Ah, the infamous, highly dreaded, “horrible, no good, very bad day,” stretchy trot!
This very difficult movement is first presented in training level and is seen throughout first level in the dressage tests. It’s a movement that almost everyone hates and would rather skip. But this movement is all too important to be ignored. Once you learn how to prepare and execute a correct stretchy trot circle, it will become a valuable tool that you will use as you progress up the levels.
The Mechanics of the Stretchy Trot
Simply put, the stretchy trot happens when the rider decides to let the horse “chew the reins” from their hands and take the contact out and down, or “long and low.” When done correctly, the horse’s back comes up, allowing him to move effortlessly from the hind end, up over the back, and then down and out to the contact.
A Good Stretchy Trot is Not Just About Long and Low
Many people might think that a stretchy trot is all about how the horse’s neck goes out long and low. But this is a misconception, because the long and low look that you get is actually the result of many other elements at play.
In fact, long and low does not mean that your horse is actually performing the movement correctly. For example, see the picture below:
Above the horse is long-er-ish and low. But it is lacking all the other ingredients that produce a correct stretchy trot. The horse is probably leaning and pulling the reins out of the rider’s hands, which gives the illusion to the rider that the horse is taking the contact through the hands. Yes, the contact is slipping through the rider’s hands, but that’s all that is happening above.
So the stretchy trot is not the way a horse looks, it’s not a type of outline, but rather, it is a result you get when you are working your horse properly into a correct contact and then decide to release that contact, which then results in the horse seeking and taking or following that contact.
When all that happens, the result is the stretchy trot.
What Does a Good Stretchy Trot Look Like?
Again, you must avoid the misconception of long and low. Too long and too low will only put the horse on the forehand. A lot of people ride the movement as if the horse is trying to sniff the ground. But this is not going to produce the correct hind end movement that goes up over the back and into the contact. Instead, the horse’s frame should look like a rainbow, with the neck going up, out, and down. Or, up, over and down and out. Like this:
I like to think of it as if the horse were reaching up and over a fence. Like this:
The horse needs to look like it is reaching for something, not ducking from something. After all, the horse is actually reaching for the contact in a correct stretchy trot. And the horse will be avoiding the contact in a bad one.
How Do You Get There?
In order for the horse to stretch out into a correct stretchy trot circle, you need to have the horse going correctly. Don’t even attempt a stretchy trot otherwise. It won’t work. The hardest part of the stretchy trot is preparing for it.
What You Need:
- A relaxed rising trot with good rhythm and a steady tempo (the base of the training scale)
- A horse that is “on the aids” and “in front of your leg”
- Steady hands with an elastic contact
- Proper contact- the horse is “on the bit” and working from behind
Once you have all these things, you are ready for a fabulous stretchy trot. And it should be easy peasy if all of the above are totally in check. All you have to do is slightly release your grip on the reins and let the horse “chew the reins” out of your hands.
Slightly open your fingers and see if the horse takes the reins just slightly. If he does, you should slowly let the reins slip from your gentle grip. As you are doing this, you need to keep your horse moving from behind and into the new contact. So keep adding your leg as you slowly and steadily let the reins slide.
Keep fairly steady on the outside rein and supple and give with the inside rein. To supple, you are sort of “teasing” the horse to take the contact from your hands. That little ‘twinkle’ from your inside hand is saying to the horse, “Come on, take it, take it.” But the better you have your horse going from the beginning, the less you have to ‘tease.’
You must keep the contact the entire time. If you throw away the reins, the horse’s neck and head might go down to the ground, but that is not a correct stretchy trot. The contact must be followed the entire way.
The Stretchy Trot is a TEST!
The actually main purpose of this difficult movement is to see whether or not you truly had your horse going properly to begin with. That is why it is in the dressage tests, of course. The result of your stretchy 20 meter circle will tell the judge just how well you previously had your horse put together. And that’s why it is so difficult. You have to have your horse going well enough first in order for it to work.
If you start to let the horse stretch and the horse speeds away off into the abyss, then you never really “had” your horse to begin with. Test failed.
If your horse hollows and puts his head up, test failed.
If nothing happens, test failed.
So if your horse fails the test, put him back together and try again. Remember, you need contact. If your reins are loose, there is nothing for the horse to reach to. So get a good contact and a relaxed rhythmic trot first. Then get your horse working from behind, up over the back, and then you start your “slip of the reins” to see if the stretchy trot will work.
If it works, it will feel like the best movement going on underneath you. The horse’s back will come up even more, and his steps will feel bigger but not faster. Your horse will probably even snort because it feels so good for him too! So pat your horse, because you both passed the test of the infamous stretchy trot!
Keep Riding, Keep Refining
The Refined Rider
