Part 3: How Two Spines Meet in Balance

Question 1

Rhythm is your horse’s _____ in motion. (ch14)

Answer 1

language

Question 2

The walk is a _____ gait, the trot is a ______ gait, and the canter is a _____ gait. (ch14)

Answer 2

marching; swinging; bounding

Question 3

What is tempo? (ch14)

Answer 3

the speed of the rhythm

Question 4

Rhythm allows your horse a moment of what in each stride? (ch14)

Answer 4

relaxation

Question 5

What qualities, that dressage horses are judged on, do they preform nearly perfectly without the rider? (ch14)

Answer 5

freedom and regularity of gaits

Question 6

What is one of the best ways to improve rhythmic relaxation with the correct amount of energy? (ch14)

Answer 6

using cavalletti

Question 7

What happens to gaits that have an increase of power, impulsion, and swing? (ch14)

Answer 7

They become cadenced (rhythm in accentuated and movement becomes more expressive)

Question 8

What is energy? (ch15)

Answer 8

the power that allows your horse to work

Question 9

What does energizing your horse do? (ch15)

Answer 9

encourages them to work harer

Question 10

Where is the energy most likely coming from if your horse has too much energy? (ch15)

Answer 10

the front pulling engine (this is incorrect, energy should come from the hind pushing engine)

Question 11

What happens to the horse when it has too little energy? (ch15)

Answer 11

it doesn’t reach the bit and work becomes very difficult

Question 12

Suppleness of the poll is the prerequisite to what? (ch16)

Answer 12

relaxation and suppleness of the entire spine (which enables swing)

Question 13

What is the primary flexion aid? Supplementary flexion aid? (ch16)

Answer 13

inside leg; inside fingers/wrist

Question 14

At what point is the horse correctly flexed? (ch16)

Answer 14

as soon as the crest is flipped one way

Question 15

When horses are aligned with themselves and their riders they are more ______ and appear more ______. (ch17)

Answer 15

comfortable; graceful

Question 16

Riders who are aligned carry how much weight on the left and on the right? (ch17)

Answer 16

50 percent on each side

Question 17

When correctly aligned the shirt buttons are aligned with what part of the horse? (ch17)

Answer 17

the crest

Question 18

Alignment of the horse begins with what? (ch17)

Answer 18

correct flexion and threading of the legs in shoulder-fore

Question 19

t/f: shoulder fore is a straightening tool not a lateral exercise.

Answer 19

true

Question 20

t/f: shoulder fore is easy to achieve, but hard to maintain. (ch17)

Answer 20

false; it’s easy to maintain, but hard to achieve (this is because the horse feels balanced and wants to stay there)

Question 21

Correct bend in a circle/movement leads to what? (ch18)

Answer 21

balance, connection, straightness, and eventually collection

Question 22

t/f: all lateral movements are based on the horses ability to bend. (ch18)

Answer 22

true

Question 23

What does turning teach the horse and rider? (ch18)

Answer 23

how to move the shoulders with control (which frees the forehand)

Question 24

Shoulder-in enables the horse to do what on a straight line? (ch18)

Answer 24

retain the suppleness of bend

Question 25

t/f: even highly educated horses need the rider to give (correct) aids in order for them to bend (ch18)

Answer 25

true

Question 26

By nature where does the horse’s neck go? (ch19)

Answer 26

it falls down from the withers

Question 27

Where is the ideal position of the neck to strengthen the horse’s back? (ch19)

Answer 27

down from the withers in the place it naturally falls

Question 28

Where do horses often lose throughness? (ch19)

Answer 28

at the base of the neck

Question 29

In true collection, why is the neck raised? (ch19)

Answer 29

because the withers are raised and the hind end is lowered

Question 30

t/f: the length of stride and frame should be comparable. (ex.: stride shortens and frame shortens) (ch20)

Answer 30

true

Question 31

t/f: if your horse is determining the line of travel and not you, balance will suffer(ch21)

Answer 31

true

Question 32

What should a rider who has trouble with precise lines of travel do? (ch21)

Answer 32

use cones to mark the lines of travel

Question 33

Why is it important to know the purpose of your tests before you ride them? (ch22)

Answer 33

so you can prove your horse meets the requirements of the test

Question 34

Why do tests try to develop strength and suppleness at the same time? (ch22)

Answer 34

If you only focus on developing one, you’d lose the other. ex.: developing only strength causes a loss of suppleness