Movements are not there just for us to be able to perform them, but to habituate the horse’s body into a better pattern of movement.
Freeing the horse’s body means helping him perform competently as a riding horse; moving with grace, power and ease—and safer. Wee-whoo, that makes me giddier than a woodchuck in soft dirt.
Here’s a shot of espresso. You should discover one such blockage in the horse when you discover how much of a creature of contrasts they are. What they might be able to perform one direction just fine will be poor in the other direction. Can anyone relate? No cream, just straight up black. It is this divide that is the challenge of horseman and horsewomen through the ages. The challenge is to create a riding horse that can move equally well while moving left as well as it can moving to the right. Both sides of the horse’s body need to match the other. The ability of the horse and rider to accomplish this is putting a horse “straight.” Hey, I didn’t come up with that definition, I’ma justa the reporta.
Unfortunately, the natural asymmetry of the horse means that we have a horse that leans on one side, but is upright on the other. If they bend easily to one side, they have problems bending to the other.
But gee whiskers there’s hope! Just finding a hint of shoulder-in will help resolve resistances to bending. It is a wonderful exercise, and should become a natural way for riders to be able to try and find bend. This is an exercise that will affect you and your horse profoundly. Guess what? It’s older than yer dirt. Know why? Cuz it works, that’s why I’ma tellin’ ya.
Let me tell you how to do this from the ground first. To begin with, I start my horse out on the lunge line, lightly tapping the shoulder at the point of shoulder with a stick to get the horse moving away from me when I ask. On the circle I want that cue solid—I ask for the horse to hollow its shoulder, or move it away from me, often, but always gently. Next, I lead the horse around me in a gentle bridle on the circle at arm’s length. Keeping the bend of the circle, I then tap the shoulder over and ask the horse to move out of the circle, making it larger.
The final diddy is to move the shoulder out from the circle and straight down the side of the arena. You will see the horse in a slight arc around you with the inside hind (the one nearest you) stepping more underneath the horse instead of toward you. It may be as graceful as a three legged duck when you start, but keep it goin’. This is the place to begin, with one small hint of a step in (shoulder-in) in walk. In the beginning, this may seem elusive and difficult, but hang in there, Loose Tooth, because it is one of those things
and git ballerina-in’.
I appreciate your feedback. Please take some time and “like” www.facebook.com/Jeff-Wilson-Cowboy-Dressage. I have been training horses for over 30 years and value the western horse lifestyle in my approach to training. Giving clinics and seminars on how to reach your full potential with your horse through the training foundation of Cowboy Dressage makes me happier than a full breeze from a corn-eatin’ horse.
(lunge) To begin with, I start my horse out on the lunge line, lightly tapping the shoulder at the point of shoulder with a stick to get the horse moving away from me when I ask. On the circle I want that cue solid—I ask for the horse to hollow its shoulder, or move it away from me, often, but always gently.
(arm straight) Next, I lead the horse around me in a gentle bridle on the circle at arm’s length. Keeping the bend of the circle.