Science Of Motion Equine Podcast

Fast verses Forward

"Forward movement is not how fast the horse’s body is moving forward but rather how well the thrust generated by the hind legs is utilized forward through the horse’s body.�Jean Luc Cornille

These two thoroughbreds are both very elegant movers. Same size, same age, same rider, however, one horse is truly forward while the other never fully mastered the biomechanics of his vertebral column. Hence, he always worked slightly contracted. The trot of the horse truly forward is very rhythmic and square. By contrast, the back of the fast horse is more rigid. In both horses, the limbs movements are spectacular but one is forward while the other is fast. We replay both sequences and your eye will notice the difference in the freedom of the back. Most Judges will reward the fast forward horse over the correctly coordinated one because judging standards lack understanding of the equine biological mechanism. However, during his competitive career, Bébé Blond, who is the horse physiologically correct, has been very well rewarded by experienced judges. For about the same performance, the horse had very high scores with judges who had international experience and where better riders in their previous career. By contrast, the horse had mediocre scores when the judges were lacking knowledge and experience, because his movement did not fit the stereotypes.