The verbiage has changed to make it more clear that a horse SHOULD track up to be correct in a working gait. The criteria hasn’t changed. It’s just more precise now.
By the way, long backs have little to do with tracking up. I have had two VERY long backed horses who had fabulous overtracking. It’s an issue of using the hind end underneath correctly (articulation of the joints) and quickly versus dragging it behind.
Arlosmine: Ideayoda did shed light on it!
I think it’s / collected steps into footprint/working steps over/extended steps clearly over.
Undertracking (except in P/P obviously excepted) is a no no.
Probably better to look further than USA guidelines, so as to be sure nothing has been lost in translation? I hope that’s ok to say :uhoh:
[QUOTE=vicarious;7842678]
Here you go folks, quit arguing and read.
I read and will argue a bit! 
Instead of saying ‘‘cannot reach with the shoulders’’, it would be more accurate to say that the horse cannot lift its withers and free its shoulders thus putting the weight further back on the hind legs.
The reaching part comes from the hind legs. If the horse put all its weight on the front (with its head too low, closed) and is blocked in the front, the back won’t round up and the horse won’t be able to ‘‘push the load’’ at all. The horse will ‘‘pull itself’’ with the front end and drag its hind legs behind instead of pushing forward for that extra reach. I think the expression is ‘‘strung out’’ for that?
I compare it to a ‘‘front-wheel drive (traction)’’ which equal front to back riding vs a ‘‘Rear-wheel drive (propulsion)’’ which is the back to front riding!
[QUOTE=raff;7843458]I think it’s / collected steps into footprint/working steps over/extended steps clearly over.
Undertracking (except in P/P obviously excepted) is a no no.
Probably better to look further than USA guidelines, so as to be sure nothing has been lost in translation? I hope that’s ok to say :uhoh:[/QUOTE]
Rules say nothing about tracking up for the trot, only for the walk.
But IMHO, I wouldn’t think collected steps need to track up much as long as the horse remains supple and forward.
And there is a lot more to be judged than the tracking up.
[QUOTE=raff;7843458]
I think it’s / collected steps into footprint/working steps over/extended steps clearly over.[/QUOTE]
Um, really? Where are you getting this?
You do not track up, or over track for collected gaits. The difference between not-tracking up and collected gaits is the uphill balance, ie, “collection”. A horse behind the hand plows forward with front end (not tracking up). A horse performing collected gaits push and carry from behind. Neither will track up. A horse performing working trot pushes from behind without the uphill balance of more advanced horses - he should track up.
I was waiting for that! re: screwing around in the pasture :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;7843561]
Um, really? Where are you getting this?[/QUOTE]
I thought that’s what is in the FEI rules,I haven’t got the book with me but will try and find out.Maybe I can look on some old tests to see…I’ll post when i’ve had a look.
[QUOTE=raff;7843704]
I thought that’s what is in the FEI rules,I haven’t got the book with me but will try and find out.Maybe I can look on some old tests to see…I’ll post when i’ve had a look.[/QUOTE]
The rules are on the net.
Just google : Fei dressage rules
I did actually think of that alibi_18 but only found an order form for the book i’m thinking of. I’m probably wrong , though i’m actually amazed i’ve been wrong about this for all this time! I’ve RIDDEN those tests thinking that :blush ( I do know Klimke Museler and Plewa all talk about tracking up at working trot but that is probably a “rule of thumb” and not a rule??)
Oh well.
I’ve found in “The Principles of Riding” which is the official German National EQ Fed handbook gathering dust in a top cupboard,that , for working trot
“The only guideline would be that the hind feet should reach at least the imprints of the forefeet” at LEAST…
from that, with a good moving horse who tracks over in the working trot, would a good mover then not track UP or only slightly under in a collected trot?
[QUOTE=netg;7839644]
Excellent answer.
I admit I didn’t expect a serious answer, and thought it was going to be more to the effect of “This is the dressage forum. Hostility is what we do.”[/QUOTE]
as did I I get that people can get riled about something like this, but some of it seemed directed just at others for asking a question.
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