Transitions

Transitions are an important part of any training program. Transitions, when done well, build strength and suppleness in the horse. In an Introductory Western Dressage test you may have ten or more transitions within the test, making this a very important component and a place where you may be giving away marks.

Read on to see where you can improve your transitions.

Transitions may be basic transitions, for example:

- working jog, walk, working jog - working jog, working lope, working jog - walk, halt, walk - working walk, free walk, working walk - working jog, lengthen jog, working jog

Or they may be transitions used for improving collection (these improve

engagement and strength as well as collection):

- working jog, halt, working jog - working lope, walk, working lope - collected lope, lengthen lope, collected lope - working lope, halt, working lope

Using the dressage training scale we can assess the transitions based on the following criteria:

Rhythm – this is the clarity of the gait. Does the horse quicken his steps before, during or after the transition or does it keep an even pace from one to the other? Suppleness – Does the horse’s topline stay engaged and stretched throughout the transitions without hollowing? If a horse hollows, tosses or lifts its head into the transitions, then it is moving from front to back instead of engaging the hind end and core and lifting the back. When a horse moves smoothly from one transition to the next the muscles stay relaxed and elastic. Connection – Does the horse stay connected to the hand and accept the aids? The feel in your hands should remain the same before, during, and after the transition and the horse will move easily off seat and legs. Impulsion – This is the suspension and lift that is felt as the horse engages more from behind. Straightness – When there is a straightness issue it will be felt more during a transition. The horse may bulge out more to one side, fall in, or pop up into the transition. Collection – Transitions develop and test collection. Those working lope, walk, working lope transitions are a great way to develop the engagement of the hind end along with lateral work.

Let’s look at some common mistakes of both horse and rider during a transition. Rider:

- ineffective with legs and/or seat - leaning forward or falling back - pulling on the reins. As Sally Swift said, “Ask, receive, give.” Feel as though you are pushing forward instead of pulling back. - incorrect timing

Horse:

- pops head up/hollowing its topline - not wanting to use core/hind end but instead lifts with head and neck - no reaction to the aids - losing impulsion in downward transition - tempo not steady

When performing a transition the rider should only move from the waist down. The seat follows the movement of the horse throughout the transition and both legs will be involved. Even a momentary cessation of movement in the seat will relay tightness to the horse who will also then tense. Remembering to breathe through a transition will keep tension from building. During an upward transition it is important to allow the forward with both seat and hands, without giving away contact. Thinking “up” into the transition will help the rider stay light in the body.

For a downward transition think of a boat on a wave where the back of the boat is the lowest point and then as the wave comes down the front of the boat comes down last. We want the horse to ‘land’ hind end first. If the horse lands front end first there is no engagement from the hind end and we have crash landed!

Lisa tightened her body and stopped following with her seat as she asked for the jog. The mare responded by getting tight and inverting. You may also notice she is not stepping evenly in the jog.

The mare’s frame remained the same into the jog. Lisa’s body stayed relaxed and followed the movement from the walk into the jog.

Even during a downward transition the rider’s legs are on the sides of the horse to keep the horse engaged forward and the rider breathes out and slows the following seat. The only time the seat stops is during a halt transition, but the legs will still be engaging the horse to stop hind end first without hollowing its topline. In a transition from a working jog to a walk the seat keeps following. A lazy horse will need more leg aids to keep it engaged forward, whereas a hot horse will need more seat and rein aids. Downward transitions are always harder to develop.

The quality of the transition is completely dependent on the quality of the gait before, during, and after the transition.

So, if you feel your horse is not engaged in your working jog, wait for that moment of connection before asking for an upward or downward transition. When the horse is engaged it will step further under the body. If the horse struggles with this asking for a shoulder fore where the horse moves the front end off the track half a step will encourage the inside hind leg to step further under the body. Imagine the horse stepping its hind leg under the rider’s weight. This will engage the hind legs and as the horse pushes forward the back and withers will lift while the head and neck remain relaxed.

When working on transitions initially it is always best to do them on a bending line as the bend of the horse will help it to stay engaged. A straight line makes it easier for the horse to pop up or dive down in the transition. Keeping the connection between the inside leg and outside rein will help to balance the horse before, during, and after the transition, and if the horse has a tendency to pop up you can always spiral into a circle or add a leg yield out to rebalance.

Making transitions a bigger part of your training program will pay off no matter which event you are training for. Have fun with it! Here you can see how the mare is sitting more to push off into the lope. The inside leg is reaching further under. Notice the lightness of the contact and how Lisa’s seat is deep in the saddle.

Here Lisa leaned forward, a common error of riders going into the lope. This puts weight on the horse’s forehand. You can see how Lisa’s seat has been lifted out of the saddle by the horse’s movement. You can also see how Lisa’s hands have gotten tight on the reins and the mare is tipping her nose. The mare’s hind leg is not stepping very far under her body.

Lisa Wieben is a Level 2 Centered Riding Instructor, Equine Canada Competition Coach, Irwin Insights Master Level 4 Trainer, and Essential Somatic Clinical Practitioner, and Certified in Eden Energy Medicine. Her passion is working with riders of all ages who experience pain, tightness, and loss of flexibility to improve balance and gain greater freedom of movement. She is located in Mountain View Count, AB. Contact to book Somatic Rider Clinics www.mountainviewtrainingstables.com.

As an Irwin Insights Level 4 Master Certified trainer and coach, Birgit Stutz helps riders of all levels and backgrounds advance their horsemanship skills by developing personal and situational awareness, focusing on in-depth understanding of equine behaviour, body language, psychology and biomechanics. Driven by her passion for both equine welfare and performance, Birgit believes that facilitating effective communication between horse and rider is an approach that fulfills our responsibilities to the horse and elicits great results. www. fallingstarranch.ca.

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