by halt at X » Tue Oct 11, 2005 1:14 pm
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I attended the symposium as well and felt it was a wonderful learning experience as well as a good reminder of the classical principles that many of us know, but that we forget to adhere to in today's busy world.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#In response to the question about "show trot", this was a term used to describe a horse's trot gait when the front legs are moving in an exagerated and flamboyant way (to make the crowd go "oooh" and "ahhh") while the hind legs are lagging in engagement. The diagonal pair of legs then do not move equally as they should. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If the horse is trotting with proper engagement of the hind end, the forearm of the horse during the trot SHOULD be parallel to the hind cannon . In a "show trot" the parallel of the diagonals is lost. The front leg is thrown too high, and the hind leg is not carried far enough under the horse's body. It was noted that, unfortunately, this "show trot" is scored very well by judges in the international arena because it is "impressive" to see the horse showing such exagerated movement. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Unfortunately, the "show trot" comes at the expense of relaxation through the back. When horses tense the long back muscle, it pulls the forearm up and out but does not allow the hind leg to engage and come forward under the horse to match this movement. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#There is much more to the explanation than just this, but Dr. Heuschmann who presented the information at the symposium spent over 1 hour explaining the biomechanics and anatomical reasons for it. But I hope that this short explanation gives you the basics of it.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#