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[RC] posting and impulsion - Mary Golden
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Yes, in the Arabian show disciplines, where the horse should present itself
as a pleasure to ride, over posting can be detrimental to the overall
picture of horse and rider. However, I am noticing that English and even
Country horses now have SO MUCH impulsion from the hind to produce extreme
action that even trainers look like they are 6" out of the saddle when
riding at the trot.>>
My mom has one of those Arabs! She is an Arab huntseat pleasure show horse (starting her career this year) who was originally going for dressage until we had a bit issue. Talk about being on an amazing source of POWER! The impulsion is incredible, but as someone who trained exclusively on "real hunters" (as opposed to stock breed or any other breed specific show horse) I don't feel or look that I am being thrown out of the saddle (so says the trainer). I keep telling Mom she needs to take this horse out on a CTR or LD -- or even give her a second career in endurance. I have never seen a horse with such quick recoveries that can just go on forever!
Now, about the Country English Pleasure horses. Mom's trainer also does saddleseat, so I asked about the whole trot thing -- she said it was definitely due to the impulsion from behind. When done correctly, the actual "amazing source of power" is this incredible drive up and underneath you. I don't ride SS, never claim to know anything about it, but Mom's trainer says that the good SS horses (read: ones that have been properly trained and ridden) have so much power from behind that it is all up underneath you instead of more in front of the saddle (does that make sense?). I still don't "get" saddleseat, but am learning! Mom's trainer has a personal horse for just about every discipline known to the show ring/eventer/hunt field and she shows all and rides all beautifully. What I wouldn't give to have such talent!
--- Mary
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