Impulsion

Horsebrat20 · 02-29-2004, 02:11 PM

Can somone post some videos or pictures of horses that are engaging their hind end and have impulsion? I just need to see it so i can tell when a horse is useing their hind end. Thanks.

Jumpers · 02-29-2004, 03:08 PM

Impulsion is the energy that drives a horse forward. Think of the hindquarter as the engine and the impulsion as the gasoline. No impulsion = no go.

Imagine the differences between a western pleasure jog and a dressage medium trot. The medium trot of the dressage horse covers MUCH more ground than the jog of a western pleasure horse because he has more energy or impulsion.

Engagement refers to "how" he uses that energy, or impulsion. When a horse engages the hindquarters, he empowers his muscles and bone structure to add more action, animation, and liveliness to his gait. In a sense engagement is also energy, but a slightly different form.

Engaging the hindquarter also refers to the use of the loins. Is the horse strung out behind, or is he stepping deeply under himself? A horse can be traveling at the collected trot, but still have considerable engagement of the hindquarter. The impulsion is greatly reduced, but the engagement is not. That's because the horse's gait becomes lively and much more high stepping at the collected gaits than at the extended gaits. More energy goes "up" instead of forward.

I would consider these horses to have extreme engagement and impulsion:

The horse below is one I would consider to be LACKING impulsion and engagement. He is rater "blah" in his presentation and looks as if he'd rather have his head in a haybag than in the dressage arena. His hindquarter is strung out behind his body, his hocks lack any action at all. Notice how the hock angle is quite OPEN compared to the photos above where the hock angles are much more closed.

Horsebrat20 · 02-29-2004, 03:21 PM

Thank you Jumpers! What kind of impulsion or engagement of the hind end do you want in a hunt seat horse? I am going to try to get a video of my mare up on a website one of these days so someone can tell me if she's moving correctly, or lacking movement. From the photos in my album, does she appear to be moving correctly? I can't tell. I was also wondering how you can tell a horse is on the forehand. I'm sure someone has told me before, but i just can't see it. If you could post a pic of one off the forehand and one on the forehand and tell me the differences i might be able to understand better. It's just very fustrating knowing all these terms but can't explain or picture them in your head.

Thank you so much though, you did help me a lot. applaud

Jumpers · 03-01-2004, 03:43 PM

This is alot of work you're asking me to do! LOL! hah I have very limited time tonight since hubby will be home soon, but I'll address the "on the forehand" issue first since it's very easy. The impulsion and engagement of a hunt seat horse will require lots of typing and pictures.

The horses I posted above are definitely off the forehand and using the hindquarter correctly.

These 2 pictures show horses who have fallen onto the forehand. When the horse is on the forehand, they appear to be diving down into the dirt. The neck and shoulders is generally much lower than the hindquarter.

These 2 photos below show horses who are using themselves correctly, and have NOT fallen heavy onto the forehand. A horse should appear to be moving upward and forward - not down into the dirt - to be considered OFF the forehand.

Horsebrat20 · 03-02-2004, 03:40 PM

Thanks jumpers. I'm sorry it was so much work, but i think i figured it out. I still need some practice spotting it, so now whenever i'm looking at a horse i'll be looking for on the forehand or off the forehand.

Now all i have to do is learn how to do the aids to get my horse off the forehand and engage her hind quarters. Thanks again!

<small>[ March 02, 2004, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: Horsebrat20 ]</small>

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 03-02-2004, 03:47 PM

here's a trot video of a horse doing great impulsion, Jumpers posted this on my breeding thread.

Trot Video

running_ Tiny running_

02-29-2004, 02:11 PM	#1
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	Impulsion Can somone post some videos or pictures of horses that are engaging their hind end and have impulsion? I just need to see it so i can tell when a horse is useing their hind end. Thanks. __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

02-29-2004, 03:21 PM	#3
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	Thank you Jumpers! What kind of impulsion or engagement of the hind end do you want in a hunt seat horse? I am going to try to get a video of my mare up on a website one of these days so someone can tell me if she's moving correctly, or lacking movement. From the photos in my album, does she appear to be moving correctly? I can't tell. I was also wondering how you can tell a horse is on the forehand. I'm sure someone has told me before, but i just can't see it. If you could post a pic of one off the forehand and one on the forehand and tell me the differences i might be able to understand better. It's just very fustrating knowing all these terms but can't explain or picture them in your head. Thank you so much though, you did help me a lot. applaud __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

03-02-2004, 03:40 PM	#5
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	Thanks jumpers. I'm sorry it was so much work, but i think i figured it out. I still need some practice spotting it, so now whenever i'm looking at a horse i'll be looking for on the forehand or off the forehand. Now all i have to do is learn how to do the aids to get my horse off the forehand and engage her hind quarters. Thanks again! <small>[ March 02, 2004, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: Horsebrat20 ]</small> __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

03-02-2004, 03:47 PM	#6
bay_blnd jmpr07 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Granby, CT Posts: 11,633 Images: 425	here's a trot video of a horse doing great impulsion, Jumpers posted this on my breeding thread. Trot Video running_ Tiny running_ __________________ Semper Paratus

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02-29-2004, 03:08 PM	#2
Jumpers Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,216	Impulsion is the energy that drives a horse forward. Think of the hindquarter as the engine and the impulsion as the gasoline. No impulsion = no go. Imagine the differences between a western pleasure jog and a dressage medium trot. The medium trot of the dressage horse covers MUCH more ground than the jog of a western pleasure horse because he has more energy or impulsion. Engagement refers to "how" he uses that energy, or impulsion. When a horse engages the hindquarters, he empowers his muscles and bone structure to add more action, animation, and liveliness to his gait. In a sense engagement is also energy, but a slightly different form. Engaging the hindquarter also refers to the use of the loins. Is the horse strung out behind, or is he stepping deeply under himself? A horse can be traveling at the collected trot, but still have considerable engagement of the hindquarter. The impulsion is greatly reduced, but the engagement is not. That's because the horse's gait becomes lively and much more high stepping at the collected gaits than at the extended gaits. More energy goes "up" instead of forward. I would consider these horses to have extreme engagement and impulsion: The horse below is one I would consider to be LACKING impulsion and engagement. He is rater "blah" in his presentation and looks as if he'd rather have his head in a haybag than in the dressage arena. His hindquarter is strung out behind his body, his hocks lack any action at all. Notice how the hock angle is quite OPEN compared to the photos above where the hock angles are much more closed.

03-01-2004, 03:43 PM	#4
Jumpers Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,216	This is alot of work you're asking me to do! LOL! hah I have very limited time tonight since hubby will be home soon, but I'll address the "on the forehand" issue first since it's very easy. The impulsion and engagement of a hunt seat horse will require lots of typing and pictures. The horses I posted above are definitely off the forehand and using the hindquarter correctly. These 2 pictures show horses who have fallen onto the forehand. When the horse is on the forehand, they appear to be diving down into the dirt. The neck and shoulders is generally much lower than the hindquarter. These 2 photos below show horses who are using themselves correctly, and have NOT fallen heavy onto the forehand. A horse should appear to be moving upward and forward - not down into the dirt - to be considered OFF the forehand.