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Travers, or quarters-in, is a type of lateral work for horses through which the horse’s quarters are introduced in off the observe whereas the shoulders stay on it. The horse is bent uniformly from ballot to tail across the rider’s inside leg, whereas trying within the route of journey. It’s the first lateral motion the place the horse is transferring in the identical route as it’s trying. Studying the best way to journey travers appropriately will enhance your abilities as a rider and in addition enhance your horse’s suppleness and skill to gather.

When introducing lateral actions, horse and rider ought to begin with leg yield, then progress to shoulder-in, travers, renvers, and eventually, half go.

In travers the horse’s outdoors legs go and cross in entrance of the within legs, to present three or 4 traces of footprints. It may be achieved alongside a wall or up the centre line, however you ought to be in the end aiming for an angle of about 30 levels to the road of your observe.

Advantages of studying the best way to journey travers to the rider

• Develops co-ordination
• Teaches the rider the best way to management the haunches and hind legs
• Is a helpful preparation for half-pass

Advantages of travers to the horse

• Improves co-ordination, suppleness and athleticism
• Encourages engagement of the hocks, particularly the within hind leg
• Develops assortment
• Will increase obedience to the rider’s aids
• Preparation for half-pass

Find out how to journey travers: the proper aids

In travers the horse’s quarters are introduced in off the observe whereas the shoulders stay on it

• Inside rein opens a bit of to point bend/ask for flexion
• Exterior rein is saved near the neck, controlling the vitality, guarding towards extra bend, and retaining the shoulders on the observe
• Inside leg used on the girth to ask for bend and to generate impulsion
• Exterior leg used behind the girth to maneuver the hindquarters over
• The rider ought to place a bit of extra weight on the within seat bone and maintain their shoulders parallel to these of the horse, ie dealing with the route of journey
• The aids for travers and renvers are the identical – all that varies is the preliminary positioning of the horse.

Find out how to begin

Heat up with just a few transitions and loads of circles. Then, in case your horse goes properly, ask for some leg yield earlier than progressing to shoulder-in in stroll and trot to encourage larger assortment.

Return to stroll and journey just a few shoulder-ins down the lengthy aspect, beginning and ending every lengthy aspect with a 10m circle. Then, at the start of your subsequent lengthy aspect, arrange the bend as you journey across the quick finish, as should you have been going to journey one other 10m circle. As you come out of the nook, as soon as your horse’s nostril is stage with the observe, apply the aids to ask the hindquarters to step in on an interior observe. It might assist to hold your education stick within the outdoors hand.

It’s best to goal to take care of the vitality stage with out shedding rhythm or steadiness, so frequent half-halts can be required. That is fairly a strenuous motion for a horse that isn’t used to it so go for high quality slightly than amount. In case your horse exhibits you just a few good strides, straighten him by transferring the quarters again according to the shoulders. This reinforces the concept of transferring that a part of the physique first in a single route after which returning it. Trip forwards positively out of the motion and reward your horse.

What can go fallacious?

Extreme head and neck bend in travers, or the fallacious bend altogether, is often a results of poor driving. Return a step by working in your leg yield and shoulder-in whereas checking you might be sustaining the proper driving place earlier than attempting once more.

In case your horse is displaying not sufficient or an excessive amount of angle, use a mirror or a educated assistant on the bottom that can assist you discover the proper angle.

Sideways slightly than forwards motion could also be as a result of lack of impulsion. The rider must encourage the horse to step forwards with extra vitality earlier than attempting to motion once more.

A lack of rhythm or steadiness can happen as a result of not sufficient half-halts are getting used. This may result in a lack of high quality within the tempo. Frequent half-halts are important for any lateral work.

In case your horse panics, throws his head within the air and hollows, he’s displaying he doesn’t perceive what you need, so you might want to return just a few steps and be sure you perceive and are giving the proper aids. Intention to maintain your horse in an accurate tender define all through the workouts.

If the horse is dashing or not displaying sufficient assortment, return to shoulder-in to encourage the horse’s define to shorten and the hindquarters to interact.

No matter the issue, step one to repair it’s to straighten your horse and journey on positively. Attempt to set up why the motion went fallacious and tackle that earlier than asking once more. Most issues are attributable to inadequate preparation, resulting in a lack of awareness or confusion on the horse’s half.

Widespread rider’s place faults to look out

• Collapsing hip
• Not sitting straight
• Pressure and stiffness
• Drawing legs up and again

Travers may be ridden in stroll, trot or canter, however as most horses will select to journey barely quarters-in in canter, it ought to solely be launched in that tempo as soon as a real straight canter has been established as the traditional means of going for the horse.

Is travers present in dressage checks?

Travers may be present in medium stage checks beneath British Dressage guidelines, and at intermediate and above in British Eventing.

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