If a rider establishes contact with the horse's
mouth, but does not shorten the length of the horse's frame,
hunter riders refer to the horse as being in a "long
frame." A long frame can be beneficial in certain
circumstances. For example, in an under saddle class, a horse
with an excitable, "hot" temperament may be shown to
its best advantage in a long frame. Making hardly any demand on
the horse to accept the weight of the hands, the rider can
minimize the animal's nervous appearance.
A long frame can also be used to de-emphasize the unattractive
appearance of a horse with a short neck. Usually, a short-necked
horse will move better when its neck is stretched down and out.
As it reaches for the ground with its nose, its toes follow with
a longer and lower step. The long frame may also be used to
minimize the high-headed appearance of a horse whose neck is
attached too far up its shoulder. By driving the horse forward
with your legs, you can cause the animal to drop its head down
and out into a better head carriage.
The long frame is appropriate in beginner equitation classes and
for under saddle calsses in the circumstances described above. Of
course, judges realize when a rider is using a long frame to hide
a problem, but the performance may beat that of someone else who
has not been so clever in minimizing his horse's weaknesses.