Kruez is pronounced 'kroyts'. It refers to the combined musculature, angle and drive of the pelvis, abs, lowerback and torso used to drive the seatbones in a forward motion in the saddle. This motion happens without leaning in the upper body, either forward or backward, and without the use of the leg aids primarily. Leg aids can back up the use of the Kruez where the horse does not respond. However, a sufficiently suppled horse who is well schooled to the aids should rarely need much reinforcement with the leg.
According to Walter Zettl on pg. 51 of Dressage in Harmony
, "the movement [of the Kruez] is like one sitting on a swing, trying to bring the swing forward wihtout moving the legs or upper body." Another way to experience the use of the Kruez as a forward driving aid is to sit on the edge of a rolling office chair on a smooth surface. Sit on your seatbones with your pelvic floor level to the ground and your upper body stacked vertically over your hips (no leaning forward or backward) let your feet rest flat on the floor with your knees slightly open and your heels close to under your hip (in a chair you won't be able to have heel/hip/shoulder alignment) Now, try to roll the chair forward slightly without tilting back on your tailbone or leaning or pumping with your upper body. Your chair will only roll an inch or so, but this is sufficient. You just drove the 'hindlegs' of your horse further under you! If you don't have a rolling chair you can still experience the movement of the Kruez by sitting in the same manner as above, but instead of rolling the chair, tip the rear legs upward off of the floor. Again, you have "activated" the hind legs!
More Reading on the Subject
This particular book covers in wonderful detail how to find the correct posture and body awareness to coordinate the weight aids. Excellent reading with very good exercises and visuals
Sylvia Loch has an entire series of books dedicated to classical riding, and the classical seat.
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