Walk and the Effect of Performing a Pirouette on Its Form
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Walk Pirouette
Walks Compared

UNDER CONSTRUCTION...

Shown from a single position (digital video camera does not track with the movement). A judge or spectator usually sees walk from a stationary position.

A pirouette walk is triply modified from a free walk:

1) it is collected, which means that its limb phases are adjusted to allow for the nearly simultaneous timing of mid stance of the diagonal pair, and
2) it is performed as a lateral movement
3) it has a slightly slower tempo than free walk. Rio's slightly quicker tempo of 58 strides per minute in a straight line is reflected in occasional blurring of the lower part of a limb in Frames 1, 2, 7, 10, 11. Max's deliberate tempo of 55 strides per minute in a pirouette is marching but deliberate, allowing the 29.25 frames per second of the digital video to capture unblurred leg positions. Slow tempo is supported by long contact times of the stance limbs and requires flexible strength.

This means that the horse must maintain

1) even tempo, and
2) retain the walk sequence of limb placement
while his hindquarters and forequarters
1) describe circles of two dfferent sizes,
2) limbs in stance keep the masses of horse and rider balanced during the turning, and
3) swing limb placements with respect to the center of mass are affected by the need to cover ground laterally.

Raynyday Maximillian (Morgan gelding) and Rio Sereno (bay Rhinelander-Canadian Hunter cross) shown in equivalent phases of walk. Max is performing a walk pirouette right and Rio is performing a free walk. Frames 2 and 7, Frames 6 and 11 are the same STEP moment in the two STRIDES shown. This makes it possible to see the same phase of a pirouette walk stride from different perspectives.

Max

Rio
1
Time one of walk. LH toe-down. Stance legs LH, RH, RF. RF at mid stance in this plane of motion.		 2

Compare with Frames 7.

 3
"Vee" of normal walk. Stance legs are LH-RF. This is one of two lateral moments of a normal walk.		 4
In pirouette, inside fore (RF in this case) is positioned to right while horse is balanced on diagonal pair RH-LF.
Max

Rio
5
RH remains grounded under the inside hip from Frames 4-6. This requires strength and suppleness in the hindquarters.		 6
Compare with Frames 11		 7
Compare with Frames 2.In pirouette, inside fore (RF in this case) remains grounded as horse turns forehand around hindquarters, requiring substantial lateral suppleness.		 8
Stance legs vertical in this plane (no leaning) while RF is readied for repositioning to right in Frame 9.
Max

Rio
9
Stance legs remain vertical in this plane (no leaning) while RF is repositioned. In both horses, relaxation shows in a soft arc of neck and foreleg. Max works on a 'rein guided by gravity.'		 10
RF just ready for mid stance support of mass in two planes. While legs in pirouette and free walk are differently positioned relative to the body mass of the horses, there is no disturbance of the pure sequence (order) of steps.		 11
Compare with Frames 6. Coordination of walk limbs in pirouette on two circles of different sizes shows in this view.		 12
Just after a balance point on the diagonal pair, both horses exhibit relaxed postures. Max is has repositioned LF and Rio has stretched forward in a ground-covering step.

Walk Pirouette left (ok, I will get the right pirouette movie finished...) Movie (web version is 12 fps).

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