[Mike Matson]

I think so.

(this is a public Facebook link)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater

[angel]

Not quite perfect, Mike. But, probably as close to perfect as you are going to get. This horse is slightly being ridden from the curb. If you look at the bulge of muscles along the neck, you will see it is not quite even, and has a little unevenness on the top side right above where the throatlatch is located, and a slight knotting below that point. So just a hint of restriction, and not one that you would probably see if the horse were in motion rather than looking at this still.

[Crockpot]

It's a very nice photo but of course nothing is perfect.

I think this photo shows better balance .

http://classicalhorse.tumblr.com/pos...res-edward-gal

But both are lovely. . :-)

[2tempe]

both are lovely to me. Interestingly it also looks like EG's riding more off the curb- not as easy to see w/ reins against a dark horse, but it sure looks like the loop is in the snaffle and the curb is straight.

[angel]

You are correct, though it has more to do with the horse overbending than the previous picture where the horse was slightly against the bit. When the horse is correctly engaged with the poll at the highest point, the front of the horse's face should be slightly ahead of vertical...not vertical, and definitely not behind vertical. When the horse is behind vertical, it means that the horse's hindquarters are not completely engage, which is what is happening in the second picture posted.

[nuevaburro]

My fiance came over and asked if that was a fancy horse. I said yes, it is. "How can you tell? Because it looks like it's going to poop?" :rofl:

[Crockpot]

it means that the horse's hindquarters are not completely engage, which is what is happening in the second picture posted.

really? hindquarters not completely engaged?

we'll just have to disagree. it would be hard to find a photo of a horse with more folding AND engagement of the hindend than in the second photo.

But both are lovely and I'm not going to get drawn further into a nitpick fest ..

[dwblover]

You ARE allowed to touch the curb rein in dressage! That is the point of the double bridle!! Not of course that you go along riding the horse off the curb rein like we do see, but seriously in the Edward pic the man is lightly touching the curb rein and people have an issue with that? The curb bit is still completely hanging in the mouth, not at all pulled back in the mouth. There does not always have to be a loop in the rein, you can touch the curb, that is why there are two bits in the mouth.

[2tempe]

dwblover - can't speak for the first commenter, but my point was not meant as a criticism, rather that perhaps there was a reason, given the movement being ridden, that the curb was more engaged. (not having ever REALLY ridden a piaffe, so I don't know!) Neither of the two horses looks uncomfortable with whatever contact is there at that instant.

[NOMIOMI1]

Only one looks as if it can spring forward at any moment and people often forget that important factor. Dressage is about adjustability and every movement set up to be forward.

[Crockpot]

There are plenty of photos of CLASSICAL ODG's riding piaffe off the curb rein. Even with bradoon dropped completely. It's not sacrilage. If I ever recover from heatstroke I'll find some photos if you really really? need help with that but there is also google

Ask Ideeyoga. She knows it is true.
'
Anyway, look at the whole horse when declaring judgement.

Again, both lovely lovely horses with different styles of piaffe.

First one swings in more from the hip without a lot of bending of leg joints and second one bends and coils all joints .Both show 'sitting' and uphill balance. Neither show hamfisted riding.

No one other than the OP is claiming perfection for either one.

[Mike Matson]

Only one looks as if it can spring forward at any moment and people often forget that important factor. Dressage is about adjustability and every movement set up to be forward.

Exactly.

[DownYonder]

The Lusitano looks as though he could do a levade at any moment, and hold it for more than a nanosecond.

The photo of Totilas doesn't give me that impression. Maybe a pesade, or a "flash levade" - i.e., very quick into it, and just as quick out.

Not taking anything away from Totilas - he wasn't bred for, nor was he trained toward levade or "airs".

[mbm]

gorgeous image! and i agree - pretty close to perfection

[Sandy M]

It's a very nice photo but of course nothing is perfect. The hind end is too far under to maintain that balance and be able to transition in and out

I think this photo shows better balance .

http://classicalhorse.tumblr.com/pos...res-edward-gal

But the first guy's outfit gets a 10 and I think the photo overall is lovely. . :-)

On the other hand, the transition in Mike's posted photo might not be to passage or collected trot, but to Levade, in which case it's very correct. LOL!!

[esdressage]

They're both absolutely gorgeous.

In the Totilas photo, it reminds me of what I really love about so many of the photos of Totilas and EG. There is just an absolutely relaxed, yet powerful, feeling to them. There's a video of a warmup of theirs that I watched a few times and would love to find again. The whole thing felt effortless.

Sorry, a bit of a digression…

[MysticOakRanch]

It's a very nice photo but of course nothing is perfect. The hind end is too far under to maintain that balance and be able to transition in and out

I think this photo shows better balance .

http://classicalhorse.tumblr.com/pos...res-edward-gal

But the first guy's outfit gets a 10 and I think the photo overall is lovely. . :-)

Ohhhh, that just reminds me again what a Dream Team Toto and Gal were!

[belgianWBLuver]

The Lusitano looks as though he could do a levade at any moment, and hold it for more than a nanosecond.

The photo of Totilas doesn't give me that impression. Maybe a pesade, or a "flash levade" - i.e., very quick into it, and just as quick out.

Not taking anything away from Totilas - he wasn't bred for, nor was he trained toward levade or "airs".

One has to remember that these are 2 different breeds. One has to have ridden both breeds extensively to know the differences bothe express in the same movement.

Totilas is an excellent example of the WB - he will have an extremely powerful forward transition, should that be the next movement desired. And I do not doubt for a second that he is capable of performing "levade" from this piaffe.

The iberian - Trovador da Raposa - will have an, maybe not quite as "launching" but, equally as quick and more catlike forward transition. (If you've ever schooled a Portugese bullfighting horse - you'll know this).

The main thing to point out here is the exemplary attitude in both the horses and the riders. There is a harmony in both couples that most of us could only dream of and for which we should always strive for.

[LarkspurCO]

both are lovely to me. Interestingly it also looks like EG's riding more off the curb- not as easy to see w/ reins against a dark horse, but it sure looks like the loop is in the snaffle and the curb is straight.

Interestingly, the same is true for the Lusitano.

[J-Lu]

Weird. This iberian horse is totally sitting, is accepting the bits, is over the topline, is active and looks pleased. The rider looks pleased, too. This is a great picture of a great moment. I do not get the criticisms posted here.