Energy Production in The Push
When the horse's hind legs push down into the ground, they can create swing, suspension and lift in the front (if the horse lets the energy flow through the back). When the hind legs starts to push backwards (meaning behind the vertical line), it pushes the horse on the front.
The horses in this video does both - they do create some swing and suspension with the downwards push, but they also push too much backwards, meaning they are a little bit on the front. Teaching young horses to actively use their hind legs, will often make them chose a bit too much backwards push. But as they get stronger, they will start to push more and more downwards, and in that way shift the weight backwards again. (Also, the downwards push requires a very calm horse that LETS it's hind legs fall a little downwards so they are well angled and able to push down. These horses are not calm enough for really doing this).
In the extreme form, the downward push (the diagonal energy production) will produce the passage - with maximum suspension, swing and lift of the front leg.
In piaff, the horse should also learn to keep it's diagonal push, even if the legs are underneath him. If a horse in piaff does not push downwards, he will very likely be on the front, no matter how well set he might be in his croup and how far underneath his hind legs are.
The horses in this video does both - they do create some swing and suspension with the downwards push, but they also push too much backwards, meaning they are a little bit on the front. Teaching young horses to actively use their hind legs, will often make them chose a bit too much backwards push. But as they get stronger, they will start to push more and more downwards, and in that way shift the weight backwards again. (Also, the downwards push requires a very calm horse that LETS it's hind legs fall a little downwards so they are well angled and able to push down. These horses are not calm enough for really doing this).
In the extreme form, the downward push (the diagonal energy production) will produce the passage - with maximum suspension, swing and lift of the front leg.
In piaff, the horse should also learn to keep it's diagonal push, even if the legs are underneath him. If a horse in piaff does not push downwards, he will very likely be on the front, no matter how well set he might be in his croup and how far underneath his hind legs are.
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Animals