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Effects of TrainingTHE HORSE'S EDUCATION :CONNERWhen I was digging through photos to put on this site, I ran across three show photos of me of the same horse, the first taken at a show in spring of 1998, the second taken at a show in October of 1999, and the third in June of 2000. The horse is WOW Confrontation (AKA Conner) owned by Diane and Fred Peterson of Tremont, Ill.
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This is the 1998 photo. He shows a definite lack of engagement. His weak hindquarter and loin muscles lack the strength and flexibility to allow him to lower his haunches. His hind leg isn't stepping far underneath himself, and he is pretty obviously on his forehand (Conner's build is pretty croup-high, it took a lot of leg yields to help him become flexible enough to lower that tall hind end). The most active muscle in his neck is the middle one, meaning he's not using his topline to lift his ribcage between his shoulder blades. He also shows a lack of impulsion. We were showing training level at this show.
This is the 1999 photo -- Conner's 1st level year. His haunches and loins are much more muscled, and he is showing a definite lowering of his haunches compared to the first photo -- his tail is carried lower, there is more bend in the joints of his hind legs, allowing his hind leg to step further under himself In front of the saddle his topline muscle is flexed, and his ribcage is lifted between his shoulder blades. He is showing more impulsion than in the first photo, but he's still not pushing to his fullest potential, and that is causing his poll to be slightly too low.
Unfortunately this last photo is in the canter, so we can't look at as many comparisons. But you can see that he has gained even more flexibility in his hips -- he's really bringing his haunches under himself. Impulsion is also greatly improved. His poll is higher and his carriage is more uphill.