Part 1: How Riders Work

Question 1

At what point can the seat give accurate weight aids? (Ch. 1)

Answer 1

When it is balanced

Question 2

What 3 qualities make up a balanced seat? (Ch. 1)

Answer 2

1. Sitting on the floor of your seat
2. The floor of the seat follows the saddle
3. Your legs support your seat and upper body

Question 3

What is the floor of your seat? (Ch 1)

Answer 3

The triangular space between the seat bones and pubic bone

Question 4

What 5 things does the seat influence? (Ch. 1)

Answer 4

Direction, energy, frame, suppleness, and rhythm

Question 5

What are the 2 kinds of seats? (Ch.1)

Answer 5

1. Passive
2. Active

Question 6

What is the function of a passive/following seat? (Ch1)

Answer 6

It gives no aids, (to remember PASSive is a PASSenger)

Question 7

What is the function of an active seat? (Ch1)

Answer 7

It asks the horse for something (more or less movement). (To remember: Active is Asking)

Question 8

What is the function of your seat in a half halt? (Ch1)

Answer 8

Combining the active and passive seat to connect and collect horse

Question 9

What are the 4 power lines a rider uses? (Ch2)

Answer 9

1. Vertical power line
2. Connecting power line
3. Spiraling power line
4. Visual power line

Question 10

What is the vertical power line? What does it do? (Ch2)

Answer 10

The line from ear, shoulder, hip, to heel; asks horse to go forward and in front of the leg

Question 11

What is the connecting power line? What does it do? (Ch2)

Answer 11

The line from elbow and lower back ti the bit; connects, collects, and slows horse down

Question 12

What is the spiraling power line? What does it do? (Ch2)

Answer 12

Vertical power line and spine; helps you steer

Question 13

What is the visual power line? What does it do?(Ch2)

Answer 13

Your eyes focusing on a distinct point; gives rider “magnetic” ability to follow line of travel

Question 14

What do your power lines do in your riding? (Ch2)

Answer 14

Create positive tension, channel energy, put horse in a balancing shape

Question 15

What happens to the horse when he is within your power lines?(Ch2)

Answer 15

He is free to move in relaxation

Question 16

What is the foundation of your vertical powerline? Why is it important it is positioned correctly? (ch3)

Answer 16

Your feet; they support your body

Question 17

Why is gravity an important part of dressage dynamics? (ch1)

Answer 17

Gravity will never fail, so using it to your advantage will ground you and create stability in the saddle

Question 18

What 6 body parts are part of the vertical powerline posture checklist? (ch3)

Answer 18

1. pelvis
2. spine
3. shoulders
4. abdominals
5. hips
6. legs and feet

Question 19

Using the Posture checklist for the vertical powerline helps you create what kind of posture? Why is it important? (ch3)

Answer 19

Stance posture; puts you in the perfect position for your horse to be responsive to the leg

Question 20

What happens to your horse when you use positive tension to create a strong vertical powerline? (ch3)

Answer 20

the horse is more “in front of the leg” and more prompt to your aids

Question 21

How does your horse use the depth of your vertical powerline? (ch3)

Answer 21

your horse uses it as a reference point and steps directly under it (the depth of your vertical powerline is your center of gravity)

Question 22

How does energy flow like a hose? (ch4)

Answer 22

it only flows one direction; it can slow, turn off, or increase, but it will never go backwards; (in a horse energy goes to the bit not back from it)

Question 23

t/f: a passive hand follows the horse’s mouth (ch4)

Answer 23

true

Question 24

t/f: if you offer an inviting hand the horse will automatically accept the contact (ch4)

Answer 24

false; the horse must be trained to accept the contact

Question 25

t/f: the more a horse listens to the leg and seat, the less you need your rein aids (ch4)

Answer 25

true

Question 26

In what way does the half halt push the horse away from the bit? (ch4)

Answer 26

It forces the horse to stop leaning on the bit and to shift its weight to the hind legs and bringing it into self-carriage

Question 27

t/f: when turning your whole upper body should turn (hips, core, head, etc.) (ch5)

Answer 27

false; your hips should stay square while your spine spirals (any other body parts go with your spine, you don’t turn them specifically)

Question 28

What happens to the inside-leg-to-outside-rein connection when the horse is through? (ch5)

Answer 28

the connection lightens the forehand and the horses shoulders move tot the inside

Question 29

What two things do you need for the spiraling powerline to work? (ch5)

Answer 29

1. to be grounded to the earth and not gripping the saddle anywhere
2. to be straight and aligned with your horse

Question 30

What is the inner triangle? How does it keep you aligned? (ch5)

Answer 30

its a triangle formed from your elbow to the bit, the bit to your foot, and your foot to your elbow on the inside; it puts your horse in front of the leg, supples and bends them

Question 31

What is the outer triangle? How does it keep you aligned? (ch5)

Answer 31

its a triangle formed from your elbow to the bit, the bit to your foot, and your foot to your elbow on the outside; connects, collects, improves throughness, and turns the horse

Question 32

How does looking at your horse’s neck affect their balance? (ch6)

Answer 32

It puts you in your horse’s downhill balance and makes you unable to influence it.

Question 33

What 3 ways do aids communicate with the horse? (ch7)

Answer 33

1. prepare the horse for action; shaping and putting him in front of the leg
2. listen to the horse, checks to see if he’s ready to respond
3. ask for action; when the horse is ready

Question 34

At what point are aids audible? (ch7)

Answer 34

When they come from a quiet place that is harmonious with the horse

Question 35

At what point are aids well-timed? (ch7)

Answer 35

When they are given at a moment the horse is most able to hear them

Question 36

How does a trained horse respond to the aids? (ch7)

Answer 36

responds to leg and seat with back and hind quarters
responds to rein aids by flexing correctly
these aids in combination will create throughness

Question 37

When in harmony what happens to energy flow? What is the horse/rider dynamic? (ch7)

Answer 37

the energy flows through the rider as it goes through the horse; the horse is free/balanced while the rider has control