen. "If you can make a smooth change from one gait to another, celebrate your horse's good training and your excellent seat and position!"

Photo by Lesley Ward

Sharon Biggs is the author of

In One Arena (Half Halt Press)

and Advanced English Riding (BowTie Press)