Free and collected walk (interesting superimposed video)

[Naiad]

I have no clue who this guy is? Is "Naturhov" a person, a school, or an approach or what? The video seems to have a matching web site that comes out of Denmark. Actually given the intro to the video, I guess that this is a person...

Anyhow, I am not sure the Classical Riding section is the best place to put this video, but it seemed a bit too "specific" of a thread to put in the General section of EE, and it really did not belong under Horse Training or Rider Training. Besides, the paintings of classical riders behind him on his arena wall probably qualifies this video for the Classical Riding section!  

Anyhow, after my recent conversation in a thread with Heather, I really wanted to see a good collected walk on video and so was busy googling. I found this video where they superimposed the two types of walk almost on top of each other so you can compare the two types of walk (free vs. collected).

Being a novice in dressage things, can someone tell me if these are good examples of a free and collected walk in this video? I did like the idea of superimposing the two walks on one video, so I am also sharing this video for this intersting footage/way of displaying the differences (whether or not it is a good example of the two types of walk, I will leave up to others to let me know).

Thoughts???

Frollection - free and collected walk

[ash]

Now that is a brilliant filming concept/technique!   

[ukica]

That is Bent Branderup.  The Naturhov thing probably means natural horse or something like that, it is a website from Denmark that has featured BB.  I would recognise that peg leg and pointy beard anywhere.

Nice filming idea and good examples too.

[Naiad]

That is Bent Branderup.  The Naturhov thing probably means natural horse or something like that, it is a website from Denmark that has featured BB.  I would recognise that peg leg and pointy beard anywhere.

Nice filming idea and good examples too.

I wondered the connection to BB, as on youtube Naturhov seems to have uploaded quite a few videos of BB, which had me all confused on what was what!

 

[Naiad]

I just noticed the dots/spots he has placed on the horse. Lets one observe more clearly how the hind movement and leg movement etc. change between the types of walk - did not pay attention to those dots until this time watching the video clip. 

[Heather]

What an excellent idea, Yvonne, thanks for finding this! And yes, lovely examples too!!

[Naiad]

What an excellent idea, Yvonne, thanks for finding this! And yes, lovely examples too!!

I think that I am getting just a tad obsessed with classical equitation - I think about it morning, noon and night now... 

[Heather]

  You're in good company here then!!!

[ukica]

yep

[Naiad]

While on the topic of free and collected walk - so why does a horse need a collected walk vs. free walk to obtain a walk/canter transition - is it only then that he has the ability to make full use of his hind end for a smooth transition/departure from walk???

What about trot-canter transition? The more collected the trot, the smoother the trot/canter transition? Does this hold true? Is that why so many non-collected horses in riding schools around the world just speed up the trot instead of cleanly departing into a trot-canter transition - because many of these horses are anything but collected? Or is something else going on here?  

[ash]

Naiad, just as an aside, can I recommend Philippe Karl's book "Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage" to you.  I am sure you would find it fascinating.

[Heather]

Collection in essence, means storing energy, Yvonne. A horse in collection is pumped up with energy and ready, like a coiled spring, to trot, canter, and later, piaffe, passage etc at a split seconds notice from the rider. A smooth transition from trot to canter is still easy to sit to, but the canter will not be as uphill and therefore collected as from walk, halt or rein back, which takes far greater energy and engagement of the hindquarters to be able to lift the horse up and forwards.

In trot, the momentum is there and the horse can pop up into an even fairly flat canter without much effort. The more uphill and collected the canter, the easier it is for the rider to sit to, the more on the forehand, the more the back end will rise higher than the forehand and flip the rider out of the saddle. When the forehand rises higher than the hind end, it is like being carried on the crest of a wave.

[Naiad]

Collection in essence, means storing energy, Yvonne. A horse in collection is pumped up with energy and ready, like a coiled spring, to trot, canter, and later, piaffe, passage etc at a split seconds notice from the rider. A smooth transition from trot to canter is still easy to sit to, but the canter will not be as uphill and therefore collected as from walk, halt or rein back, which takes far greater energy and engagement of the hindquarters to be able to lift the horse up and forwards.

In trot, the momentum is there and the horse can pop up into an even fairly flat canter without much effort. The more uphill and collected the canter, the easier it is for the rider to sit to, the more on the forehand, the more the back end will rise higher than the forehand and flip the rider out of the saddle. When the forehand rises higher than the hind end, it is like being carried on the crest of a wave.

Right, so if I can do a walk/canter transition, then I can do a more collected in control, smooth canter for those few strides that I attempt the first time. Great. And I can ride that crest of the wave - you make it sound almost fun rather than scary!!!  

You may not have found it yet, but I posted a video of Amigo's walk on that canter thread in Ask Heather, as I don't get why he has a good walk/canter transition, when I don't think he is actually collecting at walk (as I did not know the aids until last night). But maybe he collects just enough naturally to get the job done??? Puzzled.  

[Heather]

My broadband is giving trouble again, Yvonne and it is hard enough just to download the forum- video is nigh on impossible! Will have a look as soon as I can.

[Naiad]

My broadband is giving trouble again, Yvonne and it is hard enough just to download the forum- video is nigh on impossible! Will have a look as soon as I can.

Okay, no worries! Frustrating for you to have video troubles, isn't it?