Piaffe revisited

Remember the standard description of a piaffe? The vigorous bringing of the hocks under the body and the lowering of the croup, together with the raising of the forehand. You will recall, I said, I did not really understand the statement "raising of the forehand" and I wrongly assumed it meant pulling the head up with the reins. Then I saw Fire Magic piaffe the first time. If you look you can see it too, both above and below. All the power of the haunches is expended in upward propulsive force. All the joints bend with a spring. The action of the forelegs reaches its maximum height, and the cadence is majestic and measured. Because Fire Magic is a Dancing Horse, and not a Dressage Horse, his engine is gunned giving him a more brilliant front end. It's taking something beautiful to another level.