SOME THOUGHTS ON LIGHTNESS

Lightness isn't something that riders hope to eventually arrive at, but a practice to be employed at all stages, by all riders, regardless of their expertise. Lightness is first and foremost the absence of force or fear. It requires the minimal use of hands and legs, with contact that is not strong, but firm enough to facilitate communication.

The word 'force' needs to be defined -- for me, it is the repetitive or sustained use of strength or coercion. This is not the same as a reprimand to the horse, which would be a short sharp "oy" with hand or leg. A reprimand is only done once, not repeated or sustained, and is used to regain the horse's attention when other methods have failed, or to immediately correct a bad/dangerous behaviour.

True lightness promises the instant response of the horse to the slightest request on the rider’s part. It is the proof that the horse is moving with the correct balance and impulsion, and is an expression of self carriage.

Catherine Henriquet riding Piaffe

There are three aspects to lightness:

1. Lightness to and of the hand, which is the horse's obedience to the slightest rein aid.

2. Lightness of the forehand — the quality that allows his shoulders to move freely and his hindquarters to lower. This is an integral part of collection, and is the reason true collection cannot be imposed on a horse. Many people can make a horse collect by pulling from the front and pushing from behind, but when we talk about true collection, it must incorporate self-carriage.

3. Lightness of the horse, which is his way of moving. His contact with the ground will not be heavy or jerky, but smooth and light. Implied in this is the idea that he uses only the energy required to do the movement and no more.

It might also be said that there is a fourth characteristic — lightness of approach, implying that the rider’s attitude is devoid of ego and dominance.

Absence of resistance

Part of lightness is the absence of resistance in the jaw, with the near-vertical positioning of the head and an arched neck. Emptiness in the reins is not lightness — the horse will come behind the bit because the rider's hands are not to be trusted. The weight in the reins can vary, as the horse needs different feels at various stages of its training, and some horses prefer a stronger contact than others.

Instant responses

Beyond the passive ‘absence of resistance’, lightness calls for the active, instant response to the aids. Additionally, the aids themselves must be light and brief. Much of equitation is involved with refinement of the aids, with the knowledge that to increase sensitivity one has to decrease the effort.

The timely release of the aids is almost more important than the aids themselves, because the horse's response often coincides with the release. If there is no release, the horse will not yield.

Balance

Lightness exists when the horse keeps the attitude and movement we want for the longest possible time, without being continually asked by the legs and/or hands. This kind of lightness can only be attained by a perfectly balanced horse.

Those who give movement priority over balance will focus more on contact and drive, rather than ‘the weight of the reins and the draft of the boot’. The light rider will not ask for an elongation of the frame, irrespective of the scope of the gait, as this affects balance and spoils lightness.

Initial Training

If the basic training is done on the ground, without a bridle, then lightness becomes integral — there are no hands or legs to create a resistance. The advantage of the rider being mounted is that he is then able to take up a semi-tension of the reins in order to perform collecting movements, and to utilise his legs to create bend and direction.

Lightness can’t be achieved unless the whole training of the horse is directed towards this principle. It’s not just an end result, it’s a complete philosophy. It centres on the relationship between the horse and rider, where the rider has learned to focus on the horse. Lightness cannot be achieved if force or fear is used — the horse’s trust and confidence in the rider must never be compromised by either of these abuses.

Beauty, elegance, and harmony can only be achieved by focusing on lightness, which requires respect for the horse and leads to shared enjoyment between rider and horse.

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