21/08/2025
Wednesday Wisdom - Why Forward???
If you ride dressage long enough, you will inevitably hear that “forward fixes everything.” Surely, you have had a comment or two on a test that says that the horse needs to be “more forward.” Or perhaps, you have had the comment, “forward, not fast” or "rushing." Let's talk through the concept of forward.
Forward, in the literal sense, is about the direction of travel. But in the context of dressage, we are talking about both the physical aspect and the mental aspect. Forward in the physical sense is when the horse is covering ground in their normal rhythm. If the horse is pushed beyond their balance point, they will fall onto the forward and will begin running. This would be similar to a person running down a hill and then leaning forward slightly. If the person continues to go faster, they will eventually fall on their nose. The horse will do the same.
The rider should be aware of this feeling and apply the appropriate half halts to re-balance the horse and encourage a slower, more appropriate rhythm. The appropriate beats per minute (bpm) for each gait and some popular songs that correspond are listed below.
Walk: 50-65 bpm
songs like “My Girl” by the Temptations (50-60 bpm) or “Me too” by Meghan Trainor (60-65 bpm)
Trot:75-90 bpm -
songs like “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood (75 bpm), Paul McCartney’s Can’t Buy Me Love (89.5 bpm) or Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega (89.5 bpm)
Canter: 95-110 bpm -
Songs like “I Love Rock N Roll” by Joan Jett (90 bpm) or “Think” by Aretha Franklin (110.1 bpm)
Physically forward is only part of the equation though. In order for a horse to be truly “forward,” he must be forward thinking - meaning that he must be promptly responsive to the driving aids. Believe it or not, horses can cover ground nicely without being forward thinking as is indicated by a delayed response to your seat and leg aids. A horse that is mentally forward will respond appropriately to the slightest seat and leg aids by moving forward. Additionally, a forward thinking horse will maintain his own energy. In our Thinking Thursday, we will look at ways to get the horse forward.
