Speed does not create forward
movement. In fact, a horse increases the speed stiffening the back muscles. The
question may be, when forward movement stop and speed commences? Studies have
been done about the concept of the horse’s natural cadence. One researched
focused on oxygen intake. For a given
oxygen intake, there is a speed where the horse covers a greater distance. The
other study focused on muscle fatigue. For instance, at a fast walk, a horse
consumes more muscular energy than at a slow trot. The horse natural cadence is
the cadence where the horse’s metabolism functions at maximum efficiency
consuming minimum muscular work.
Each horse does have his own
cadence. Speed is faster that the horse’s natural cadence. Each time Chazot is
finding his natural cadence, the movement is more fluid and the trot becomes
longer and more rhythmic.
Earlier on we were talking
about a rising trot where the rider’s tights and knees are moving downward
allowing the rider seat to remain close from the saddle. The technique permits
to slow the rider’s body movements suggesting to the horse to slow down the
cadence of the trot until the horse finds the comfort of his natural cadence.
For some horses the natural cadence will be slower. For other horses the
natural cadence will be faster. The common denominator for every horse is the
feeling of ease, suspension, amplitude and rhythm.
The search for the horse’s
natural cadence needs to be done with long reins and minimum contact. If the
nose is pushing on the bit, his back will be contracted and he will be unable
to achieve the back muscles’ coordination leading the natural cadence. Jean Luc Cornille
Speed does not create forward
movement. In fact, a horse increases the speed stiffening the back muscles. The
question may be, when forward movement stop and speed commences? Studies have
been done about the concept of the horse’s natural cadence. One researched
focused on oxygen intake. For a given
oxygen intake, there is a speed where the horse covers a greater distance. The
other study focused on muscle fatigue. For instance, at a fast walk, a horse
consumes more muscular energy than at a slow trot. The horse natural cadence is
the cadence where the horse’s metabolism functions at maximum efficiency
consuming minimum muscular work.
Each horse does have his own
cadence. Speed is faster that the horse’s natural cadence. Each time Chazot is
finding his natural cadence, the movement is more fluid and the trot becomes
longer and more rhythmic.
Earlier on we were talking
about a rising trot where the rider’s tights and knees are moving downward
allowing the rider seat to remain close from the saddle. The technique permits
to slow the rider’s body movements suggesting to the horse to slow down the
cadence of the trot until the horse finds the comfort of his natural cadence.
For some horses the natural cadence will be slower. For other horses the
natural cadence will be faster. The common denominator for every horse is the
feeling of ease, suspension, amplitude and rhythm.
The search for the horse’s
natural cadence needs to be done with long reins and minimum contact. If the
nose is pushing on the bit, his back will be contracted and he will be unable
to achieve the back muscles’ coordination leading the natural cadence. Jean Luc Cornille
Chazot is gaining confidence
in his ability to deal wit the rider’s movements. He is exploring forward
motion. In some instances he is going fast, at other moments he is going
forward. When Chazot is exploring forward movement, the forelegs are showing
greater suspension as well as more fluidity. In forward motion, and at the
contrary of conventional beliefs, it is not the hind legs which are creating
the greater percentage of upward vertical force but rather, the forelegs are
producing the greatest amount of vertical impulse. "In horses, and most other mammalian quadrupeds, 57% of the vertical
impulse is applied through the thoracic limbs, and only 43% through the hind
limbs.” (H. W. Merkens, H. C.
Schamhardt,G. J. van Osch, A. J. van den Bogert, 1993).
When Chazot is going fast
instead of forward, the movement of the forelegs is more flat, mechanic and
rapid. In terms of limbs kinematics, the difference between the two forelegs
movements can be explained through the braking phase and the pushing phase. A
fast horse is controlling balance through greater braking activity of the
forelegs. By contrast, a truly forward horse is controlling balance through
better use of the forelegs’ propulsive activities. We will further these differences in later
publications.
During
the sequence in slow motion, the increase in the forelegs’ suspension can be
seen during the fly period. As the horse is airborne between the push off of
one diagonal and the landing of the other diagonal, the horse gives the
impression of prolonging the flight period reaching further forward with the
forelegs.
The horse is voluntarily ridden with very loosed
reins. He will learn basic forward movement and balance control without any
support of the rider’s hands. Turns are asked for by the rotation of the
rider’s pelvis and down transitions to the walk are asked for by straightening
the rider’s vertebral column. Jean Luc Cornille
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
