| Is your horse resistant to contact with the reins? Does | | | | you, or if you were in the saddle his nose would be |
| he poke his nose out when you ask for the slightest | | | | several inches from your leg. As soon as your horse |
| softness through his jaw? | | | | relaxes his neck into the stretch, then release on the |
| Many horses are taught how to be supple through the | | | | lead rope. He should be able to hold his head in the |
| neck and jaw incorrectly. Instead of looking and | | | | stretch for several seconds. If your horse is particularly |
| reaching for the contact they will push against it or | | | | stiff or resistant to this stretch you can use a carrot. |
| avoid it. One of the reasons for this behavior is having | | | | Allow your horse to smell or see the carrot, then take |
| incorrect training. Incorrect training will "teach" a horse | | | | his lead and ask for the stretch at the same time as |
| to appear like he is supple through his neck and jaw | | | | holding the carrot so that he can see it. After he has |
| by; see-sawing on the bit, using draw reins, and or | | | | stretched his head around you can give him the carrot. |
| using a martingale. All of these artificial contraptions will | | | | *Keep in mind that too much hand feeding can teach |
| teach a horse not only how to avoid the bit but also | | | | your horse to bite.* |
| how to ride around with tension in his muscles. | | | | The next exercise is done under saddle. However you |
| By see-sawing or using artificial contraptions you are | | | | can also perform the same exercise on the ground. |
| not teaching the horse to correctly use his neck or | | | | This exercise starts with a large (20 meter) circle and |
| body. He is being taught to either brace on the bit, | | | | then you go from the large circle to a smaller circle |
| become heavy in the hand, hyper flex, or use his body | | | | (10-15 meters) and back to the large circle. You start |
| incorrectly, just to name a few. For correct and | | | | out on a 20 meter circle (about the size of a large |
| classical training that progresses smoothly and | | | | lunge circle) at the walk. Walk 1 or 2 circles, then |
| consistently your horse needs to be taught using a | | | | switch directions. Repeat the same 1 or 2 large 20 |
| correct program. Attempting to take shortcuts always | | | | meter circles at the walk. Now you start out on the 20 |
| ends up in a longer training time, as you will need to "un | | | | meter circle again, and ride about half the circle. As |
| teach" the habits that were learned using shortcut | | | | you are approaching halfway around the circle ask |
| methods. | | | | your horse to go onto the smaller circle (10-15 meters). |
| To retrain/ re-teach a horse start on the ground first. | | | | The size of your smaller circle depends on your |
| We are going to assume that your horse has already | | | | horses level of fitness. If it is really difficult to ride your |
| had basic ground training, as well as sufficient under | | | | horse on the 10 meter circle start with the 15 meter |
| saddle training. However you still start an exercise on | | | | circle. This way you are giving him time to stretch out |
| the ground first. | | | | and loosen his muscles. Ride the smaller circle 1 time |
| The first exercise that I recommend is to lightly lunge | | | | around and then proceed back onto your 20 meter |
| while using side reins. The side reins should be set fairly | | | | circle. About halfway around your large circle ask for |
| loose to start with, and should allow the horse some | | | | the smaller circle again. Ride the small circle 1 time |
| support without forcing his head/ neck into a frame. | | | | again. Repeat this several more times in this direction, |
| Your horse should have his nose on or slightly in front | | | | then switch directions and continue riding the same half |
| of the vertical. This will help your horse to build the | | | | circle to small circles in the new direction. |
| necessary muscles to carry himself in more of a | | | | Once your horse is riding this exercise fairly easily you |
| frame, as well as teach him to look for contact with | | | | can try it at the trot. Start out the same way at the |
| the bit. | | | | trot as you did in the walk. As your horse loosens up |
| After lunging your horse lightly for several days, it is | | | | more and more you can add the smaller circles more |
| time to add another exercise. This is also started on | | | | frequently throughout the large circle. |
| the ground first, however this exercise can be done | | | | Remember every horse has a different level of |
| under saddle as well. Start with your horse in a halter, | | | | natural suppleness. Some hold more tension in their |
| and a lead rope. You stand at your horses shoulder | | | | muscles while others feel more loose. We as riders |
| and face your horses head, now take on the lead | | | | have the same issues with varying degrees |
| rope (start lightly first) and ask your horse to flex his | | | | ofsuppleness. We also need to stretch our muscles |
| head towards you. You only ask your horse to flex his | | | | out as well. |
| neck far enough that his nose would be able to sniff | | | | Stay warm and enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday. |