DressageDaily: Extended Trot

Thursday, November 12 1998

The Extended Trot

In the extended trot, the horse covers as much ground as possible. Maintaining the same cadence, with impulsion from the hindquarters, he lengthens his steps to the utmost. To get the most ground coverage and length from the frame, the rider allows the horse to remain on the bit without leaning on it.

In a proper extended trot, the front hooves touch the ground in the direction they are pointing; and the forward movement of the fore and hind legs are parallel while in extension. With well-balanced movement, the transition from the extended trot to collected trot is smooth with the horse taking more weight on the hindquarters.

Shown here is Sven Rothenberger on the stallion, Jonggor's Weyden (by Western Star, out of Grandia by Grande).

See the video clip of the extended trot, featuring Gonnelien Gordijn Rothenberger on Olympic Bo. And for more extended trot photos, search the Phelps Photo Database, scroll to Advanced Search, go to position, and select extended trot from the drop down list.

Above definiton credit to: AHSA Rule Book 1999 Dressage Division Art 1904 Sec. 4.4