Piaffe

Piaffe is a highly collected dressage movement in which the horse trots in place with a cadenced, elevated gait. The forelimbs are lifted and set down in a controlled, vertical manner while the hindquarters are engaged and carry most of the weight. The overall forward travel is minimal, and the movement emphasizes balance, rhythm, and uphill carry rather than forward motion.

Execution and aids require refined rider input. The horse should maintain a steady, four-beat cadence with consistency of tempo and light, elastic contact. The rider uses subtle seat and leg aids to encourage hindquarter engagement and to keep the shoulders from drifting forward, while the rein aids help control the cadence and prevent leaping or rushing. The head and neck stay soft and the withers remain level, with the movement performed on the hindquarters.

Training and progression: Piaffe is advanced work that typically follows extensive schooling in collection, balance, and responsiveness to the rider’s aids. It is developed through a sequence of gradual steps, often beginning with transitions from collected trot and then introducing in-hand work or longe work to build strength, balance, and the horse’s ability to stay compact and attentive to the rider.

In competition, piaffe is a core element of higher-level dressage tests. It tests the horse’s ability to remain in a nearly stationary, highly collected trot while maintaining rhythm, impulsion, and light contact. Faults include loss of cadence, excessive forward movement, rushing, or loss of hindquarter engagement.