QUESTION: In the collective marks in the training level tests, under "submission", is the phrase "acceptance of the bridle". Could you explain what this means and what the judge is looking for?
Answer submitted by Kerry Petty:
In the collective remarks impulsion and submission are very closely tied together. We many times use the phrases for impulsion - can he do it? and with submission - will he do it?
We are not looking for a defeated horse that goes around like a robot as we want team work not a master and slave.
Submission means an understanding and willingness to work with the rider while looking secure in the movements. This would account for the test definition of attention and confidence and harmony. Also if the horse is submissive than the aids needed are almost unseen vs a rider who has to kick, whip or spur to get a movement. In this willingness should also show a soft, wet mouth quietly mouthing the bit showing acceptance of this as a part of submission. With this type of mouth the energy can go through the horse not stop at a rigid , unyielding mouth.
Answer submitted by Sue Hughes:
This is an odd phrase, in my opinion, because it speaks to only half of the job. And the less important half at that. The important half is that the horse is producing enough energy from behind, is ridden straight through its body, and is relaxed into its own rhythm that it actually seeks the contact with the bit. The feeling to me is that the horse "draws" on the bit taking it forward. At that point, the rider better be there to receive this gift and take part in the "elastic connect." The horses' body will be in the basic "on the bit" position at this point. The entire topline of the body will appear to be a gentle arc. The nose of the horse still may be in front of the vertical, but this is the set up for the second half of "acceptance of the bridle." With the stretch and seek established it becomes up to the rider's finger, hand and wrist skill to flex the horses' poll jaw so that he is soft and "round". I am sorry to be cynical, but "round" is a dressage code word for the face being vertical to the ground. Actually the round topline described above should be the meaning of round, but it usually is not. So, if you can speak dressage you may say "round" and know you are dealing with the head position. Even I am not bold enough to say "head set" in public! Or did I just do that? To return to "round", I believe that it is a separate skill of fingers, hand and wrist and an agreement with your horse as to what will bring his nose in. An aside. No hand skill will work without at least contact with the outside rein and leg aids from rider to horse and back again. To summarize, "acceptance of the bridle" is twofold: forward from behind with clear rhythm, steady tempo, straight so the horse allows the energy to flow through to stretch over the topline TO the bit; and the softening of the jaw poll by the inside fingers hand and wrist into the outside aids.