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Before
we can begin to explain and have you understand
motion
or
any type of movement
we
have to understand that any movement starts with
the leg.
And
any movement being done correctly or incorrectly
needs to be understood so that we are aware of
what does happen inside as the horse does move.
The
cycles of the steps of movement
are
referred to as gaits
and
are more fully explained later in greater detail.
But, gaits are the patterns of movement that must
be accomplished to allow forward motion
or
performance. Each gait starts with the movement of
a rear leg, the next leg to move is the opposite
front. This happens in this manner due to the fact
that the horse is a lateral
support
animal.
What that means is that the horse does support
itself
on opposite corners (of a rectangular shape) of
its body. Even when a horse is motionless the
majority of the horse’s weight is being
supported by one front leg
and
the opposite rear leg.
One
point that you might do with your own horse that
is confined in a specific area ~ when it stands
for a period of time you will notice that the
horse does shift its weight from one front foot to
the other. When it does shift its weight from one
front foot to the other you will also notice that
the weight bearing
leg
in the rear also changes and when it does change
it is almost always to the opposite rear leg of
the front leg that is the weight bearing leg.
There
has to be an understanding that the front leg
does
act independently and is a supporting aid for the
opposite rear leg.
It
is that statement that allows us to introduce a
very basic statement of forward motion
and
how it affects the movement
of
the horse.
"For
every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction"
The
previous statement is the basis for understanding
forward motion
but
it does need to be looked at in a manner that will
make it easier to understand how it does pertain
to the movement
of
the horse. So, what we are going to do is break
the statement into sections that pertain to
specific movements of the horse.
"For
every action"
This
is the first movement that is made by the horse,
the starting of movement by lifting and bringing
forward of the rear leg. Then
once that the rear leg completes
its forward motion
cycle
and returns to the ground, the second part of the
statement comes into effect.
"there
is an equal and opposite reaction"
Once
that the rear leg completes
its cycle and returns to the ground the opposite
front leg starts
to leave the ground and continues through its
cycle until it is complete. This will then start a
continuing process of alternating legs in motion
that is referred to as the gait of the horse.
Before
we can proceed past this point it needs to be
understood that each pair of legs have a specific
task to perform ~ not just during standing, but
also especially during the movement
cycles
or
gaits.
The
front legs have two functions that they do perform
sometime independently and at other times these
two functions act together. The initial function
of the front legs is to act as a pivot point
that
will allow the horse to adjust its body weight
from front to rear as necessary during any of the
necessary movements. In addition to being a pivot
point the front legs act as a lateral
support
point
(from side-to-side) during any necessary
movements.
The
back legs of the horse are attached to the largest
muscle
mass
within the body structure of the horse; this is
also the strongest part of the entire horse. The
hindquarter
is
where all of the strength that creates forward
motion
and
has been referred to as the “engine” of the
horse
since
this is where all of the horse power is located.
With the hindquarter creating the force used to
initiate forward motion
it
is also the hindquarters
that
control forward motion
or
impulsion.
Understanding
the great amount of strength that is accumulated
within the hindquarters
and
how it is accomplished we can then proceed to the
understanding that the same strength that was used
to initiate the movement
will
then support
movement
through the complete cycle of forward motion
.
It must also be understood that once that forward
motion
is
started and then supported by the movement of the
horse additional parts of motion come into play.
There are two additional parts of forward motion
that we need to understand and they are momentum
and
inertia.
Looking
at momentum
more
closely we need to be aware that it is broken down
into three parts that make up the momentum cycle.
1).
Creating momentum
~
is when the movement
of
the rear legs is initiated to start the gait
process.
2).
Supporting momentum
~
is the movement
of
the front leg
to
help balance
and
becomes the pivotal support
factor
that has been explained earlier. It is at this
point that the front leg, or the pivotal support
point is now supporting the majority of the body
weight which will allow the horse to be able to
bring the opposite hind leg in a forward motion,
setting the cycle up for the final part of the
momentum
cycle.
3).
Sustaining momentum
~
is the continuing of the momentum
process
which will allow it to happen over and over in an
unending loop until it is necessary to stop the
momentum process.
I
have not been able to come up with any better way
to explain momentum
and
how it pertains to the horse than what I have just
explained. The other point that has to be
considered is the fact or presence of inertia.
Inertia is nothing more than mass in motion. What
is meant here is that inertia is the force that
has been created to allow the horse to continue
its movement.
Inertia also plays a major role in the
sustaining of momentum; it is its supporting
factor that allows movement or motion to become
the continuing part of momentum. When it becomes
necessary to stop the motion process
of
the horse momentum and inertia need to be overcome
and then reversed. The stopping of the horse is
the true overcoming and reversal of momentum and
inertia.
What
was just covered is the basics of forward motion
as
it works within the horse. We could talk about
many more factors that do happen and even control
forward motion
process
but,
these are more specific and will be explained as
we cover the areas of the body of the horse and
the function of the rider in relationship to
movement of the horse.
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The Movement of
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