WILLIAM MICKLEM - THE CONSTANTS & CONTROLLED IMPULSION - A GOLDEN RECIPE

Good communication is never easy. My concerns about the German Scales led a small number of readers to think that I was advocating a free for all, with no structure and with the use of running reins demeaning every horse. However this thought goes totally against the core of what I believe in. Everyone I work with, or has read my books and articles, will confirm the huge importance I put on structured, progressive and humane training, with a vital need for training priorities.and for over 30 years I have been using my own simple structure for this. It is a structure and recipe that I find fantastic for all activities, including jumping, and all levels of riding.

HOW DARE YOU

As this is read there will be many who say How dare he offer something after just 30 years when the alternative has been tried and tested for so much longer? All I can say is try it and see what you think. There are strong connections to the German Scales, but I find this presentation more user friendly and effective.

It is based on the five CONSTANTS, which are required constantly for all activities, and the five VARIABLES, which are also required but in varying amounts and ways according to the individual needs of the PROGRESSIVE exercise being used.

A GOLDEN CIRCLE

In the 18th century the French dressage legend, De la Guerinere, gave us the oldest, best known and most used directive for Dressagethe horse should be CALM, FORWARDS & STRAIGHT.and I put this powerful team at the heart of my Constants. They are joined by PURITY & ACCEPTANCE to make up the total of five. Together they form a circle, a continuum, that needs to be initially established even with young horses, then revised and serviced and improved on an ongoing basis every day.

PURITY & ACCEPTANCE

I use the word Purity to encapsulate the idea of developing the natural paces and natural outline of the horses, avoiding anything that creates unnatural steps and movement. It is more than just about rhythm and regularity (takt) as it refers to the whole way of going in each pace, as with what the Germans call Reinheitergange, which translates as purity. I use it also to refer to the jump and the way a horse should use itself naturally and well on take off, over the fence and on landing.

Those of you who have been following my blog will know that I use the term Acceptance rather than submission and I see an important distinction between the two words. The horse has to gradually accept the presence of humans, first on the ground and then on their back, and gradually accept and understand the leg and rein contacts and basic aids.

ACCEPTANCE, CALMNESS & FORWARDNESS

Acceptance, Calmness and Forwardness are all primarily mental qualities, which leads us from the start to reject the mechanical and forced. The beginning of our journey has to be acceptance as we ask our horses to accept our relationship with them and participate with us in our sport. If only Calmness was required then our horses could stay in the field. Instead we work with each horse, using a solid understanding of the nature of horses and humane, consistent methods, and progressing at a speed that allows trust to be developed. Then Calmness will go hand in hand with Acceptance. All the while the horse has to be clearly but kindly asked and allowed to go Forward as we use appropriate exercises.

As we ask for more Forwardness there may be some loss of Acceptance and Calmness, so a step back is taken before once again working towards good Forwardness. So there is a continual need for awareness of the changing state of the horses mind and on our part a willingness to act and react, asking both a little more and a little less according to the situation. For example a little more Calmness and a little less Forwardness.

CALMNESS, FORWARNESS & STRAIGHTNESS

As the Calmness and Forwardness are established, even in very basic work, then the Straightness becomes a priority, initially by achieving an even bend on both reins in walk and trot and then, as your horse comes between the aids, by beginning a small degree of shoulder-in (position to the inside and shoulder fore). As control of the positioning of the shoulders is achieved then straightness on straight lines also becomes possible for short periods. However once again you may have to take a step back to re-establish, for example, the Calmness or the Forwardness if these are being lost.

CONTROLLED IMPULSION

My aim with my horses is elite competition, therefore I try to establish all five Constants, ACCEPTANCE, CALMNESS, FORWARDNESS, STRAIGHTNESS & PURITY from the beginning on the lunge. Lungeing is not an easy skill to do well but it is a great tool to establish the basics so that retraining is not requiredand what a huge difference this can make to the long term potential of a horse and to their attitude to work.

As we ride our horses we need to keep thinking of all the Constants as we work through the beautiful progression of exercises. But the most important point and simply brilliant result of establishing the five Constants is that together they open the door to real impulsion.indeed they take you through the door as well. (However the other side of this coin is that even if one of the Constants is insufficient good controlled impulsion is simply not possible.)

Without acceptance it will not be controlled, and without calmness the impulsion is inevitably restricted by the paralysing effect of tension. Without forwardness impulsion cannot exist, as willingness to go forward is the basis for impulsion, and without straightness impulsion is restricted, as one side of the horse is used less than the other. Without purity the horse does not work naturally, with a natural outline and paces, as one whole connected unit, which is essential for both impulsion and for classical and humane training.

HAPPY HORSES HAVE IMPULSION

Next time its on to the five Variables. In the meantime do look at your horses in relation to the five Constants. Remember that the Constants equals impulsion and good impulsion equals happy horses. and happy days for you. William

PS..that man we were wrong about, Calvin Borel, did it again, following up his win in the Kentucky Derby to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness, on Rachel Alexandra. She was the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. Rachel Alexanras connections had to think outside of the box to even enter her for the Preakness. It worth thinking outside of the box for all sorts of thingsincluding training priorities!

PPS You can find much more about my Constants and Variables and the Progressive exercises I use in my book, The Complete Horse Riding Manual, published by Dorling Kindersley. www.WilliamMicklem.com

WILLIAM MICKLEM - THE CONSTANTS & CONTROLLED IMPULSION - A GOLDEN RECIPE

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