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31 July 2010

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TRAINING FLATWORK FOCUS: Rules of engagement

Dressage judge Lulu Kyriacou sheds some light on one of the often-misunderstood areas of the sport – that of the elusive quest for engagement

Photography: Jem Newton

As a dressage judge, I am often asked is 'What is engagement?' or 'What does lack of engagement mean?' This article will aim to shed some light on that most elusive facet of training requirements and demonstrate that even the most humble horse and rider can develop and improve it.

The word 'engagement' on its own seems to be an entirely 20th century invention, most likely is derived from an attempt to translate the classic books of equitation, such as General Decarpentry's Academic Equitation literally. Sometimes a foreign expression does not exactly translate! But however it happened, the term has become a confusing one, mainly because, in true 21st century fashion, a phrase has been abbreviated to one word and its original definition rather lost in the process.

Most of the great horsemen of the past talk of engaging the hindleg/quarters in connection with various exercises, as does the collective remark at the end of current test sheet, but the present meaning of engagement is more than that.

In French equitation, they talk of the 'ramener', which is engagement plus what we might define as 'outline'. In the German training manuals, there is no mention of 'engagement' at all until the second volume, Advanced Techniques of Dressage. As we are now being told that these particular manuals form the basis for the Scales of Training upon which all dressage riding and judging is based, does this mean it is only the concern of advanced dressage riders? Do we need to pay attention to it in basic training – and do show jumpers need to pay it attention at all?

So what is 'engagement'?

Essentially, engagement is the connection between the horse's hindlegs and the rein. Impulsion is forward movement resulting from the lively activity of the hindleg, and a horse cannot be engaged without it, but this activity and pushing force needs to be contained by correct contact.

The French 'ramener' talks of the advancement of the body into the rein, and this is a good description. The Germans prefer to define it as “riding the horse up from behind, so that by the use of half-halts, the body becomes taut like a spring while maintaining suppleness and without shortening the neck”. At the highest degree, think of the advanced dressage horse and the activity of the hindleg, the lowering of the hindquarter, which enables the forehand to lighten and the shoulder to become freer, allowing the horse greater expression in his paces.

In terms of engagement, there is little difference between piaffe and extended trot – they are different manifestations of the same training effect. If you prefer jumping, think of top-class show jumpers. Notice how the horse steps through into the rein, again with the slightly lowered hindquarter, which allows the horse to get in the air and snatch up its forelegs. Engagement is not only the concern of dressage riders!

Why does it matter?

If the horse is working with engagement, it is showing correct training and will be able to utilise itself more fully. In dressage, this means greater expression and quality in the paces, and in jumping, it means more clear rounds, as the horse can use himself to maximum efficiency.

How does it work?

In a correctly trained horse, the energy created by the rider's legs is contained by their hands, without the horse leaning on the bridle. In its most basic form, this means the more you use your leg, the more active the hindleg should become, giving you more power and greater manoeuvrability. This is engagement.

When a horse is properly engaged, the energy from the hindquarters will flow softly through the back and poll into the hand, and enable the horse to follow the rein, either by lengthening his frame, for medium and extended work, or by raising his forehand for collected and lateral movements.

How to achieve engagement

Initial training must concentrate on getting the horse to move freely forward to the rein. He must not be forced into an outline. It is definitely not a sin if he carries his head a little in front of the vertical to start. Regular, energetic steps into a consistent contact are your aim initially.

Transitions are the best and easiest way to develop the horse's balance and self-carriage, and therefore the engagement of the hindquarters. Transitions within a pace are particularly useful, if ridden correctly. Try this sort of transition on a circle, as then you are also working on the horse's lateral suppleness.

Engagement can really only take place if the horse is supple and flexible through his back, so you will need to work on lateral exercises during the development process.

To encourage the horse to start transferring his weight more to his hindleg, he must learn to half-halt correctly. Half-halts are defined by the FEI as “a hardly visible, almost simultaneous, coordinated action of the seat, leg and hand of the rider with the object of increasing the attention and balance of the horse… In shifting slightly more weight onto the quarters, the engagement of the hindquarters and the balance of the haunches are facilitated…”.

Try to keep your work as relaxed as possible. Tension is the enemy of engagement.