Anatomical elements of equitation were addressed in previous chapters. In ensuing chapters these elements will appear in motion.
Today one generally observes two types of equine locomotion. Rapid spurts and turns of horses in liberty and goal-oriented locomotion of horses at work. The former represents movement in all directions; the latter in only one, the forward direction. Such clearly defined distinctions did not always exist. Going to war, working with cattle and sheep or traveling over changing terrain horses employed both locomotive abilities. They knew how to steadily go forward and how to move purposefully in lateral directions. In addition horses trained for battle were able to reverse the direction of locomotion, not only in the walk. They were trained as dangerous and effective fighting maschines.
The horse's forward locomotion so typical of equitation today dates back to the discovery of speed. In response at the beginning of modern times a faster, more powerful rectangular horse was first bred in 18th century England. It today is trained for maximum performance in a number of clearly defined sports. For some one-hundred-fifty this new horse was employed to improve speed and power in horse breeds world-wide; often genetically altering these to a point of no return.
One effect of these changes was the horse's ability to take tall jumps. This unheard-of equine know-how was discovered in late 19th century. And curiously jumping suits the strong rectangular horse, because it alleviates physical stress, which builds up in the warped flexible middle section. Today jumpers use the original twin locomotive abilities speed and agility over high jumps in narrow arenas. However an irony occurs. They no longer perform in human/equine unity or in one-to-one reaction to the rider's body language. Their performance is the result of genetic specialization, repetitious training and the horse's awareness of the next jump.
An analysis of modern equestrian sports suggests, that up to ninety percent of all horses today perform in forward locomotion. Of the remaining ten percent only a small percentage develops under saddle their full range of natural locomotive abilities. These being the few classically trained horses. Anyone wishing to gain insight into equine locomotion has therefore but one source of information: the horse in liberty. And - for this very reason I spent many hours of my life looking at horses in locomotion; how they move in the fields and paddocks, playing and reacting to each other and the wind; and observed them under saddle; their shifts of balance and posture; their interaction with the rider.
These observations are the basis of my research. And yet it took years before the following questions became obvious. Which postures and which types of balance does a horse in liberty adopt to accomplish its owns goals and purposes? What characterizes these postures and balances? How do horses produce the powerful out-of-this-world paces, turns and jumps we so often see them perform in the fields? And there are other questions. Why do horses not offer this perfection under saddle? And - if they did, why might riders in fact be afraid of it?
