Archive for PasoVoice.Com Paso Fino, Trocha Pura, Trote Galope and Trocha Galope Horses
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The Professional
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<<{ BALANCE }>><< {BALANCE}>>
A horse can handle different gaits, in complete harmony only if he had been blessing with a natural gait and if he is in balance. Balance is given to the horse in part by nature, but that can be improved immensely by systematic training.
Even people need some kind of gymnastic training to smooth and to make more elastic the athletic movement. Believe me when I told you that it’s easier for us than for horses that have to handle an extra weight over their backs and the direction of gravity is directly on their legs.
Recently somebody told me that horses don’t need balance, that they get it from nature. Let’s see if that statement is really true. Let’s take for example a baby, his first movements are difficult. Hey, they begin sneaking before they can walk dose tiny steps and a teenager have to learn with exercises and practice if they really wanted to dance with grace.
"Ha!! And that’s only in humans, it’s not the same with horses” So replay this person when I give him this example. But my people, this is so basic! All the things in the world had to be in a perfect balance to function accordingly; otherwise it would be a chaos.
Even the planet itself has to be in a balance and the axle in which circumference it’s in an inclined angle that keep it in orbit.
The horses are no exception, only a few creatures can produce harmony movements without the need for gymnastic. The horses carry their own weight on their 4 legs, their center of gravity is not directed loaded or equally distributed over their four legs.
However, by nature the front legs handle more proportion of the weight because they have to deal with the head and neck. So is more difficult for the horses than for humans obtain and keep that balance. Have you ever seen a colt at born? Just a few hours after born they stand and walk beside the mare.
But before that they fall a few times and then they invest a very considerate amount of time only to keep standing with his legs open wide like scissors to maintains equilibrium until find the balance to be able to walk.
Let’s compare this fact with an adult horse, spirited stud!!! Do you have the opportunity of seen a beautiful steed running happily on the beach/pasture.
Totally loose without restrictions, or snaffle, or ropes, nothing… happily snorting run at top gallop trough the sand from one point to the other and then suddenly stop and snorting his nostril with his tail set high up and start to trot in slow motion gallantly, gracefully, with his head well bend like a gooseneck!! Then he stands up lifting his head proudly, majestic like he celebrates his freedom!! Well balanced in all his movements, don’t stumble, don’t fail. I have seen it!!
So, basically, with this comparison you could have a better idea of what I’m trying to explain, born with it, but they have to develop the balance. The balance is requiring to impulse the gait properly. But when a rider throws an extra weight on the front legs, it makes thing more difficult for the horse.
Is the art of the rider, make possible to balance the center of gravity of the horse and his own balance; without disturbing his natural movements. Any rider that have had the opportunity of training a young colt, could have note the off balance they are when ride for the first time.
The reason for that is that the young horse has to readjust his balance to the weight of the rider and he’s not use to it. Capisce? Some horses have a natural balance. It could be say that they carry a balanced proportion of their weight on their four legs.
This nice conformation horses makes the rider job easier. But the most of the horses carry a bigger proportion of the weight in the front legs. A fact that can easily be noticed when the rider is on top of the horse. The rear end legs push the load even more than they carry it, a fault that most be corrected if the gait is not elastic and balanced as if should be expected of a colt in training.
The training goal is to correct the balance, making the hocks carry a bigger proportion of the weight and lightening the front legs transferring the weight from the shoulder to the croup of the horse.
This is possible through collection. The same is obtaining lifting the front legs and “lowering” the rear end, the hocks.
Both postures could be achieved when the colt has fully acceptance of the bit and the translation is straight and balanced. Is wealth to mention that besides the physical balance, it’s also necessary the mental balance so the horse can work consistently and relax, I would tell you that exist various point of balance in the horse as much as in the rider.
The Poll, for example is one of the most significant points of balance that I propose. The poll is that part that is right between the ears in the highest point of the head, like a little “bump”
When a horse accepts the bit, flex the neck but not in an awkward angle, he arched like a goose. When this is achieve it’s say that the horse has a good position of the head, a head well carried and this made the vertebral adjust and lower the hocks under the horse’s body and carry more proportion of the body, means more balance.
Also the horse’s neck is a point of balance. Did you ever notice when a horse trying to stand up from the ground? Have you notice him stretching his neck forward? That is loading the weight of the head and neck to light the weight of the rest of the body. In other words, he uses the neck to balance and be able lift himself.
Also when a hose make a circle or a figure eight in the shows, they use the neck to balance. That’s why you can see some horses make the circle perfect to one side and when turn to the other side they “broke the gait” and pull out the hocks… they’re not balance to that flank.
Another point of balance for the horses it’s the tail.
Have you ever seen when a horse is about to start to run at top speed? The first signal that they are about to escape loose, it’s the tail. They can’t disguise it; they denounce their self and understand that the highest the level of excitement, the highest the tail set. That is also part of his body language.
Another point of balance is the inner ear, like humans when have otitis media or infection of the inner ear. We lost balance, feel dizzy, etc. Same thing happen to horses!! The hooves, the shin strap, the rider hands, etc. All this came together in harmony to synchronize and arrive to a perfect balance.
To conclude, I’ll give you an example of what I’m referring when I say that the proportion of the weight have to be equally distributed in order to have a perfect balance.
Imagine yourself carry a bucket of water at a distance of 100 feet without change it from one hand to the other one… Tough isn't it? Now imagine yourself carry a bucket in each hand with the same amount of water equally divided and the same distance… Exactly!!
<<{BALANCE }>>
Un caballo pude dominar varios pasos, en completa armonía solo si ha sido bendecido con un paso natural y si esta en balance. A un caballo el balance perfecto le es dado en parte por la naturaleza, pero puede mejorarlo en gran manera con entrenamiento sistemático.
Hasta los humanos necesitan entrenamiento gimnástico para suavizar y para que sean más elásticos los movimientos atléticos. Créame cuando le digo que es más fácil para nosotros que para los caballos que tienen que lidiar con un peso extra sobre sus lomos y la dirección de gravedad es directa sobre sus patas.
Recientemente alguien me dijo que los caballos no necesitan balance que eso les viene por la naturaleza...veamos si es cierta esta aseveración! Tomemos por ejemplo un bebe, sus primeros movimientos son difíciles. Empiezan gateando antes de poder caminar y un adolescente tiene que aprender con ejercicios y practica si quiere bailar con gracia. "Ha!! Eso es los humanos, los caballos no es lo mismo". Me dijo este individuo cuando le di el mismo ejemplo.
Pero...mi gente, eso se cae de la mata! Todas las cosas en el mundo tienen que estar en perfecto balance para funcionar bien de lo contrario habría un caos. Hasta el planeta mismo tiene que estar en balance y el eje en que gira esta en un ángulo inclinado que lo mantiene en órbita.
Los caballos no son la excepción. Solo unas pocas criaturas pueden producir movimientos armoniosos sin necesidad de gimnasia. Los caballos cargan su peso sobre sus 4 patas. Su centro de gravedad no está directamente cargado y el peso es desigualmente distribuido sobre sus 4 patas.
Ahora bien, por naturaleza las patas delanteras llevan la mayor proporción del peso porque cargan el cuello y la cabeza. Por lo tanto, es más difícil para los caballos que para los humanos obtener y mantener ese balance. Ha visto usted un potrillo al nacer? A las pocas horas de haber nacido está de pie caminando al lado de la yegua.
Pero antes se cae varias veces y luego invierte un tiempo considerable solo para mantenerse de pie con las patas abiertas como tijeras para mantenerse equilibrado hasta conseguir el balance para poder caminar.
Vamos a comparar esto con un caballo adulto un semental brioso!!!
Han tenido la oportunidad de ver un hermoso corcel por las arenas de la playa corriendo venteado?
Suelto totalmente sin restricciones, ni frenos, ni sogas, nada...venteado resoplando corre a galope tendido por la arena de un lado para el otro y luego se para de golpe y resopla con la cola alzada y comienza a caminar en un trote como en cámara lenta elegante, gallardo, engrilla’ o!! Luego se para levantando la cabeza orgulloso, majestuoso como si supiera que esta suelto y celebra esa libertad!! Balanceado en todos sus movimientos, no tropieza, no falla. Yo lo he visto!!
So, básicamente con esta comparación ya usted puede tener una idea de lo que deseo plantearles, nacen con él, pero tiene que desarrollar el balance. El balance es un requerimiento para impulsar el paso puramente. Más aun cuando el jinete arroja peso extra sobre las patas delanteras, lo que hace el asunto mas difícil para el caballo.
Es el arte del jinete, el poder balancear el centro de gravedad del caballo y el del jinete mismo; de manera que no estorbe sus movimientos. Cualquier jinete que haya tenido la oportunidad de domar un potro joven, habrá podido notar lo des balanceados que se mueven cuando se montan por primera vez.
La razón de esto se debe a que un potro tiene que reajustar su balance al peso del jinete, el cual no esta acostumbrado. Capice? Algunos caballos tienen un balance natural. Se puede decir que cargan una balanceada proporción del peso tanto en las patas delanteras como en los corvejones.
Estos caballos le hacen el trabajo más fácil al jinete. Pero muchos caballos cargan una gran proporción del peso en las patas delanteras. Un hecho que se hace más notable cuando el jinete va montado. Las patas traseras empujan el peso aun más de lo que lo carga, una falta que debe corregirse si el paso no es elástico y balanceado como se espera de un potro en entrenamiento.
El objetivo del entrenamiento será corregir el balance, haciendo que los corvejones carguen mayor proporción del peso y aliviar las patas delanteras transfiriendo el peso de los hombros a las ancas del caballo.
Esto se consigue mediante la colección. La misma a su vez se logra levantando las patas delanteras y "bajando" el tren posterior, los corvejones.
Ambas posturas se logran cuando el potro tiene plena aceptación del bocado, freno, y se traslada recto, balanceado. Cabe decir que además del balance físico, también el balance mental es necesario para que el caballo trabaje consistentemente y tranquilo. Les diré además que existen varios puntos de balance tanto en el caballo como en el montador.
El polo, the poll, por ejemplo, es uno de estos puntos de balance que les estoy planteando. El polo es esa parte que está en medio de las orejas en la parte más alta de la cabeza, como un "chichoncito". Cuando un caballo se entrega, por el bocado, flexiona el cuello no en un ángulo agudo u obtuso sino más bien en forma arqueada como los cisnes.
Cuando esto se logra se dice que el caballo tiene la cabeza bien puesta y esto hace que se ajuste la columna vertebral y se bajen los corvejones debajo del cuerpo del caballo y cargue mas proporción del peso esto significa, más balance.
También el cuello del caballo tiene balance. Se ha fijado usted cuando un caballo trata de levantarse del suelo? Ha notado que estira el cuello hacia adelante? Eso es echando el peso del cuello y la cabeza para aliviar el peso del resto del cuerpo. En otras palabras usa el peso del cuello para balancearse y poderse así levantar.
También cuando hacen un circulo o hacen la figura 8 en los eventos usan el cuello para balancearse. Por eso es que usted puede ver algunos caballos que hacen bien el círculo para un lado y cuando les toca para el otro "votan el paso" sacan los corvejones hacia afuera...no están balanceado para ese lado.
Otro punto de balance en los caballos es la cola.
Se ha fijado usted cuando un caballo va a salir corriendo? La primera señal que va a salir a escape es la cola. No pueden disimularlo, se delatan ellos mismos y sépase que mientras más alto el nivel de excitación de un caballo más alto carga la cola. Eso es parte de su body language también.
Otro punto seria el oído interno, como los humanos cuando tenemos otitis media o infección del oído interno. Perdemos el balance, nos da vértigo, mareos, etc. Lo mismo les sucede a los caballos. Los cascos, el bocado, la barbada, las manos del jinete, la posición del montador, etc. Todo esto se junta armoniosamente para sincronizar en forma bionomía y arribar al balance perfecto.
Para concluir, les voy a dar un ejemplo de lo que me refiero cuando digo que la proporción del peso debe estar distribuida equitativamente para que haya buen balance. Imagínese a usted mismo cargando un cubo lleno de agua a una distancia de 100 pies sin cambiarlo de una mano a otra...difícil verdad? Ahora imagínese cargando un cubo en cada mano y por la mitad de agua la misma distancia...Exactamente!!
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caliber
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Very good article!Thank you Pro! for the refreshing class! very good article!
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The Professional
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Thanks Felix! It's good to keep in mind that balance is part of any horse training and it's a fact ignored by many. If you want to see for yourself if it's true... watch some videos and pay attention to the way those horses walk. Some of them landing their hooves unevenly "desaplomados totalmente" totally unbalanced. As for the head... some carry the head in an obstuse angle, making the vertebral spine go under and the hooks out. That's why they slide the rear end when doing the figure 8. Balance is at most to mantain a healthy horse also.
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The Professional
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This article also apears on the Nov./Dic. 2007 Show time Equestrian Magazine on the tips section, page 23 with beautiful photos by Cheri Prill.
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caliber
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Pro! do you have any pictures of what proper flexing should be or look like?
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The Professional
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Sure thing Felix!
Here is an example of what a good collected horse should look like.
 
The stallion name is Legolas and he’s PPR stallion. Sorry for not remember the trainer’s name (on the ground) If I don’t mistake, BigJ brought it up on a thread in American Paso Finos .com long ago and we have a blast commenting about Legolas and the dressage techniques used to train him.
As you can see here this stallion’s head is very well carried in an arc form like a gooseneck. Like the Andalusian stallion in this picture.
But hi’s not touching his chest with his chin that would it be UNDER the bit and that’s not the desire position of the head that we looking in a good collected paso fino. That would be what I call a “passive resistant form” of the bit. Now, you can also see how this stallion has his back arched out!
That’s because his head has a good position, is very well carried as a center of gravity and that way make his vertebral column aligns and automatically puts his hooks inside to carry more efficiently his weight plus the rider as well. That makes him totally balance so he can impulse easily with his rear extremities instead of pulling his body heavily with the front extremities.
In this picture one can see how a horse brings his rear train under his body automatically, once his head has been lifted and arched in a natural and relaxing way by his pole.
As a matter of fact, that’s the only way to achieve this position of head carrying. Some riders have the tendency of change multiple bits and claim that these one is for lift the head up and that one is to bring it down but that I don’t believe! “Using different bits until you find the one that best fit your horse” is what they will promptly suggest you but that way one is forcing the horse to adopt a head position that he doesn’t like. So, that make the horse brings his head with the chin to the chest, or up in the sky that if rains he could drown by the nostril. In both cases is a passive resistant of the bit. Passive because the horse do not offers any gesture to bucking or rearing but to bring his head up or down in an awkward angle.
That way a horse is escaping from bit contact, for his not completely train or “enbocado” on the bit. I tell you this; it’s easier to fix a horse that lifts too much his head than one who brings it down. The rider who rode a horse under the bit had absolutely no control of him! There is no contact on the bit. So how is that one supposed to fix the horse head? Through the Pole! But I leave that for other occasion to explain.
 This picture illustrate the automatically changes that took place trough the muscles of the horse once hi lift his head BY THE COLLECTION OF THE REINS. The logic would imply that he most hallow his back, but given that up lifting his head and neck align his column obligating his croup to come down so he could balance his weight, he then has to brings his hooks under too maintain balance and arching his back on the process.
Now, back to Legola’s; his head is very well carried and flex in form of an arc that’s aligns his vertebral column and automatically brings his hooks under his body so he can propulsion his body in a forward balanced form making the strides shorter in harmony with his weight and the riders as well. The next picture is showing the opposite of what a flexible, well balance collected horse should it be.
 The lines draw over this mare head clearly show a # 7 kind of angle, an obtuse angle to be exactly. If you paying attention to the back of the mare you can see that is “panda” hallow; a hallow back automatically brings the hooks out making the horse unbalance. Pure Puertorrican paso finos have the ability base on the locomotion of their natural lateral gait to perform the cadence and the rhythm, no matter the head up or down positions. Some trainers overlook that fact and the result is the example above. Horse who habitually ride this way develop the sternocephalicus muscle, the one under head, instead of the splenius muscle the one on the crest as shown in this picture…
 As shown in this picture, the sternocephalicus muscle would overdevelop far more if allowed to carry the head in an obtuse angle. That what we call “cuello invertido”or inverted neck.
Basically, if the 0ccipital atlas, most commonly known as the poll,  it’s not relaxed so the neck muscles flex and arch; it will be impossible for the horse to be balanced. Taking that in consideration, that would be the first thing to fix when training to obtain a proper balanced horse. Observe the picture below…
See the # 7 angle? That is how I called, # 7 angles for that’s what it looks like! The mechanic of the motion is the opposite of the horse flexing his center or poll. Lifting his head like that make his back hallow and brings out his hooks. If is not flexing the poll, the heads position and carrying will not occur and there will be no balance, period!
When you look at a horse gaiting, you make an imaginary horizon line from his chin directly through his flank to his buttock just above his thigh. As shown in the picture below.
That is a head position properly carried and a flexed, balanced horse. Like the one in the next picture.
I wanted to make clear that all the time I’m referring to a proper collection of a paso fino or any other horse that aplays to collect form. If the case were for example a thoroughbred running at top speed the neck wouldn’t be arched, for the contrary, it would be full extended. Barabim-barabum!
I’m hoping I didn’t lose you with all the explanations Felix, but if you didn’t quite understand something of what I just say; please don’t hesitate to ask I’m sure we can figure this out. I understand that it’s a lot of info to answer a simple question.
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caliber
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Pro! what a wonderful examples have you used! I have never seen some of the graphics posted!
You said something that is so important!
I tell you this; it’s easier to fix a horse that lifts too much his head than one who brings it down. The rider who rode a horse under the bit had absolutely no control of him! There is no contact on the bit. So how is that one supposed to fix the horse head? Through the Pole! But I leave that for other occasion to explain.
Thank you for contributing and sharing wealth with us!!
Saludos!
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The Professional
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I'm glad you like it and understand what I wrote because is easier to show in the arena of a botalon or round pen than write it down. Some of those graphics are in the 2d edition 2007 Brios Ecuestre Magazine in an article title: "La postura de cabeza en paso fino", The posture in paso fino's head" I'm the author of the article and it has a lot of information and different pics. Some of the graphics I just copy/paste from the internet but some are my drawings. (It’s easier to copy/paste)  . I enjoy myself sharing this info and I'm sure some other members can add some info or experiences, questions, point of views, etc.
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