Case Studies
Case Study 1: Walk the Walk!
There is more to walking than you think! It might practically, be the easiest pace but in a theory test it is quite hard!
Walk is a pace of four time. This means that each foot comes down independently, making a single beat each (because horses have four legs!).
Which Walk?
Medium Walk: This is the walk we use most-purposeful and regular, like a march. As the pony walks, his hind foot should step over the print left by his forefoot on the same side. This is called tracking-up or over-tracking, and shows that the pony is using his hindquarters to power himself along- this is good!
Collected Walk: This is seen in higher dressage tests- the horse takes slower, higher and shorter steps, without tracking-up, although rhythm and tempo are the same as in medium walk.
Extended walk: The horse or pony takes longer steps. It is important that it doesn't hurry or lose the quality of the steps.
There is more to walking than you think! It might practically, be the easiest pace but in a theory test it is quite hard!
Walk is a pace of four time. This means that each foot comes down independently, making a single beat each (because horses have four legs!).
Which Walk?
Medium Walk: This is the walk we use most-purposeful and regular, like a march. As the pony walks, his hind foot should step over the print left by his forefoot on the same side. This is called tracking-up or over-tracking, and shows that the pony is using his hindquarters to power himself along- this is good!
Collected Walk: This is seen in higher dressage tests- the horse takes slower, higher and shorter steps, without tracking-up, although rhythm and tempo are the same as in medium walk.
Extended walk: The horse or pony takes longer steps. It is important that it doesn't hurry or lose the quality of the steps.