Collection

Collection can look different on each horse because of build.  When a horse collects they round their back drawing their hinds up under them more and will have that head and neck wither high with a vertical face.  A lot of the WP people don't actually have thier horse collected they just have the head set where the face is verticle and the neck is low.  A true collection in the western world is where the horses whole top line is arched just a bit.  It gives the horse better movement, better stops on the hindquarters, spins.....A collected horse should feel soft on the bit, supple through his body and have a fluid forward movement.  Youll also feel the horses back arched and the hind feet reaching more.
 
 

ok, thanks..I get that part of it now.  So how do I train a horse to do this?

Well collection comes when the horse drives with the hind into the front, like an acordian(sp?)  I start from the nose and work my way back.  I start at the stand still and teach the horse how to flex verticaly off of the bit.  After a good work out or long trail ride where your horse is wanting to stand still anyway and is relaxed pick up on both reins and with equal pressure hold till you feel your horse give just a bit.  With some horses I will break it down even more by tossing them the reins when they only lower thier head.
 
Then I will ask them to do it while we are walking on a straight away.  I'll pick up even pressure on the bit just like the stand still and ask them to give for a couple of steps then release and praise.  They need to be light off of the bit while you are doing this.  While I am counting steps, start small, I am bumping with my legs to push the hind into the front.  If they break gait I hold and wait till they come back down then release because you don't want them thinking that speeding up gets them out of it.
 
Its just repetition.  Over and over again you keep asking them for a few more steps each time at the walk till they carry themselves collected the whole time you are walking.  Then move on to the trot.  The trot will actaully be easier for your horse to carry himself in as there is already more forward motion so you won't have to use as much leg.  Each time you increase speed you loose some control so really have the walk and trot down before working on the lope.  The lope seems to be the hardest for them to learn and will really take some time on your part to teach.  Be patient and have fun with it.
 
Stay safe and have fun.  Hope this helps.

thanks that does help a lot

i have a wp horse, and it is a lot harder for wp horses to collect then lets say dressage. but we train them to push from there hindquarters and round there backs, and not tip foward onto there shoulders. then slowly we teach them how to stay collected for a longer period of time.