To Warren--Use of the Pillars from Col. Alois Podhajsky

The traditional description of piaffe as done at the School would be something like this: "A cadenced trot on the spot with the shortest moment of suspension; the forearms [the upper forelegs from the elbows to the knees] are nearly horizontal and the toe of the hind hoof that is off the ground comes to or slightly above the coronet band of the other hind hoof." (This description is based on text and photos in Podhajsky's "Complete Training of Horse and Rider")

To establish piaffe on the spot, piaffe is practiced between the pillars at the School. The pillars are posts set in the ground a little less than 1.5 meters apart. They have four rings at various heights up to 1.75 meters (a little less than 5' 9") to attach pillar reins (similar to cross ties). For this exercise, the stallion wears a cavesson and side reins as he does for in hand work. According to Podhajsky, the horse is prepared for this work by walking between the pillars, standing between the pillars, and then asking for piaffe with his shoulders between the pillars while two assistants hold the horse by lead reins attached to the side rings of the cavesson. When the stallion is comfortable with this procedure, he is attached to the two pillars rather than two humans and asked for piaffe. This work is sometimes also done with a rider in the saddle.

What about the passage? The classical and competition definitions are closer than for piaffe but there are still some apparent differences. The classical passage has been described as a cadenced trot with a longer period of suspension and the airborne legs higher than in the trot "floating above the ground" as if "borne on invisible wings"; a "collected trot in slow motion." [Quotations are from Podhajsky's "Complete Training of Horse and Rider"

This is one of the great books I have in my personal library, Warren. Like any "tool" for training whether it be a whip, stick, elephant hook, spurs, bit, pillars etc. etc. the complete understanding of them and knowledge of their use makes them a wonderful training aid. Without that understanding and knowledge they will become a tool of abuse and/or physical harm. In the historical forms of animal training, (the Riding Academy's, Falconry etc., even bull fighting which requires you to understand the physiology and movement of a bulls mind and body ) there is a time honored apprenticeship/learning period before you are ever allowed to work with an animal or practice the craft. It is something that was in place historically in the Circus animal training field many, many years ago, that has been lost or ignored in a rush to just do anything to fill the ring. It is why many of the "tools' of the circus animal training field are not only misunderstood but used in the wrong way. Give me a hammer and I will break something or hurt someone with it. If some body buys a gun, Warren that does not make them a marksman. By studying the use of a pillar and understanding it's purpose, I was able to teach a tiger to corbette over two tigers, by using my body and two whips instead of 3 people.