_edited.png)
The training pyramid (also commonly referred to as the German Training Scale) was developed in the early 1900s by the German cavalry as a way to progressively train and condition their horses for battle. German cavalry horses were used extensively in both world wars where they showcased their superior strength, obedience, and bravery. By the 1950s, the training scale made its way onto the civilian riding scene and has been used extensively since then to train dressage horses to the highest levels of the sport.
Even today, the training pyramid is known almost exclusively among dressage riders and is often referred to as the Dressage Training Pyramid. However, this leads many to believe that the training pyramid is only used to train talented, high-level dressage horses. The reality could not be further from that belief and every horse, from stocky cow horses to agile jumpers and even beginner lesson ponies can benefit from the systemic training scale set by the training pyramid.
What is the Training Pyramid?
The training pyramid can be used by everyone to help their horses become stronger, more balanced, and willing in their work. At its core, the training pyramid is a sound, systemic approach to creating a solid foundation in the ridden horse and can help riders avoid setbacks and gaps in their horse's training. The training pyramid serves to strengthen the horse's muscles and get them balanced over their hindquarters while making them more flexible and in tune with their rider. The carefully designed systemic approach ensures that the horse is not asked to do something they are not physically or mentally prepared to do.
The training pyramid gives riders a path to follow as they transform a gangly youngster into a well-trained athlete. When followed precisely over time, the horse trained by the training scale (which takes AT MINIMUM 2 years to work through) will become obedient, willing, supple, balanced, and, later, collected and brilliant. While the end goal of the training pyramid is collection, even those who do not want to perform collected maneuvers (like the piaffe or sliding stop) can still follow the training pyramid, going up only as high as they want to. Their horses will thank them for their commitment with increased rideability and willingness.
Why Do We Need the Training Pyramid?
You may be thinking: how does this work? The training pyramid teaches the horses how to move and collect themselves with a rider on their back in a systemic way that avoids confusion and unnecessary stress to the horse and their joints. But, you may now be saying, why do horses need that?
Horses naturally carry more weight on their front legs (60% on the front vs. 40% behind) and while this is not a problem for them normally, once the additional weight of a human is added to their back the scale can become tipped too far to the front. The weight of their own body AND that of their rider directed on the front legs can overload the joints and cause degenerative changes over time. Therefore, we want to ride our horses with some degree of collection, with more weight shifted to their hindquarters.
However, it takes an immense amount of strength and suppleness for our horses to be able to shift their weight back. Therefore, the training pyramid is needed to teach and condition the horse to collect themselves, be supple through their body, and obedient to their rider. This not only makes them more pleasurable to ride but also protects their joints and strengthens their muscles for a long productive life.
The Training Pyramid
There are several variations of the training pyramid that have been adapted by numerous riders and organizations over the years. Below is a version of the Classical German Training Scale that has been adapted from Kurd Albrecht von Ziegner's masterpiece Elements of Dressage. I have found this iteration of the pyramid adheres best to the principles of classical riding and sound training methods for the horse. Each stage can take a couple of months to a couple of years depending on the horse, but usually takes between 5 and 8 months.
Once the horse has been accustomed to ridden work, they are ready to start stage 1 of the training pyramid. Stage 1 starts the horse out slow and serves to get them relaxed, moving forward, and familiar with the aids of their rider.
Many training pyramids put rhythm before relaxation, however, before a horse can focus, learn, or perform they need to be both mentally and physically relaxed. Relaxation is the basis for ALL of a horse's training both in the saddle and on the ground. A relaxed horse is free of tension and comfortable with their surroundings.
A horse that is relaxed will be mentally relaxed (calm and without anxiety) and physically relaxed (without negative muscular tension). When assessing relaxation look for a calm expression and free-flowing gaits with a relaxed neck and head carriage. The horse should willingly respond to the rider without tension or fear.
Every gait has a set number of beats: 4 for the walk, 2 for the trot, and 3 for the canter. A horse with rhythm moves with even footfalls and pure gaits. They will walk, trot, and canter with a steady tempo that is neither too fast nor too slow. At this phase in their training, the horse should move at a working gait that is natural for them with regularity and rhythm.
A horse moving with rhythm should display regular, even footfalls in the correct sequence at each gait. They should be balanced and able to walk, trot, and canter in a good tempo without slowing down or rushing.
Connection has two parts: on the aids and contact. For a rider to have connection with their horse, the horse needs to quickly and willingly respond to their aids and be able to take some feel on their bit. Being on the aids means the horse the horse responds to the rider's seat, hands, and leg aids. The rider does not need to be overly harsh to get their horse to go up or down in a gait and move sideways.
At this phase, the rider should be able to take in their reins and have a slight feel on the horse's mouth. The horse should eventually respond by flexing at the poll and engaging their hindquarters. A rider can test their horse's contact by slowly pushing their arms forward, the horse should respond by relaxing their head forward and down to follow the movement and keep a feel on the bit.
Once connection has been achieved, the rider should be able to easily guide their willing mount through a series of low-level movements and transitions with minimal aids. It should feel as though the horse is waiting for a signal and ready to act immediately to light aids. The horse should flex at the poll slightly (but must stay in front of vertical) with a light feel on the reins.
Once the horse is moving forward reliably, willingly responds to light aids, and is relaxed and comfortable with their rider and environment, they should be able to move with some freedom and regularity and are ready to move on to stage 2. Stage 2 continues a horse's forward-thinking work and begins to build thrust from their hindquarters. They will become more balanced, cadenced, and supple throughout their months working on stage 2 maneuvers.
Green horses have a way of wiggling all over the place. However, if you want your horse to be able to effectively respond to your aids and take more weight on their hindquarters, they must be straight. Naturally, many horses carry their hindquarters slightly offset from their forequarters, with training their front and back footfalls should land in alignment. Straightening the horse is further complicated by their natural crookedness. Like humans, horses are either right or left-side dominant. Straightness does not only mean moving in a straight line but also bending appropriately on curves and overcoming their natural one-sidedness.
A straight horse is one that can move evenly down a straight line with their hindquarters held straight behind them. The straight horse can also bend and curve around turns and circles evenly on both sides.
Suppleness goes hand-in-hand with straightness. However, a supple horse displays a higher degree of balance and is able to shift their center of gravity forward, backward, and side-to-side smoothly and without resistance or tension. A supple horse displays increased connection between their hindquarters and the rider's hands. At this point the rider can begin recycling the horse's energy and ask them to shift their weight backward, moving towards increased thrust and collection.
A supple horse will be able to carry themselves around circles and turns in balance, conforming their body to the proper curve. Transitions should appear effortless and the whole horse should look as though it is flowing through it's work. The supple horse moves willingly without resistance through a variety of movements, displaying balance and straightness always.
By stage 3 the horse is balanced, supple, and responsive to their rider's aids. They are willing and able to perform lateral movements and are taking more weight onto their hindquarters. In stage 3, they will continue their work towards collection and, ultimately, develop self-carriage, where they are able to work with their weight well over their hindquarters without the constant support of the rider.
Impulsion is created by the forward thrust coming from the horse's hindquarters. The horse's backend is their powerhouse, all movement and energy come from the back and, through a relaxed, elastic spine, transferred through the body to create elevated forward movement. In addition to a straight, supple body, the horse needs to have a swinging back that can transfer the energy through their body. Impulsion allows the horse to find increased brilliance in their movements. Their gaits will become lighter and display more suspension.
A horse moving with impulsion will look fluid in their movement. They will be able to generate maximum power (in a long-stretching extended gait) at a moment's notice. However, impulsion is easy to fake. The horse must have a swinging, elastic spine and well-engaged hindquarters to experience true impulsion.
Collected movements sit at the pinnacle of a horse's training. In collection, the horse moves with their weight shifted well back and their neck elegantly rounded. They will display strength, suppleness, obedience, and brilliance in their movement. A horse moving in collection is flexing the proper muscles to protect their joints and promote a long, sound career. When working towards collection, the horse should start moving in a self-carriage. Their head should be tucked with the front of their face at vertical or slightly in front. They should have their hindquarters lowered slightly, taking more weight. Once the horse is in self-carriage, they will be able to hold the position for an extended period of time without constant asking from the rider.
At this point, riding the horse should feel effortless. They will respond to the rider's lightest aids instantly. They will be balanced, maneuverable, supple, and even. Their strides will become cadenced, light, suspenseful, and brilliant. The collected horse will move with slightly lowered and engaged hindquarters and an elevated forehand. Their neck will be elegantly rounded and on the bit with the poll at the highest point.
Strict adherence to the training pyramid will reward riders with a horse that is supple, pleasant to ride, and brilliant in their movements. However, even if you do not have competition aspirations, riding to the classical training scale will develop your horse mentally and physically for their job of carrying a rider and set them up for a long, happy career.