Talk:Animal roleplay

A pony play article
'Triple-step' dressage: a stylised form of pony-play dressage, developed in the UK by JJ to adapt the concepts of traditional horse dressage to the needs and abilities of human pony play. It's name derives from the basic triple-step footwork pattern in which the pony moves. Triple-step dressage is one of many styles of pony-play dressage

Overview
Dressage trains a pony to move in response to her trainer's lead. The trainer leads the required move via a range of signals and pressures, usually given by reins or by the touch of hand or crop. The basic element of triple-step dressage is to train a pony to perform a repertoire of moves in its characteristic triple-step footwork pattern.

After training to the harness and practice in basic triple-step gait, triple-step dressage offers challenging intermediate and advanced work. The resulting, highly stylised set of forms lends itself equally well to fitness work or performance-dance dressage. Triple-step dressage can be conducted on long reins (eg when training outdoors) but advanced work at tempo requires short reins, making it suitable for indoor training. It's repeating, fluid, six-count rhthym is perfect for practicing to easy-tempo swing music from which its development was inspired!

Exactly as for horse dressage, in triple-step dressage the pony is trained and judged for the six attributes she must display: Rhythm, Relaxation, Connection, Momentum, Frame, and Posture.

The six-point dressage training scale
The following six points highlight the similarities between horse dressage (HD) and pony-play triple-step dressage (TSD).

1. (HD) Rhythm and Regularity (Takt) Rhythm, gait, tempo, and regularity should be the same on straight and bending lines, through lateral work, and through transitions. Rhythm refers to the sequence of the footfalls, which should only include the pure walk, pure trot, and pure canter. The regularity, or purity, of the gait includes the evenness and levelness of the stride. Once a rider can obtain pure gaits, or can avoid irregularity, the combination may be fit to do a more difficult exercise. Even in the very difficult piaffe there is still regularity: the horse "trots on the spot" in place, raising the front and hind legs in rhythm.

(TSD) Rhythm Triple-step dressage requires rhythm, tempo and regularity, but in a rhythm that has been specifically created for movement on two legs, not four! All movements, from single steps to fast trot, are to a rhythm, including all direction changes, 180 and 360 degree turns, and even while she trots on the spot. The trainer's challenge is to obtain a smooth, even, and graceful movement from his pony, while at the same time the pony uses only the specified sequence of footfalls. The trainer must provide the lead in syncronisation with the pony's steps, and lead turns only when the pony is on the correct foot, in order to maintain the relaxed and loose feel to the dressage.

2. (HD) Relaxation (Losgelassenheit) The second level is relaxation (looseness). Signs of looseness in the horse may be seen by an even stride that is swinging through the back and causing the tail to swing like a pendulum, looseness at the poll, a soft chewing of the bit, and a relaxed blowing through the nose. The horse makes smooth transitions, is easy to position from side to side, and willingly reaches down into the contact as the reins are lengthened.

(TSD) Relaxation Triple-step dressage requires relaxation to achieve good presentation, posture, and movement. The pony must be quietly soft-stepped, without undue bounce, stomping or jerkiness. The relaxed use of the rhythm and tempo is essential for smooth transitions.

3. (HD) Contact (Anlehnung) Contact - the third level - is the result of the horse’s pushing power, and should never be achieved by the pulling of the rider’s hands. The rider drives the horse into soft hands that allow the horse to come up into the bridle, and should always follow the natural motion of the animal’s head. The horse should have equal contact in both reins.

(TSD) Connection Triple-step dressage requires excellent connection between trainer and pony. Both must give a certain amount of resistence (when pulled or pushed) yet maintain an easy, relaxed flow of motion and momentum. Both trainer and pony need just enough tension to ensure good two-way responsiveness to signals. When on the rein the pony must hold some tension in the neck, head and body at all times. Slack reins will reduce the contact and make it difficult for the trainer to give signals in rhythm with the pony's movement.

4. (HD) Impulsion (Schwung) An upper level dressage horse at the canter.The pushing power (thrust) of the horse is called impulsion, and is the fourth level of the training pyramid. Impulsion is created by storing the energy of engagement (the forward reaching of the hind legs under the body). Impulsion can occur at the walk, trot and canter. It is highly important to establish good, forward movement and impulsion at the walk, as achieving desirable form in the trot and canter relies heavily on the transition from a good, supple, forward walk. Impulsion not only encourages correct muscle and joint use, but also engages the mind of the horse, focusing it on the rider and, particularly at the walk and trot, allowing for relaxation and dissipation of nervous energy.

(TSD) Momentum Triple-step dressage relies on the momentum of the pony's movement to create smooth and seamless moves and turns. The trainer will use the motion of one move to place the pony into the next. It is the momentum created which is the greatest energy of the dressage and the reason for needing hip or arm reins in additional using the bit. Sharp blocks and stops are not used outside of advanced dressage training. The pony must be trained to follow the direction that it has been sent in (it's momentum) and not to anticipate turns that may, or may not, be to come.

5. (HD) Straightness (Geraderichtung) A horse is straight when his hind legs follow the path of his front legs, on both straight lines and on bending lines, and his body is parallel to the line of travel. Straightness causes the horse to channel his impulsion directly toward his center of balance, and allows the rider’s hand aids to have a connection to the hind end.

(TSD) Frame Triple-step dressage emphasises holding a 'square' frame, and movement in straight lines. An untrained pony will tend to circle and move around her trainer, because she is looking around, stepping sideways, or has lapsed in concentration through fatigue. Swing dressage, however, requires a pony to move in-line and never to turn unless turned by her trainer. A square must be maintained with the pony's shoulders, the two reins and the trainer. With the use of relaxed rhythm, good contact and confident motion, the pony will keep straight and in line, but in practice only quite advanced pony's perform well in this aspect.

6. (HD) Collection (Versammlung) At the apex of the training scale stands collection. It may refer to collected gaits: they can be used occasionally to supplement less vigorous work. It involves difficult movements (such as flying changes) in more advanced horses. Collection requires greater muscular strength, so must be advanced upon slowly. When in a collected gait, the stride length should shorten, and the stride should increase in energy and activity. When a horse collects, he naturally takes more of his weight onto his hindquarters. Collection is natural for horses and is often seen during play in the meadow. A collected horse is able to move more freely. The joints of the hind limbs have greater flexion, allowing the horse to lower his hindquarters, bring his hind legs further under his body, and lighten the forehand. In essence, collection is the horse's ability to move its centre of gravity more backward.

(TSD) Posture Every show pony will be judged on this essential element. In triple-step dressage the pony, at the beginning of her training, is taught to shift her weight onto her slightly bent back leg, while leaning slightly forward. This is the basic standing position and can be tiring for the the untrained pony to maintain. The ability to shift her weight, definately and surely during moves must be part of her early training in order to achieve the complex advanced moves which will be accomplished by an experienced show pony. A good weight shift is needed every time a pony steps, turns on one leg, performs a bow or curtsey, and a whenever she prepares for a move where both feet will leave the ground!

(HD) Airs above the ground For horse, the "school jumps," or "airs above the ground" are a series of higher-level dressage maneuvers where the horse leaves the ground such as the capriole, courbette, the mezair, the croupade, and levade. None are typically seen in modern competitive dressage, but are performed by horses of various riding academies.

(TSD) Air steps Triple-step dressage will include various air steps for the higher-level ponies and for competitive performance. These include small jumps and (with the trainer) lifts and throw-outs.

Agreement
Triple-step dressage for pony play is customised to challenge the pony's physical and mental abilities. Riding ponies and cart ponies each have their own skills and challenges, but to become a show pony who undertakes triple-step dressage requires enthusiasm, patience, intellegence, imagination, and practice. Successful implementation of the triple-step ideal in unlikely without a thoughtful and agreed training plan to run from basic movement control and may continue to advanced choreographed ballet (display dressage). The opportunities for improvement and growth are limited only by the imagination and skill of the trainer and the willingness of the pony to work hard.

Although the trainer, not the pony, is in control of the details and execution of the training, it is essential that the pony is aware of all the elements involved. It requires prior agreement regarding the goals of training, and the roles, attitudes, equipment, and intensity of training, that will be used to achieve these goals. Advance work requires strong team work particularly when working at tempo. As in all BDSM play, a trainer-pony relationship must have agreed limits and expectations; physically, socially, D/s, and sexually.

Roleplay
Both pony and trainer must use imagination and be mindful of her role. This is founded in the two primarily aspects of a horse: (1) physically it is a long-legged, fit and strong animal, with a body designed for free and graceful movement at speed; and (2) when harnessed the same horse willingly trades freedom of movement and agility in order to safely work for, and obey, her trainer.

A pony does NOT, therefore, try to mimick a horse by dropping onto all fours, as she would not have the ability to move with any grace or strength. She must retain the essence of the horse -- she must stand tall, with free and relaxed legs, be confident of her own grooming, holding her head high and proudly. Her body represents the horse, but can not mimic it. Her torso represents the horse's neck and chest, strong and resolved to receive a harness for her work; her legs represent the horse's front legs, strong quick, nimble, and sure footed. Only in her minds eye might she see a stretched out back and hind legs, either as horse or centour. Her mindfulness and her resulting movements will be helped by the addition of tack and various equipment suitable to her role and her work, such as a bridle and bit, or the feel of a tail swishing accross her rump and on the back of her legs.

Treats, including petting and feeding play a full part. It is aslo helpful to extend roleplay to beyond the training and to remain in role during a slow, post-training wind-down. There are many benefits from taking the extra time for this and undertaking tasks in a ritualistic manner. After dressage training, consider the pony's mental, emotional, and physical needs. Extend the trainer-pony relationship into grooming (include brushing, washing and oiling) while she is still under the bridle.

Equipment
In pony play, equipment is optional as the only essential is mindfulness. Triple-step dressage, however, requires the minimum of reins and a harness to attach them to. Reins must be suitable for the tempo of the work intended and may be from one to ten meters in length. Additionally, short reins of 10-15 cm may be tied on and left to hang in place (usually at the shoulder, elbow, and hip) for close work where the trainer wishes to pull the pony and have immediate response. The additional use of a crop to direct the pony is common place.

A bridle or head harness is needed to attach reins to. This may be with or without a bit. Bits themselves can be in many forms such as a bit-gag or a ball-gag. A metal or rubber horse bit will have extended sides designed for attaching reins. Blinkers can be attached to the headharness to limit the pony's field of vision.

A collar, or posture collar is helpfull to restrict movement as well as to attach leads to when a bridle is not used.

A body harness with rings, or a broad elastic belt, is used to pin the arms to the body just above the elbows.

Thigh straps or a hip belt with fastenings to pin the arms at the wrists can be used for show ponies on display, or certain slow-paced work only.

Saftey warning: although it is recognised that, just as a horse has no arms, removing a pony's arms from use will emphasis her role, it is important to note that during any activity at tempo which demands balance, a pony should NOT have her arms pinned to her sides below the elbow, as a fall will result in injury. A trained and well-balanced pony might undertake some work with arms securely tied down at both elbow and wrist, but advanced (fast) triple-step dressage is NEVER conducted with arms pinned lower than the elbow.

Accessories are of two types: cosmetic or practical. For a pony, all items of clothing are considered accessories, and may be practical, cosmetic, or both, in nature. Mittens which bind the hands, hoof shoes which shape and angle the foot, a blindfold for either partial or total blackout of the pony's vision, ear muffs to block the pony's hearing, are examples of practicle accessories. Together with the type of bit used, accessories of this nature can completely control the pony's sensory experience.

Cosmetic accesories (considered essential by some) include the trimmings which help both to increase the mindfulness of the pony's role, her pride and pleasure in her appearance, and the physical and mental sensations resulting, such as plumes, rosettes and her tail (tie-on or butt-plug type).

Examples of triple-step dressage constituent parts
Movement and posture within the six-point dressage training scale are the essence of this dressage.

For example, a first move -- leading the pony forwards towards the trainer, and turning her 180 clockwise, so she rests where the trainer was previously standing, is directed by the dressage. Remember that position, how the pony gets into and out of a position, and what she does when in it, her weight, balance and posture, is directed by the dressage. The transition between position and movement, is directed by the dressage. So, this simple move, if executed well, actually requires every one of the six-point training scale listed above.

Leading her back again, followed by another 180 clockwise turn, to her starting position, requires yet more skill to make each individual move a fluid and smooth opperation. The pony has to be self-correcting in style, gait, speed and grace. The trainer has to provide a strong lead and direction, for starting and stopping the pony and to lead the type of turn required from a distance, using sophisticated signals from both reins and the crop. The pony must be trained not to anticipate (or at least, not to show any visable sign of anticipation), nor to let anticipation affect being 100% directed by her trainer!

Modifier signals are those commands which will change the pony's direction once she already has direction and, as an essential part of this style of dressageare, are an early part of the pony's training.

Embellishments are expressive additions that do not alter moves, final positions, or footwork much. Added by experienced and playful ponies, extras such as head tosses, heel ficks, or kick-all-change weight shifts, add to the move to make it more interesting. However, such non-directed embellishments may not always be approved of by the trainer, nor necessarily enhance the move which he (unknown by the pony) intends to lead.

Definitions
Dressage: (a French term, most commonly translated to mean "training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardised, progressive training methods, a horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to perform. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as "Horse Ballet" (cf. nl:Dressuur).

(1) Show ponies: ponies who show off their dressage skills and often wear elaborate harnessess, plumes and so on. A show pony is neither ridden nor pulls a cart.

(2) Riding ponies: ponies who are ridden, either on all fours or on two legs, with the "rider" on the shoulders of the "pony" (also known as Shoulder riding). Note that a human back is generally not strong enough to take the weight of another adult without risk of injury, so four-legged "riding" is generally symbolic, with the "rider" taking most of their weight on their own legs.

(3) Cart ponies: ponies who pull a sulky [lightweight cart] with their owner.