Need some exercises that might be helpful. Horse has a good half halt, and is developing better hind end strength through changes within the gait. He has a well balanced canter. This horse is rather short backed/long legged. I am trying to avoid quickness and get the true lengthening. Ideas appreciated!
What helped me is to develop the activity needed for the lengthening before you ask for the lengthening, so that it is already in there and all you are doing is letting it out. So any exercise that asks the horse to collect a few strides first will help.
For example, 10 meter circle at the start of the long side, come out of it on the rail in a shoulder in (or shoulder fore) then let him out across the diagonal–just a few strides at first. Don’t let him flop on the forehand–just release the energy upward for a few strides and then bring him back to working trot. Don’t drop the contact and don’t bang with your legs at the start of the lengthening or you will unbalance him. You need to just stop asking for impulsion and collecting it-- and just let it out when you want him to lengthen.
As you get more and more strides of the lengthened trot out of the shoulder in, after the first few strides you can release a bit more with the new inside hand only to straighten him and lengthen the frame.
Two exercises (totally different thinking behind each), but that I have used with different types of horses successfully.
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Shoulder-in on the short side, into trot lengthening on the long side or diagonal. The theory behind this is the same as EH’s… the hard part about a true lengthening is that it requires a lot of strength over the back, and engagement in the hind end. Shoulder in (or collection, or small circles) is designed to get the horse REALLY STEPPING UNDER… then you can just, as EH said, “let it out”.
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On the circle, ride smaller or larger circles as necessary. Use the circle to help you collect and engage (ride a smaller one), then go big for a few strides on a larger circle, then back to collection. Its an accordian type exercise, collect, lengthen, collect, lengthen, but just a few strides at a time. No storming across the diagonal here.
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Finally, this one I use only with certain types of horses… but I do believe that some horses need to stretch outside their comfort zone to get a good lengthening. Sometimes you really just have to “go for it”, and not worry (too much!) if he gets faster, strung out, or falls on the forehand. I say this with a big lump of salt, because riding lengthenings incorrectly is , 99% of the time, counter-productive. But sometimes you just really have to push. Go big. Make some mistakes. Go big again… make some more mistakes. THEN go back to trying to control the lengthening. I don’t know if that makes any sense… but I’ve found it helpful with some horses.
The shoulder for/in execises make a lot of sense, thank you. I believe the back strength is where we need the most work, so the “compression” exercises sound appropriate. The main emphasis I have right now is not quicker, just bigger. Even for one step (at a time). Thank you both.
Nancy
Another thing that helps to develop lengthening is to work a short diagonal, like from the corner to E or B. This gives the horse something relatively close to look at. At lot of times with a long diagonal they get sort of lost. With a short one, the horse knows where it is supposed to go, has something to fix on and it helps them maintain their balance. You can gradually make it longer, stride by stride, as the horse get stronger and more balanced.
- On the circle, ride smaller or larger circles as necessary. Use the circle to help you collect and engage (ride a smaller one), then go big for a few strides on a larger circle, then back to collection. Its an accordian type exercise, collect, lengthen, collect, lengthen, but just a few strides at a time. No storming across the diagonal here.
I LOVE this exercise and this has helped my horse tremendously in his lengthening. I have now also extended this to the long side using the same accordian exercise.
He went from having minimal lengthening to having a nice big difference 
Good suggestions, I will try the circle collecting/lengthening also. Thanks!
ooo I’m just starting to try lengthened strides, thanks for the excercise suggestions 
