CLASSICAL DRESSAGE Foundations 02 of 10
- Isaac Ares
Groundwork: The True Beginning.
One of the defining features of true classical dressage is work from the ground.
Lunging when done with awareness, intention, and precisions just as complex as riding, if not more so. Not just because of the coordination it requires, but because it becomes the first structured conversation we establish with the horse.
Through this kind of groundwork, we can:
Strengthen the horse's body from the foundation up, teach all direct and indirect transitions without tension, develop flexibility and balance through lateral movements in hand, and most importantly, build a relationship based on mutual attention long before asking anything from the saddle. All of this, of course, without gadgets or restrictive devices that block movement or expression. Because when the body is blocked, the mind shuts down. And when education is rooted in respect, the horse thinks, feels, and collaborates.
APPLIED BIOMECHANICS
The Balance Diagonal and the Neck .
To begin understanding equine biomechanics, that is how the horse moves and how we can accompany that movement effectively and respectfully there are two key elements we must learn to observe closely: the diagonal and the neck.
The Diagonal:
Understanding Gait Sequences Biomechanical observation starts with something seemingly simple: how the horse walks. Although the walk may seem like the most basic gait, it’s actually one of the most complex and that makes it incredibly useful for learning to see clearly.
The walk is a four beat gait:
Each leg moves independently and touches the ground at a different moment.
The sequence goes as follows:
Left hind
Left fore
Right hind
Right fore
But something particularly important happens in beats 1 and 4:
The horse places the outside foreleg first, followed by the inside hindleg.
This moment, when two opposite limbs one in front and one behind move together or nearly together, is what we call a diagonal. Even though this gesture happens in an instant, it's wide enough for us to influence it through our seat, our aids, and our intention.
This is where the true art of dressage begins: learning to feel the diagonal and using it to build balance, rhythm, and lightness.
Trot and Canter:
A Repeating Pattern Now we move to something more visible:
The trot and the canter share a similar balance structure. In both gaits, the horse supports its weight by using two opposing limbs at the same time: the outside foreleg and the inside hindleg. In the trot, this diagonal moves together, creating a rhythmic two beat pattern. In the canter, although it’s a three beat gait, there’s still a diagonal phase (with slight differences depending on the leading leg).This diagonal pattern present in the walk and in the faster gaits is the foundation of the horse’s dynamic balance.
That’s why it’s so important to train with awareness of it:
It allows us to synchronize our body with the horse’s, to regulate energy, and to help the horse maintain straightness and lightness without resistance.
More to come soon
Isaac Ares
