This is one of the greatest challenges for all amateur riders at a diverse range of competitions, but particularly for dressage. Impulsion is the creation of forward movement wherein the horse's center of balance moves backward and the horse uses his/her hindquarters effectively.
"The term "impulse forward" means more than just a movement forward, slow or fast, at a walk or gallop. Impulse forward means the altertness with which the horse starts a gait or increases the speed or keeps the pace; the term also refers to the reserve of energy with which the horse travels." - Vladimir Littaur, Schooling Your Horse
To create impulsion, it is essential to send the horse forward from your seat and leg aids with a steady and gentle contact through the reins to the horses mouth. Rhythm, relaxation and balance are key elements to develop a firm foundation upon which one may achieve impulsion and a true forward movement from the horse in harmony with the rider.
Check out the Practical Horseman in Littleton right on Great Road, near the center of town!
They can lock their knees and hocks so as to enable them to sleep while standing unlike cattle. Pretty cool, huh? They do lie down when they are relaxed and feel safe, for example in their stall at home during the night. Young horses often take naps just like young children during the day.
The best feeling is seeing your horse lying down, you know he is feeling very relaxed! But horses do not lie down for long periods of time like human beings. Moreover in the wild, it is rare to see a horse lying down to sleep -- it is more a characteristic of domesticated horses that are kept inside.
Barbaro was an American thoroughbred that decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby but shattered his leg two weeks later, in the 2006 Preakness Stakes, ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death. He became a symbol of courage and spirit in both his racing performances but also his struggle against his injury - he represented the beauty and grace of the horse in all of these moments. His ashes were buried at Churchill Downs, the track where the Kentuck Derby is held and the site of his impressive victory where he continued to widen his lead over the field without the use of the whip aid at all by his jockey.
A piaffe is a dressage movement that demonstrates a high degree of impulsion, it is essentially when the horse trots almost in place, moving forward very gradually but with a very elevated movement. It is a movement only done at very advanced levels, such as Grand Prix.
The Lippizaners are a breed of horse that is specialized in collected movements, such as the piaffe and the coupade ( a leap into the air). Check them out - they are very beatiful and have distinctive white colour! They come and perform here in the US but are from Andalusia, in Spain.
It is on March 27th at the Kent School in Connecticut! Start training so you can impress the judges and beat the competition in the dressage arena!