(“At a given moment more energy doesn’t always help you.”)

“You gave me too much bacon” said no one ever! The dressage judge’s version would substitute engagement or impulsion for bacon.

If the student asks “Is this enough energy?” The long run answer is “Why? You got any more?” And when you read the judges’ fallback comments on your test, it seems that if they can’t think of any other reason to have only given you a six, they play that old “needs more engagement” card.

The reason I make the distinction of it being a long run answer is that at a given moment more energy doesn’t always help you. If you can’t contain, control, or regulate it, more doesn’t help you at all. Within the general theme of your horse being in front of your leg is the idea that the availability of more power is always desirable. Turn the volume up and your horse should respond. However, while you want that constant potential, for a variety of reasons both physical and psychological you don’t want to redline him all the time! Whether you are helping him understand a new and complicated movement or just keeping him within his comfort zone during a light workout, asking your horse to give you all that he has every moment is more likely an ego problem of yours than a benefit to him.

It’s been said that each horse has only has so many maximum extensions in his body in his lifetime. Some things should be saved for when they really count. Maximum engagement should be on that list.