a horse is perfectly straight when the hind feet are exactly tracking in line with the front feed on ALL bending lines, or diagonal lines and In ALL lateral movements when asked to perform them. The definition focuses strictly on the tracking NOT on the top line of the horse. So that means if your horse doesn’t track correct your bend is only happening in the neck and that would be called flexion or riding in flexion which happens on a lower stage of the training scale.So in half pass the shoulder and haunches have to be adjusted (travelling in bend) to allow the straight tracking of all four legs in sideways (lateral) motion.You might realize more straight horses or even more crooked ones by looking at the tracking.True straightness happens by perfecting all lateral and bending movements which these days hardly anyone knows how to do – unfortunately. Most horses are onesided and only proper observation and accurate evaluation will lead to applying the correct exercises.Cylindrical and absolute straightness are terminologies that seem more lesson sales expressions to keep things interesting

Question 2 rhythm

The proof of rhythm and relaxation in the daily work has to happen through a clear release of rein in which the horse has to not change in his rhythm in ALL three gaits by stretching the neck further out to use it as a balance tool INSTEAD OF THE BIT OR HAND.On the bit the horse should perform in SELF CARRIAGE and the neck now balances more uphill with more engaged hindquarters. Every horse in the wilderness or pasture or turn out or free longing is – if not physically or mentally battled – perfectly rhythmical without a rider on the back in all three gaits.Dressage is the art to perform under saddle as close to natural ability as possible.The “adjustment” of tempo through half halts should increase the self carriage part, on a basic level the hand and bit should be more a just in case tool to start the horse properly.One has to refrain from forming green horses over the rein!!! Suppleness is not second on the scale in the original german wording since in english it is describing a more advanced stage of training.Plain relaxation should be used here as wording only, to not get carried away.Impulsion comes after contact and requires the ability to lengthen and develop more powerful strides based on the existing BASIC rhythm,relaxation and contact already confirmed.Basic is the important part to understand the first three steps of the scale and work with it correctly. One can achieve basic rhythm and relaxation in all three gaits on a very simple level unfortunately nobody seems to have the time or patience to do so.

Question 3 seat and leg position

Travers differs from haunches in since it requires bend where the haunches in is more a straight yielding the hindquarters in.So for travers you sit on the inside or centered following the horses bend with your weight, where in haunches in you sit centered or on the outside yielding on a more basic level.In the advanced version with bend you have your outside leg a little back to support the bend however your seat is centered more to the inside,in the basic yield your seat dominates a little more from the outside however your outside leg is straight down remaining a forward driving aid,not a lateral one.

hope that helps

regards

alex gerding