What's the Difference Between Working, Medium, Extended, and Collected Trot?
Dressage Tests require the rider to ride each one of these trots, but most riders don't really know what they are. So they lose points on their tests and don’t know why.
You're getting ready to practice your dressage test. How hard could it be? A little trot, a little canter, a few circles. But then you notice terms like "working trot", "medium trot", "extended trot" and "collected trot". You're pretty sure you know the difference between extended and collected trot. But what's the difference between working and medium trot?
If you're confused, rest assured, you're not alone. Many dressage riders are unsure about what these terms mean.
If you're confused, rest assured, you're not alone. Many dressage riders are unsure about what these terms mean.
As they say, one picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look at the illustration to the left.
Working Trot: The horse should be properly balanced and remain on the bit. The horse should go forward with regular, elastic, and cadenced strides with good hock action. The trot is two-beat on alternate diagonal legs separated by a period of suspension.
Medium Trot: A pace between the working and the extended trots. While remaining on the bit, the horse lengthens and lowers the neck slightly as the strides are lengthened. The medium trot is "rounder" than the extended trot. The steps should be regular and the horse should remain balanced.
Extended Trot: The horse should cover as much ground as possible while maintaining the cadence. While remaining balanced and on the bit, the horse lengthens the frame and the stride as a result of great impulsion from the hindquarters. In the forward movement of the extension, the movement of the fore and hind legs should be similar (parallel).
Collected Trot: The collected trot is shorter than the working trot, but with increased lightness and mobility of the shoulders. The hocks should be well engaged, the croup lowered, and the horse should remain on the bit.
Video clips are even better than pictures, so here is a brief video that demonstrate each of these trots.
Working Trot: The horse should be properly balanced and remain on the bit. The horse should go forward with regular, elastic, and cadenced strides with good hock action. The trot is two-beat on alternate diagonal legs separated by a period of suspension.
Medium Trot: A pace between the working and the extended trots. While remaining on the bit, the horse lengthens and lowers the neck slightly as the strides are lengthened. The medium trot is "rounder" than the extended trot. The steps should be regular and the horse should remain balanced.
Extended Trot: The horse should cover as much ground as possible while maintaining the cadence. While remaining balanced and on the bit, the horse lengthens the frame and the stride as a result of great impulsion from the hindquarters. In the forward movement of the extension, the movement of the fore and hind legs should be similar (parallel).
Collected Trot: The collected trot is shorter than the working trot, but with increased lightness and mobility of the shoulders. The hocks should be well engaged, the croup lowered, and the horse should remain on the bit.
Video clips are even better than pictures, so here is a brief video that demonstrate each of these trots.
Dressage tests require the rider to perform working trot, medium trot, extended trot, and collected trot. Here is how they differ and how to train your horse to do them.
Tips to keep in mind while watching the video:
How to Engage A Horse's Hindquarters
Dressage Training: How To Collect Your Horse
- The horse maintains a steady tempo, regardless of the type of trot.
- In medium trot, the horse reaches and rounds through her back more than in working trot.
- In medium and extend trot, the horse lengthens his stride so he covers more ground with each step. But the tempo remains the same. She does not get faster. When she collects, she covers less ground with each step.
How to Engage A Horse's Hindquarters
- Collection has nothing to do with putting the horse's face on the vertical. The horse's back rises under the rider, her hind feet reach under her belly, her croup lowers, and her entire body becomes shorter from back to front.
Dressage Training: How To Collect Your Horse
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD, April 28, 2016; Updated May 30, 2024
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Opening Photo Credit: Trotting horse for SNIPS www.flickr.com/groups/snips/
