ABOUT COLLECTION

Collection is the constant and ultimate aim of every dressage rider. It is a combination of balance and impulsion, and sought after because it not only restores the horse’s un-mounted balance, but gives him the ability to move with brilliance.

Collection begins when the horse is asked to come on the bit—that is, to allow the rider to place his head wherever he wants it. It also implies that the position of the horse’s head will be approaching the vertical, as this is the position that gives the rider maximum control.

The next part of collection is to have the hindquarters engaged—that is, for the hind legs to hit the ground under the horse’s body, rather than behind him.

Even though the horse can be on the bit and engaged, he might not be soft and round (although with tactful riding this should be the case from the beginning of training). These two attributes must go together—softness is useless unless the horse is also round, and roundness that is achieved through force (without softness) is crude and incompetent.

Collection is first mentioned at Elementary level. This doesn’t mean that we should begin collecting the horse at this level, it means that this is when the judge first expects to see a form of collection. They look for the horse being on the bit, engaged, soft and round, and with some weight being accepted on the hindquarters. Additionally, they would also like to see some upwards impulsion as well as forward activity.

As the horse is being schooled he is also gaining in strength, which will permit him to carry more weight behind and ‘sit’, as each step has longer contact with the ground, enabling smoother and higher lifting of his body.

Eventually, with correct schooling (bending, transitions and lateral work), the horse becomes more and more collected, expressing this in his piaffe, passage and canter pirouettes.

Collection doesn't happen when the rider pulls the horse's head in close to his chest, or when the horse is consistently made to be deep and low.

This horse is being abused.

This horse is not collected.
There is no weight on the hindquarters, the hind joints are not flexed, the horse is not 'sitting',
and the poll isn't the highest skeletal point.

This horse is collected.
He is soft and round, with weight on his hindquarters, poll high,
face in front of the vertical, and hind joints flexed.

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