Speed does not create forward movement. In fact, a horse increases the speed stiffening the back muscles. The question may be, when forward movement stop and speed commences? Studies have been done about the concept of the horse’s natural cadence. One researched focused on oxygen intake. For a given oxygen intake, there is a speed where the horse covers a greater distance. The other study focused on muscle fatigue. For instance, at a fast walk, a horse consumes more muscular energy than at a slow trot. The horse natural cadence is the cadence where the horse’s metabolism functions at maximum efficiency consuming minimum muscular work.

Each horse does have his own cadence. Speed is faster that the horse’s natural cadence. Each time Chazot is finding his natural cadence, the movement is more fluid and the trot becomes longer and more rhythmic.

Earlier on we were talking about a rising trot where the rider’s tights and knees are moving downward allowing the rider seat to remain close from the saddle. The technique permits to slow the rider’s body movements suggesting to the horse to slow down the cadence of the trot until the horse finds the comfort of his natural cadence. For some horses the natural cadence will be slower. For other horses the natural cadence will be faster. The common denominator for every horse is the feeling of ease, suspension, amplitude and rhythm.

The search for the horse’s natural cadence needs to be done with long reins and minimum contact. If the nose is pushing on the bit, his back will be contracted and he will be unable to achieve the back muscles’ coordination leading the natural cadence.  Jean Luc Cornille

http://www.scienceofmotion.com

As we showed some of Chazot aggressive moves, we received many e-mails telling us that such behavior should not be tolerated. The horse, therefore should be disciplined, which exactly the reason why Chazot’s mind went into aggressive protective reflex mechanism. Punishments created the problem and more punishment would only create more problems. Our approach is to engage and challenge the horse intelligence. We do believe that when asked at a level of subtlety that is the level where horses are genetically designed to function, horses are capable to process intelligent thoughts. While exuberant and mischievous on his way to his turn out earlier in the day, Chazot is all business later in the afternoon. He is athletically calm, which mean concentrated, confident in his athletic abilities and assured that his "errors� will be analyzed instead of reprimanded.

We tolerated the intolerable because the horse’s intolerable behavior was the result of human intolerance, which is synonym of incompetence. The intolerably misbehaved horse is turning into a confident athlete because we allow his intelligence to process life through rational thoughts rather than blind submission. 

The rising trot is voluntarily done differently. The rider’s upper body is slightly inclined forward. Instead of lifting the body high above the saddle, the rider remains close form the saddle at all time. This is achieved lowering the tights and knees each side of the saddle as the horse motion is lifting the rider’s body upward. The technique permits reducing to the minimum the disturbances created by the rider’s movements above the saddle. Later, the same technique will be used to slow down the horse’s cadence.

One may wonder why slowing the horse cadence when the purpose is to create forward movement. The response has been given by many classic authors and through the wisdom of centuries, "Do not confuse speed and impulsion.� Speed is created stiffening the horse’s vertebral column. The faster the horse goes, the stiffer becomes the horse back.

Forward motion of the horse’s body, commences with proper forward transmission through the horse’s vertebral column of the forces generated by the hind legs. This demands that the horse’s vertebral column is educated to convert the thrust generated by the hind legs into horizontal forces, (forward movement,) and vertical forces, (resistance to gravity and consequently balance control.) Rushing the horse fast forward around the ring does not create forward movement. Instead, the misconception creates speed and increased load on the forelegs.

Http://www.scienceofmotion.com