Nodding the Head at the Canter
Linda Merims
musical kur at the Washington DC International, the
commentator said that Gifted was nodding his head
at the canter (you know, bobbing his head slightly
in time to his stride) and that this was bad and
that he would be marked down for it.
So, OK all you dressage theorist folks, why is bobbing
the head at the canter considered bad?
Linda B. Merims
l...@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA
(whose Morgan also gets marked down for nodding his head
slightly at the canter in Classic Pleasure classes)
mmc...@delphi.com
>So, OK all you dressage theorist folks, why is bobbing
>the head at the canter considered bad?
Henry the Hawk (owned by Stuart & Libby McKinney) who always cleaned up
at the big shows (National Horse Show, etc.) and he used to bob his
head at the canter something fierce. I never understood how he could
be pinned 1st under saddle but he always seemed to win the flat class
(as well as over fences). I remember this from my much younger days
so he must have made a huge impression on me. Weird.
Mary McHugh
(mmc...@delphi.com OR mch...@watson.ibm.com)
PS Welcome back Linda!
kk...@lehigh.edu
>While watching a replay on Sports Channel of Gifted's
>musical kur at the Washington DC International, the
>commentator said that Gifted was nodding his head
>at the canter (you know, bobbing his head slightly
>in time to his stride) and that this was bad and
>that he would be marked down for it.
>
>the head at the canter considered bad?
>
>l...@ici.net
>Massachusetts, USA
>(whose Morgan also gets marked down for nodding his head
>slightly at the canter in Classic Pleasure classes)
>
>
himself correctly. He is "bobbing" with his head to help get wieght off off
his forehand to perform the movement. (Kind of like swining your arms when
you jump up into the air to help you get lift) At GrandPrix the horse should
be through and carrying himself, but that is not always what one sees...
--karin
if you let me play sports...
I will be more likely to leave a man who beats me...
if you let me play sports...
I will succeed...
jaz
>l...@ici.net (Linda Merims) wrote:
>>
>>
>>So, OK all you dressage theorist folks, why is bobbing
>>the head at the canter considered bad?
>>
>>
>
> A horse that nods its head in rhythm with its stride at the canter is
>performing what might be called a "rocking-horse canter." The horse is
>rodking its weight from one end to the other as it goes forward, instead
>of carrying itself from behind.
>
> The "rocking" canter is not difficult to ride, but it is not nearly as
>pleasant as the canter in which a horse is engaging (using) its hind legs
>for self-carriage.
>
> It has been said that a well-schooled horse, when cantering, gives its
>rider the sensation of sailing on a glassy sea.
>-
> VERNA VPZ...@prodigy.com
I'm going to add this unthinkable thing: It could mean the horse is *lame*!
You don't want to open this can of worms do you really? We will get a
massive, comprehensive, and astute reaction from Sheila on this no doubt.
Wait till she gets a hold of this one!
That said, remember judges are looking at horses in a very *short* space of
time. They have to judge the horse as they see it in the ten minutes they
view it. How much can judge? Nodding in any gait denotes lameness, and
they must knock you down for lameness whether the horse is truly lame or
just appears lame. Bridle lameness is a type of lameness that is started
with hands that are unforgiving and a horse that is backed off, and the horse
will nodd if bridle lame. Ride the horse more forward with less hand the
problem tends to start to disappear.
More is needed to know why Gifted is nodding, and any horse that is doing
this at the canter needs to have his rider aware and begin to change the
behavior. Why? Well, it's a long story and I don't have the time to go
into right now. Suffice it to say: Nodding is *bad*.
jaz
Andrew P. Bajorinas
>While watching a replay on Sports Channel of Gifted's
>musical kur at the Washington DC International, the
>commentator said that Gifted was nodding his head
>at the canter (you know, bobbing his head slightly
>in time to his stride) and that this was bad and
>that he would be marked down for it.
>So, OK all you dressage theorist folks, why is bobbing
>the head at the canter considered bad?
>Linda B. Merims
>l...@ici.net
>Massachusetts, USA
>(whose Morgan also gets marked down for nodding his head
>slightly at the canter in Classic Pleasure classes)
I would have to see it to know. Was the head bobbing about the poll
(connection at the top of the neck) or was the entire neck bobbing?
If the nose is bobbing back and forth and the head is rotating about
the poll slightly this could be from using hands firmly in repeated
half halts. This _might_ indicate that he was trying to weasel out of
the tight collection and firm half halts were required to correct it.
Or not.
If the whole neck was bobbing up and down maybe he was just too
relaxed and having a little too much fun. :)
------------------------------------------------------------------
| Andrew P. Bajorinas | These opinions are my own and |
| Bajo...@Perkin-Elmer.com | not those of my employer. |
| Sr. Engineer |-------------------------------|
| Perkin-Elmer Corp, Norwalk, CT | A cat is not a wavefunction. |
|________________________________|_______________________________|
.
Verna Dickerson
>
>
>I'm going to add this unthinkable thing: It could mean the horse is
*lame*!
>
>
nodding at the canter due to lameness, won't it also show the lameness
at the trot?
Regards,
VERNA VPZ...@prodigy.com
Allison Longaker Bryant
Maybe the sand/dirt was deeper in that corner.
I've noticed that my horse will bob his head
when he's exerting more effort to turn a
corner while the footing is deep.
Ally
Betsy Hale
In a previous article, VPZ...@prodigy.com (Verna Dickerson) says:
>l...@ici.net (Linda Merims) wrote:
>>
>>So, OK all you dressage theorist folks, why is bobbing
>>the head at the canter considered bad?
>
> A horse that nods its head in rhythm with its stride at the canter is
>performing what might be called a "rocking-horse canter." The horse is
>rodking its weight from one end to the other as it goes forward, instead
>of carrying itself from behind.
There is a vast difference between "bobbing" the head and the natural
rhythmic motion of the head at the canter. Only in a truly collected
canter will the horse's head *approach* immobility, but the rider must
always accommodate this natural rhythm with a following hand or the horse
may adapt by bobbing its head to avoid bumping into the unyielding bit.
This fault is commonly seen where the horse's face bobs between vertical
and behind the vertical. I consider this bad because it does not lead
to further engagement of the hindquarters, or further lightness or
steadiness of contact.
>....It has been said that a well-schooled horse, when cantering,
>gives its rider the sensation of sailing on a glassy sea.
This can be achieved by gradually demanding an increased bend in
the joints of the hind legs, lowering the haunches and developing
their carrying power, thus freeing the forehand.
--
BETSY HALE - Performing artist: Actress, Singer, Dancer
Horse trainer: Dressage & Jumping - adhering to classical principles
of lightness, harmony and elegance.
ap...@lafn.org 9420 Reseda Bl #507, Northridge CA 91324