THE FIRST STRIDE OF PIAFFE
correctly executed is the keystone to all equestrian disciplines
"A horse who knows how to piaffe
can begin any other gait without hesitation or effort"
Nuno Oliveira
The first stride
of piaffe
indicates that
the horse can be collected
w/o resisting.
All disciplines
need proper
collection
as foundation
for any
performance.
The first stride
of piaffe
mimicks
the horse
prancing
on the spot.
A stride.of piaffe can only be correctly executed when the horse is properly collected. This applies to each first step of piaffe as well. A horse who can be properly collected for at least one stride of piaffe is able to engage without any resistance when asked for a half halt. The half halt invites the horse to collect without hesitation. The horse is ready to respond without anticipation to the demands of the rider.
This is true for all disciplines. Proper collection as it is executed in a correct first stride of piaffe is the test that confirms that the horse is comfortable and ready to perform any movement. Before the horse is capable of executing a correct first stride of piaffe the training is just gymnastic. It prepares the horse to stay forward, straight, and light while remaining calm under all kinds of exercises. Even jumping!
Some Dressage schools place piaffe at the summit of a pyramid. The piaffe they have in mind is out of reach for most horses. The correct piaffe most horses can perform is the gait executed in horizontal balance. It mimicks the horse prancing naturally on the spot. It is a "highly collected, cadenced, elevated, and majestic" diagonal gait. Above all it has synchrony and a short phase of elastic suspension.
Horses trained in Classical Dressage or Haute Ecole are asked to piaffe in the vertical balance. It requires the maximum engagement desirable before executing a levade. Today, such piaffe is seldom executed to perfection. It lacks elastic suspension and synchrony because horses are asked to perform it before they can produce a correct first step of horizontal piaffe. A too common shortcut.
Most horses will never be able to perform the Classical Piaffe in a vertical balance. They don't have the strength and they can't develop the elasticity needed to execute this movement. All properly trained sound horses must be able of performing a correct stride of piaffe in horizontal balance. They can at least mimic the synchrony and the elastic suspension they naturally display when they prance.
The video of Talento's first steps of piaffe is available to
Beau Geste supporters
Beau Geste supporters
The top of the pyramid should be
THE ULTIMATE STRIDE OF PIAFFE
that correctly executed is the keystone to Advanced Dressage
"A slow and high piaffe is very difficult to obtain
All horses will not stand up to it.
I believe it is the keystone to Haute Ecole"
Nuno Oliveira
This page was last updated on: October 30, 2001
Copyright 2001 All rights reserved to Michel Kaplan and Beau Geste S.O.A.R.
