Dressage - Extended Trot
Lateral Work

Dressage - Extended Trot
Extended trot is when the horse opens out its frame and increases the length of each stride to the greatest amount possible.

Preparation For Extended Trot
The horse needs to be confidently working in rhythm and balance with school movements and lateral work as well as working on the bit, engaging behind and be remaining free and light on its forehand.

Asking For Extended Trot

Ensure that your horse has been properly warmed up and is attentive to the aids.
Pick up working trot and as you reach the short side of the school start to collect your horse up in preparation for the extended trot.
Collecting the trot will help to engage the horses hind legs well underneath the body, which will generate the forward energy required to extend the legs to their full extent.
As you leave the short side you start to ask for the extended stride.
The riders hands will move slightly forwards to ask the horse to start to open its frame and stretch through its back, the rider should still maintain the contact in order to maintain the horses balance and rhythm.
The rider applies pressure with both lower legs on the girth to ask the horse to extend the strides.
With each stride the riders seat will sit deep and push each stride out.
The rider should look ahead into the direction that they wish the extended strides to go.
Only ride a few strides to begin with to ensure that the horse stays engaged behind and light in front.

Extended Trot Faults

Against the hand and leaning on the forehand can often occur when the horse does not remain engaged behind and goes onto its forehand and leans on the riders hands. To help correct this begin by riding a few extended strides at a time to help maintain control and balance and as the horse progresses the number of strides to be ridden can be increased.
Rushing is another common fault where the horse tenses up and hurries or tries to evade doing the steps altogether. Often you will find that the horse needs to stay more engaged behind so that more length of stride and frame can be achieved, the rider must ensure that the horse is ridden from their leg into a light hand contact and that when the rider asks the horse to open their frame they do not drop the contact but maintain the connection with the hindquarters.
Loss of balance can occur at anytime during extended trot if the horse does not remain engaged behind and light and flexible in front. This can occur if too many strides have been asked for and have caused the horse to struggle to maintain its rhythm and balance. Loss of balance can also occur if any of the riders aids are either too strong, too weak or incorrect causing the horse to tense up, lose balance and rhythm.
Extended trot requires a great deal of engagement from the hindquarters as well as through the horses entire back, neck and body so should always be started off gradually to build up the horses strength and confidence.

Dressage - Extended Trot Lateral Work

Dressage - Extended Trot
Lateral Work