ANSWER:
This is usually a sign of an imbalance. The hind legs thrust more than
they carry, which means they are pushing the body weight too much onto the
forehand. The front legs are overburdened and can't get out of the way fast
enough. As a result, the hind legs will either forge or they have to travel
around the grounded front legs.
Horses with straight stifle and/or hock angles, and/or a croup high
conformation are more likely to step wide behind than horses with sickle
hocks and a croup that is level with the withers.
Turns on the forehand in motion, full passes, and lateral movements will
bring the hind legs closer together. So do correctly ridden corners. As the
horse learns to collect himself by increasing flexion of the haunches, the
tendency to step wide behind will disappear.
On the other end of the spectrum of gaits, you can find the wide steps if
the rider tries to ride the piaffe on the spot too early, before the
haunches are strong and supple enough. This produces the piaffe balancee in
which the horse avoids honest collection by stepping wide. Again, the hind
legs don't flex and the croup stays elevated, just as in the faulty trot
extension.
- Thomas Ritter
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Last Update: January 13, 2007