What Arabs do is a racing trot, frequently done with a hollowed topline,
elevated head carriage and the hind quarters swinging wide behind. While
many riders seem to think their horses "love to do this gait", the truth is
that it is very demanding of the musculature and can result in long term
soft tissue damage, and back and leg problems if used as the exclusive gait
of choice.
A horse needs to first learn collection by being introduced to the "long and
low" way of going. The topline can be developed for a soft, fluid, swinging
back at any gait by utilizing exercises that teach flexion, straightness on
a curve, and yielding to the aids.
Goosing a horse into some kind of accelerated pace to achieve some notion of
hind end engagement only teaches him to hollow his back and tighten
virtually every muscle from the poll back.
If you want to teach your horse engagement, do what Sue Greenall
recommended--use cavaletti as part of your training program, use hills to
teach balance and engagement, learn how to use the aids to round and soften
your horse at any gait. Learn how to use transitions to teach responsiveness
and collection, and learn how to transition at every gait, with and without
stirrups.
There is an excellent little book called "101 Arena Exercises" by Cherry
Hill, available at most tack stores, that has diagrams of the exercise, a
"how to ride" section, a list of benefits and cautions. For those folks who
don't have the benefit of consistent lessons, this book can help develop a
good routine for achieving a variety of riding goals.
If you ever have an opportunity to watch Steve and Dinah Rojek ride, observe
their beautiful positions, observe the soft, natural collection of their
horses at every gait going down the trail. They both are serious students
of dressage...and the results speak for themselves.
The bottom line is...there is no quick fix. Classical training teaches
correctness...and that leads to an obedient, soft, happy partner on trail.
Diane @ Safe Haven