Rein length in the free walk

[Catalina]

I was watching the Olympic dressage the other night and I noticed that the rider only lengthened their reins a little bit for the free walk and the horses were only stretching down a smidge. I am still fairly new to the whole dressage/eventing thing and I thought that you let the reins go to the buckle and the horse's nose should be close to the ground? My horse usually scores 7s and 8s on the free walk, but I always feel like I have to scramble to pick up all that rein again. Am I doing it wrong? Or overdoing it?

[seeuatx]

I am curious about this as well. In my area ( and straight dressage, I haven't paid enough attention to what is happening in eventing dressage) the trend is to have the horse stretch it's face almost to the dirt, leaving the rider on the buckle.

[poltroon]

It's not a free walk in that test, but an extended walk.

[Catalina]

Ah, that makes sense :o.

But, that stills begs the question of: what is the proper rein length and frame at the free walk?

[poltroon]

In the free walk, the judges seem to like as long a stretch from the head and neck as you can maintain.

[ValleyMiss]

You should let the horse stretch as much as you can. However, my mare is an UL horse who does not like dressage, especially the free walk. I have to keep her on a shorter rein so that she doesn't jig. Better to have a shorter rein than to break from the walk. But if you'r horse will stretch, let him, that's the true free walk judges want to see.

[Tuckertoo]

My coach and I were just talking about this the other day. There seem to be some different opinions on how to do it. Some judges seem to like to see that you only give out as much rein as your horse will take while still maintaining contact. Others seem to like to see you give the horse all of the rein to the buckle. I still don't know the "official" answer, if there even is one.

Anybody know? Is there a definition that describes the correct or acceptable way to perform the free walk?

But yes, that is extended walk in the test, not free walk.:)

[seeuatx]

My coach and I were just talking about this the other day. There seem to be some different opinions on how to do it. Some judges seem to like to see that you only give out as much rein as your horse will take while still maintaining contact. Others seem to like to see you give the horse all of the rein to the buckle. I still don't know the "official" answer, if there even is one.

That's exactly where I get confused. My guy likes a bit of contact maintained, and he also wants to stretch out. Plus, he has a short neck so unless I were to use pony reins there ain't no way I can go to the buckle and maintain contact. Depending on the judge, the exact same free walk will get either "very nice stretch" or "not enough stretch". It's far too confusing. :no:

[Bobthehorse]

The test usually states "long rein" or "loose rein". Long rein IMO is end of the rubbers, loose rein is the buckle.

But yes, this test calls for extended walk, not free walk.

[Ajierene]

When I first started showing my mare, I would do the free walk on the buckle and ge 7's (average of 5 in the rest of the test). Many years later, she is much better BUT - if I give her her head like that in the free walk she won't just jig, but trot off suddenly. I have to have a tighter rein while still making it loose enough to show a free walk (no I get 7's on the rest of the test and a 4 or 5 on the free walk...).

So, it depends on what your horse is going to do - like the other poster said - better have a shorter rein and no jigging than longer rein and jigging or trotting off.

[Sightunseen]

I was always taught that you should maintain a contact while allowing your horse to stretch, so don't just drop your reins and hope your horse does not just throw their head up in the air, the point is for the horse to be stretching into the contact, looking for the bit

[kookicat]

I was always taught that you should maintain a contact while allowing your horse to stretch, so don't just drop your reins and hope your horse does not just throw their head up in the air, the point is for the horse to be stretching into the contact, looking for the bit

This is what I was taught too. :yes:

[purplnurpl]

please rephrase the question.

What is the proper way to free walk?,
or
what will score well?

sadly they give two different answers.
: ( : (

[scubed]

I was recently scribing for an upper level judge (who does both eventing and "regular" dressage) and was told that letting the rein go to the buckle at the free walk used to be a directive for the scoring, but no longer is; rather you are meant to let out the appropriate amount of rein for where the horse stretches (hopefully more, rather than less), but as long as horse is stretching out and down over back and "pushing with forehead" there should not be a lesser mark for not letting rein out to buckle.

This was just what one judge said.

[deltawave]

The Olympic test is extended walk: longER rein, flat topline, marching but not stretching down, etc.

I think "free walk" for us Smurfs needs to fit the horse in question: if it has a wonderful, swingy, stretchy walk, then FLAUNT IT. Whatever it takes to get that walk, go for it: loose rein, long rein, go for it.

I've always been told to loosen the reins, but don't throw them away--especially in a small arena that's a LOT of rein to reel back in just a few seconds from now! :) Plus if the horse is not extremely generous about stretching down spontaneously, a little contact can encourage them to do so. :yes:

[ideayoda]

Free walk is a condition of the walk, not of the contact. And it is now written to allow EITHER loose OR long rein. It used to have specifics (first loose, then long), but it does not any longer. In europe the condition of the walk is most important, and the freedom. But putting the head TOO low will ruin the absolute freedom (of the shoulders), and some horses are very tense when the rider 'reels him in' at the end (fear of hands/etc). In the US you often see judges saying the reins should be loose (but that is NOT in the rules). What scores best? A good medium into a nice seeking of the hand with a marching walk and a nice return to working or medium walk (all of course being pure walk, no lateral tendency when the reins are retaken).

Extended walk is meant to be ON CONTACT but with maximum marching and freedom of the hindlegs.