The study of Steinbrecht's Gymnasium has been extraordinarily helpful to begin collection. All the while it was/is apparent that, even with my highest regard for Steinbrecht, I do not always follow his advice, nor do I fully agree with his expositions. To prevent loosing orientation of what a. he speaks of and b. in fact works for us and our horses, here a summary.
In "The Lower School" Steinbrecht exposes the horse's horizontal balance (...Richtung ins Gleichgewicht...) and speaks of the need to claim the horse's hindquarters, lower them and ultimately gain full control over their pushing vs. carrying power. This process, he proposes, will automatically lighten the horse's forehand. The rider by raising the horse's lower neck will thus ulimately gain a tool to redistribute the horse's weight towards the hind legs.
In my own experience, however, things work the other way round. Premise: Suppleness assists balance. I.e. in order for the horse to change its balance it must be supple. The required all-over elasticity is best gained in small movements, which form new and additional myoceptors in the horse's body and supple it throughout. Small, low demand movements in hand promote the cooperation of horse and rider. They are alternated with forward movements on the lunge.
In the process the horse soon enough learns to lift the lower neck, which in turn redistributes the entire body mass. The horse thus gains consciousness of a process, which may be described as dynamic balance. Shoulders, withers, neck and head come up, move back and thus lighten the front end. Supple haunches absorb and support the resulting change of balance. It is easily recognized that this sort of suppling also assists straightness. The horse learns to distinguish propulsion from impulsion. That is, it with ease begins to alternate the gaining of ground and the elevation of steps. It learns to in- and decrease energy levels on demand.
Under saddle previous suppling and the establishment of communication as described renders many of Steinbrecht's processes superfluous. On the other hand it confirms them and adds additional meaning. Smooth circular and fluent forward movements are easily obtained...
Continued...