As we showed some of Chazot
aggressive moves, we received many e-mails telling us that such behavior should
not be tolerated. The horse, therefore should be disciplined, which exactly the
reason why Chazot’s mind went into aggressive protective reflex mechanism.
Punishments created the problem and more punishment would only create more
problems. Our approach is to engage and challenge the horse intelligence. We do
believe that when asked at a level of subtlety that is the level where horses
are genetically designed to function, horses are capable to process intelligent
thoughts. While exuberant and mischievous on his way to his turn out earlier in
the day, Chazot is all business later in the afternoon. He is athletically
calm, which mean concentrated, confident in his athletic abilities and assured that
his "errors” will be analyzed instead
of reprimanded.
We
tolerated the intolerable because the horse’s intolerable behavior was the
result of human intolerance, which is synonym of incompetence. The intolerably misbehaved horse is turning
into a confident athlete because we allow his intelligence to process life
through rational thoughts rather than blind submission.
The rising trot is
voluntarily done differently. The rider’s upper body is slightly inclined
forward. Instead of lifting the body high above the saddle, the rider remains
close form the saddle at all time. This is achieved lowering the tights and
knees each side of the saddle as the horse motion is lifting the rider’s body
upward. The technique permits reducing to the minimum the disturbances created
by the rider’s movements above the saddle. Later, the same technique will be
used to slow down the horse’s cadence.
One may wonder why slowing
the horse cadence when the purpose is to create forward movement. The response
has been given by many classic authors and through the wisdom of centuries, "Do not confuse speed and impulsion.” Speed
is created stiffening the horse’s vertebral column. The faster the horse goes,
the stiffer becomes the horse back.
Forward motion of the horse’s
body, commences with proper forward transmission through the horse’s vertebral
column of the forces generated by the hind legs. This demands that the horse’s
vertebral column is educated to convert the thrust generated by the hind legs
into horizontal forces, (forward movement,) and vertical forces, (resistance to
gravity and consequently balance control.) Rushing the horse fast forward around the ring does not
create forward movement. Instead, the misconception creates speed and increased
load on the forelegs.
In the next few weeks, Chazot’s evolution should
permit to explain the technique further in details
