Engagement Vs Disengagement
When the horse’s right hind leg is engaging and pushing forward (propulsion), the horse’s left hind leg is disengaging (braking).
Disengagement is defined as the portion of the gait when the horse’s hind leg is behind the hip as it enters the flight portion of the stride.
In Cowboy Dressage, horses are encouraged to shift their weight more to their hindquarters, which enables lightness of the forehand. While the front legs carry the weight, the hind legs provide propulsion.
The hind legs are to be engaged when, during the forward (stance) phase of the movement, they are placed sufficiently forward under the horse’s body to enhance balance and provide a good level of forward propulsion (lift).
A horse cannot engage without impulsion, so you have to increase the impulsion in order to increase the engagement.
A sequence of movements in which a horse takes a step with all four legs is called a stride. During each step, with each leg, a horse completes four movements: the lift phase (toe-off), the flight (swing) the strike or impact (toe down), and the stance (propulsion).
Disengagement is defined as the portion of the gait when the horse’s hind leg is behind the hip as it enters the flight portion of the stride.
