Degrees of Collection and Extension Karen Van Hoff © 2004 Collection and extension are commonly misunderstood terms. However, understanding these concepts is crucial to the proper development of the dressage horse. Collection and extension are also directly related to one another. Always keep in mind the training scale: Collection Suppleness Straightness Impulsion Contact Rhythm and Relaxation Collection is at the top of the training scale, as it requires the most strength, balance, suppleness, and throughness from the horse to develop. Even though collection tops the training scale, the training of the horse includes development of collection from the very beginning, albeit in small increments. The horse may take more weight and flexion in the hind legs for one or two strides at a time initially. Thus introduces the first degree of collection to the young or green horse. Higher levels of collection are developed very slowly, over time, using the rest of the training scale upon which to build. Collection occurs when the horse’s hind legs step well under the body, bearing more weight and increasing flexion in the hip, stifle, and hock joints. This creates an uphill quality of the horse’s movement and shortens the horse through the body as the back rounds up underneath the rider. The croup is also lowered as the joints become more engaged. The increase of flexion allows the horse to move with more control and accuracy as the result of a spring-like quality of strength that is developed in the joints. Young horse in working trot More advanced horse in collected trot It is easy to ruin a horse’s gait and mind by asking for collection incorrectly or by asking for too much too soon. The walk is the easiest gait to ruin. This is usually manifested as a lateral walk, where the rhythm is lost. The canter can be disturbed by creating a four-beat rhythm. The only way to fix these problems is to forgo development of collection for a time and return to the foundation of the training scale: rhythm and relaxation, moving forward from the leg, stretching over the topline. The trot can also be damaged by incorrect riding. This creates a false frame in front, a tight back, and insufficient engagement of the hind end. When watching a horse work in trot (working, lengthened, collected, medium, or extended), the cannon bones of the front and hind legs should be parallel. Less angle to the hind cannon bone relative to the front often indicates insufficient engagement of the hind end. False collection: poll not highest point and insufficient engagement behind Another sign of incorrect trot work is negative diagonal advanced placement (DAP). This occurs when the front hoof hits the ground before the hind hoof. This is usually a sign that the horse is on the forehand. Positive DAP occurs when the hind hoof hits the ground before the front hoof. This can be an indication that the horse is working correctly, but too much disconnection between the front and hind damages the rhythm of the trot, even in the naturally athletic horse. When the horse is working correctly, the horse’s face will remain in front of the vertical and the poll will be the highest point. The horse’s nose should point to where the front foot will land. So, as the horse lengthens the stride, the whole frame of the horse must lengthen accordingly. Otherwise, you end up with the commonly observed cranked in head and neck, over-extended front legs, and insufficiently engaged hind legs. Correct medium trot: poll could be a little higher Incorrect medium trot: poll not highest point, hind end not engaged When it comes to asking the horse to extend, the horse can only lengthen as much as he can compress the spring. This is how collection and extension are related. The higher a degree of collection can be achieved, the more extension can be produced. The rider should not have to work hard to produce a lengthened stride. The work will come from balancing half halts and keeping the hind end engaged. If the rider has to “kick on” for the transition to the lengthened stride, then the horse wasn’t properly prepared and did not have a sufficient amount of engagement or collection (compression of the spring) for the amount of lengthening being asked for. If the spring is properly compressed and the rider’s position and aids are correct, then the lengthening is a natural process. As the horse develops more engagement and suppleness, the ability to collect at a higher level comes naturally, as does the ability to extend the stride. Horses that are young or green will start out being able to compress the spring and collect, as well as lengthen, in small degrees for moments at a time. Horses at the highest levels of development will be able to comfortably collect and extend at any degree, for as long as the rider asks. There are degrees of collection and extension and the wise rider knows how much to ask for from their horse in order to get the best, most harmonious performance. The links and information provided on this site do not constitute any recommendation on the part of the site owners. They are provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. Use all information provided herein at your own risk.