Riding long and low
‘Long and low’ is a familiar phrase, but the concept is frequently misunderstood. Andrea Oakes asks top trainers to explain what it really means, and how it can be used correctly to benefit your horse
Experts explain the often misunderstood phrase
“IT’S not just a case of holding the buckle end of the reins and hoping for the best,” begins dressage trainer Andrew Day when asked to unravel the mysteries of riding a horse
“long and low”.
The point is worth making, because the phrase has a habit of encouraging the rider to do just that — to give away the reins, allowing the horse to elongate and fall onto his shoulder. While there is an element of lengthening and relaxing, there’s far more to this potentially performance-enhancing technique. By failing to grasp its intricacies, it seems we’re missing out on a whole host of benefits for the horse’s body, and his mind.
Dressage rider and trainer Dan Greenwood has another useful method to highlight when long and low goes wrong.
“While you’re doing it, think to yourself, ‘Would the horse look like this in the field?’” he says. “If the answer is yes — that is, he’s in a grazing position and on his forehand — you may as well put him back in the field, because you won’t be achieving anything.”
IT may not seem helpful to point out the pitfalls, but these examples emphasise the point of long and low. It’s all about the engagement of the horse’s core muscles.
“To fully understand the relevance, effect and benefit of working a horse long and low, we should consider why we want to ride a horse in a rounded outline in the first place,” says Andrew. “It has been recognised from the ancient Greek period that horses perform better, are more cooperative and last longer when they are encouraged to adopt a rounded outline, but it was not until relatively recently that we learned the reason why. Modern veterinary research and awareness of muscle function and gymnastic performance has led us to appreciate the importance of core muscles and the effect of good core engagement.”
This core control, adds Andrew, is responsible for the horse’s balance, stability, posture and composure — all hugely important skills — and enables him to maintain these key qualities when carrying a rider. Yet appearances can be deceptive when the horse is in action.
“The presumption is that a horse working in a rounded outline will fully engage all his core muscles and enjoy all the resulting benefits,” he adds. “This is not always the case, however. Some horses have conformation that leads them to favour a disengaged posture, while others have spent a lifetime working above the bit and rejecting the rein contact.
“In my experience, a high percentage of horses fall into one of these two categories,” Andrew continues. “Working long and low is an indispensable way of teaching such a horse the correct way of going and the right relationship with the rider’s aids. He can then acquire the skill and habit of exercising proper core engagement.”
So where should we begin in riding long and low?
Andrew outlines a sequence of events, starting with an unhurried tempo and the use of circles and straight lines to establish balance. The horse is then ridden gently forwards until he puts effort into his haunches and enters into a reactive dialogue with the contact through pressure and release from the rider’s hands.
“This will encourage him to seek the contact forward and downward, into a long and low position,” he explains. “It is important to keep in mind, however, that not every horse who is stretching down is necessarily in a correct position. Definite signs and indications must be present to ensure that he is working in a valid and beneficial state — and not rollkur [forceful hyperflexion of the neck] in the one extreme, or running around on the shoulder in the other.”
AS an ex-ballet dancer, Isobel Wessels likens long and low to stretching at the barre before the performance.
“It’s a gymnastic exercise, a moment of calm and a preparation for both the muscles and the mind,” says Isobel, an international dressage rider, judge and trainer. “It puts the horse mentally and physically in the right place.”
If introduced correctly, explains Isobel, long and low ticks the first three boxes on the training scale — rhythm, suppleness and contact. But, if done the wrong way, it won’t have the desired effect.
“Riders see the professionals stretching their horses and try to copy,” she says. “Yet stretching is personal to each horse. If he’s high in carriage and a little short and tight, he may need to stretch longer and a bit deeper. Another horse who tends to be on the forehand could lose balance by going too low and would be better not so deep. Ask your trainer for a frame and a system for a particular horse. This will change as he develops and may need ongoing adjustment.”
Where else do riders tend to go wrong? “The ‘low’ part can be misunderstood,” says Isobel. “The under-muscle of the horse’s neck should be concave to the convex of the top arch. Instead of being arched, going deeper and lifting the back, however, some horses
‘If you can master long and low, you have the key that unlocks a horse’s potential’
ISOBEL WESSELS
are allowed just to ‘go away’ in front and push out behind — so the weight is carried on the forehand and not the hindleg.
“Some riders are so obsessed with the horse’s nose not being behind the vertical that they give too long a rein,” she adds. “The horse then ‘blocks’ behind the poll, his withers go down and he paddles along. You should feel that the horse wants to stretch down and follow your hand, keeping his rhythm, balance and straightness, but is still pushing through from behind.”
Isobel advises introducing long and low at walk, a pace in which most horses are relaxed and there is no impulsion to create balance issues.
“Let him stretch and have a longer rein, then take up trot,” she says. “Incorporate the exercise at the start and end of every session, and sometimes in-between. The horse’s energy should come quietly and softly through his whole body, to the rider and back again, giving a nice rubber-band feeling.
“If you can master long and low, you have the key that unlocks a horse’s potential,” adds Isobel. “It’s an essential part of the journey to develop the movements and progress to the highest possible level for you both.”
DAN GREENWOOD prefers “rounder and deeper” as an expression — with “rounder” referring to the horse as a whole and not just the head.
“This encourages people to maintain a contact, rather than letting the reins sag and the horse drop off the bridle,” he says. “He must still cover the ground, with the energy coming from his hindleg. Think forward, not fast.”
Dan describes an “endless cycle”, an everlasting loop of energy that must roll on as the horse works. He also encourages riders to aim for the supple looseness of the German training concept “losgelassenheit”, in which the horse is encouraged to “chew the reins forward”.
“First, find a connection, then think, ‘Can I get him to stretch lower and longer by giving the rein?’” he says. “Can I keep the horse’s withers ‘up’ and his neck low, without reaching the limit where the endless cycle is broken and he drops into the grazing position?”
Maintaining an engaged core while carrying a rider requires strength, so the young or developing horse may struggle. Dan advises introducing the exercise in increments.
“You’ll probably achieve more at the end of a session than at the beginning,” he adds.
“I also use it throughout as a reward with a more established horse. When I’ve put pressure on him to stay ‘up’ and more collected and engaged, I take the pressure off by working him rounder and deeper.”
Dressage coach Andrew Fletcher uses the term “lengthening and stretching”.
“Lengthening muscles by stretching them makes them looser, softer and more elastic to work with,” he says. “All horses, regardless of type, breeding and discipline, benefit from being stretched and having loose, elastic muscles. Softer muscles make for a more relaxed brain.”
While long and low is an essential tool to training, Andrew points out that it is still a means to an end.
“Through consistent training over time, the horse will understand how to stretch,” he explains. “But this is just part of preparing a horse to perform. Once his muscles are stretched, you can really do something with them and position him well.”