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All About Collection Forum!!

694 views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  ksmith454 
#1 ·
I am working on collection with my filly. I know that a lot goes into collection and I want to make sure that my filly is ready for it. She has been trained for over a year, and had two months professional training with a cutting trainer. I don't want to do cutting with her (more along cattle sorting or reining) , but he just taught her basic things. She know how to flex laterally and vertically, stops and backs very well. I have been working more on flexing laterally while walking a circle. She is doing better, but she needs more cadence. She needs more work at the trot while flexing in a circle though. He gets very caught up and wants to stay in a small circle, so I am working on that as well, to get her to move more forward. I feel like we are really taking our time to try to get her finished, mainly because all I have is a pasture. I have been taking lessons with her and I will make sure to ask my trainer about collection, but I thought I would ask all my trust friends on this site!! :). So, from what I have been taught, collection is not only getting the horses head to flex laterally, but getting the horse to pick up, and round his/her back. To do this do I push the horse up into the bit with pressure from my legs, while taking slack out of my reins to "collect" my horse. Ok, question number one. Do I hold that pressure from my reins constantly or give completely or a little when my horse gives? How do I eventually keep collection with our having to pick up my reins with two hands? Any other advice, exercises, etc would be greatly appreciated!! :)
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#2 ·
You're using collection in the western sense, which I think can be broadly defined as the horse shifting some of its weight to the rear, with a loose back, freeing up the shoulders for quick turns. You won't require collected gaits per the FEI's definition.

So the next question becomes "How does your horse use her back right now? Does she tend to brace? Does she carry her head relaxed, or does she shove it way low or way high?"

Collection is a balance & strength issue, not a head issue. You're probably looking at things like backing up a rise, or lots of figure 8 type work to get her stronger and more balanced in turns. As she gets stronger and better balanced, the head will take care of itself. IMHO. But I don't do cutting or reining, so I'll stop preaching and plan on reading what others have to say...this is an area my horses need more work on too!
 
#4 ·
Yes, sorry forgot to mention I am referring to western collection. Thanks for your helpful info. I believe with time doing the exercises you mentioned and with more riding, she will soon learn how to collect with the pick up of reins am pressure from legs :). Getting beck to your question about, does she hold her head high, low... Etc. She actually holds her head fairly normal. Not too high, not too low. At a jog she may tend to start off with her head a little high, but once she collects more she naturally relaxed and lowers her head. I just want to make sure I fully understand what collection really is before trying to teach my horse about it.
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#5 ·
Ok so: I have been doing more research on collection and I have found out that I am completely wrong about how to go about it. If you go on Youtube and search Buck Brannaman Collection he explains how pressuring your horse up and tightening your reins in the complete way not to collect. I feel like collection slowly comes with a horse being supple, and learning how to give to pressure. I feel like their is more to it that I am missing though, lol!!
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