rider development – Page 4

The Power Of Self-Talk While You Ride Horses

You probably already use voice cues to prepare your horse for transitions and gaits.

But do you use self-talk for yourself?

There are many reasons why self-talk can be extremely beneficial for both you and your horse. Even if you think you know what you're doing in your mind, saying it out loud is something else. Somehow, if you hear it (even if it is your own voice), your mind will zone in on what you're saying and your body will be better able to respond.

I'm not saying that you should go around the ring calling out to yourself ad nauseam! However, if you're stuck in a bind, learning something new, or simply wanting to clarify your thinking pattern through the movement of the horse, you might find self-talk to be very helpful.

This type of talking is not intended as a training tool for your horse, although it can surely become that too. It is more about training yourself.

3 Guidelines For Self-Talk

1. Speak in Words, Not Sentences

The idea is to use significant, meaningful words, terms, or even sounds that will help you get what you want from your body. It is infinitely easier to remember one word to mean one aid than it would be to try to say a whole sentence. By the time you've explained something out loud, your horse be on the next movement and you'll be consistently behind.

For example, if you need to remember to bring your outside leg back for the canter departure, think of a meaningful word that you can say quickly that will help you focus on that task. You could use a word like "leg" or "slide" or even "swish".

Use several words in a row to mean several aids, even if they are all combined into one movement.

Your self-talk for a canter transition might sound like this:

"tall" (stay upright)

"seat" (stay on your inside seatbone)

"swish" (windshield wiper outside leg)

"go" (move with the horse)

Whatever works for you.

2. Speak in Rhythm

This one is interesting. If you speak in rhythm with the horse, your movements will be timed to your horse as well. While you can probably speak at any time, try to get into your horse's groove. You'll notice that your aids may also be better timed as a result.

3. Say Every Word

If you have multiple aids in a row, say each word (which represents each aid) in order, in rhythm, in a row. Once you get pretty good at it, you might want to stop saying the words out loud but even as you think them, be sure to think each word in order. If you skip a word, you might find that idea drifts away in time and you forget about that part of the aid.

When To Use Self-Talk

Self-talk can be used for several purposes.

Focus

Get your whole body zoned in on one aid. Use self-talk especially to make sure you don't skip anything. Help your body stay on topic with the words you use.

Speed Up Or Slow Down The Aids

Sometimes, your timing might need to be adjusted to match your horse's tempo. The aids might need to be applied in the appropriate moment of the stride. You can slow down your aids by slowing down your words.

The opposite also holds true. Too slow in your aids? Speed up your self-talk and let you body move.

Calm Down

Self-talk is an excellent strategy for helping you deal with any jitters, lack of confidence, or tension. Rather than focusing on a negative situation, you can literally talk yourself out of a bind with selected words that are meaningful to you.

Breathe

Have you ever been told that you need to breathe better while you ride? If you speak out words in the movement of the horse, you will literally be nudging your body to remember to breathe, without having to think about it. If you talk, you breathe.

If you breathe, you ride! 🙂

Let us know in the comments below how speaking your aids influences your rides.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Just as with all the Horse Listening Collection Books, this book is focused on helping the rider improve for the sake of the horse. But this book goes deeper into the best training articles from the blog - horse-centered theory, strategies and ideas you can try with your own horse.

The book begins with the horse's hind end (!), considers the horse's back, moves on to rider development, and fills it all in with the fundamentals of horse riding so your horse can be:

happier in his body

happier in his "work"

better balanced all-around

Available as an eBook or paperback.

How To Improve YOUR Trot-Canter Transitions

canter long — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

What happens to you and your body when you head into a canter transition from a trot?

I've written plenty about how to do the transition, what leg aids to use, and how to improve your horse's impulsion. But really, what are you doing while you're negotiating the balance to and through the gait change?

Do you stiffen up and get left behind the horse's movement?

Do you collapse and lean forward?

Do you look down at your horse's head and neck, frantically grabbing for and/or releasing the reins?

I'm sure there are other things that can happen. And if you do any of these things, don't feel bad or guilty. We have ALL been there at some point, and the ones who look like they're doing nothing at all have practiced and practiced to get to that point.

Obviously, the goal is to appear to be as motionless as possible, not interfere with the horse's movement while at the same time, be effective enough to help him with his energy level, balance and tempo. It's a fairly tall task, especially when you are in the early learning phases.

Exercise

This one can be a lot of fun, although it can challenge you in terms of strength and endurance. The key benefit is that you will be working your muscles, not your mind. A by-product is that your horse will likely also improve as cantering becomes more routine.

OK so first, do a quick review of the canter transition here, so you know what you are going to do.

Now, the only thing left to do is practice it.

But there is a special way you can practice the transition that will help you lose your tightness/fear/anticipation.

1. Do a LOT.

How many transitions can you do? Let's say you can start with 10 on each side, in a row. So 10 transitions to the right, 10 to the left. The key is to do them all in a row.

Go to the trot, and then canter. Don't stay in the canter too long. We're not practicing the canter here, we're practicing the transition. So you should emphasize the transition, not the trot before or the canter after.

After you get the canter, go back to trot. Then do it all again.

When you get good at this, you should do all 20 transitions within a few minutes. The idea is not to tire your horse out, but to get through all of the transitions quickly.

However, the real idea is to do the repetitive movement so many times that your muscles finally give up (being tight, strained, stiff, and whatever else they're doing)! You're basically working on your muscle memory (especially in your core).

2. Focus on the gaits before and after

The trot should be a nice, controlled trot. As in - running out from under you is not an option! Develop a good, cadenced, rhythmical trot, and then canter.

The canter should be a nice, controlled canter! Once again, keep your horse "on the aids" so that any rushing or running can be avoided.

Oh yeah. Didn't I say that you shouldn't stay in either gait for too long? That still holds true. Get nice, controlled gaits before and after - quicker than you think! Don't tire your poor horse out too much!

*If your horse has a tendency to run in the gaits, and therefore has a transition that is difficult to manage, you might have to change your focus from this exercise to one that teaches you how to control the gaits first. Then come back to this at a later time.

3. Getting good?

Now you can move on to a little more challenge.

You can ride wherever you like in the ring, and switch between left and right lead transitions. Maybe you'll do three right lead canter to trot transitions, then one left lead, then one right, then two left. Get creative, try to "pop quiz" your horse a bit (and your body).

4. Feel your body.

This is the hardest part. The thing is, once we're blue-printed in a "feel", we think it's the right feel. So if you hunch over in the transition, it will feel very awkward for you to stay tall and tighten your core. In fact, it might actually feel wrong.

An instructor, or an educated eye on the ground, is most indispensable at this point. You need to have someone tell you how you look, and what you should do to improve your body position through the transition.

The idea is to stay tall (no lean in any direction), stay loose but toned enough to not flop, and follow the horse. Keep your eyes up and look ahead to help keep your upper body aligned. Ride from the seat first. Soften your elbows but be ready to support the horse (half-halts) if there is any rushing or falling to the forehand.

5. Lunge?

I put a question mark because I know how hard it is to find a good lunging horse and instructor. But if you have access to both, you're very lucky and on the best short-cut to improving everything about your body.

The most amazing feeling is to have someone control your horse while you go through multiple trot/canter transitions - without having to steer, balance on the reins (yes, we all do that at some point!), or even worry about your horse's gait. Then you can focus on you - your seat, your upper body, your legs... there's plenty to do without the reins!

There you have it. Don't overwork your horse, but get used to the transition by doing many over a short period of time. Also, have fun with it. Don't make it a stressful thing - just play, try, and even if things don't come together right away, your body will develop over time just from the practice.

*Thanks to Kelle, who asked about stiffness in transitions on my Facebook page. Hope this helps! 🙂

Use this hands-on guide to create your own personalized, structured and organized horse riding goals. Track your progress for a complete year.

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look our Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

What Are The Leg Aids For Canter?

leg aids to canter — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

While the leg aids change little between the walk and trot, the canter does require some change in function and coordination.

Even when riders seem to know what they're doing, there may be some confusion about the fine tuning of the aids. Students often ask me to review especially the leg aids for the canter to make sure they are asking for the correct lead, and timing the aid in a way that helps the horse the most.

Basic aids

The basic aids are the way you first learn to ask for the canter. This method helps the rider find and keep balance especially as the horse changes gait and takes that first step into the canter.

1. Inside leg at the girth

The inside leg must stay at the girth. This leg might not have to do much in terms of squeezing at the calf but it is important in case the horse falls in on the inside shoulder. Many horses will lean into a turn or come off the straight line when they move into the canter, and the inside leg is the aid that helps keep the horse straight through the transition.

Put pressure with the lower leg and calf if your horse falls in. Wait for the horse to straighten up before you apply the outside leg, even if it takes a few strides before he's ready. If he doesn't fall in, you can apply both legs almost simultaneously (inside leg should go first though).

2. Outside leg behind the girth

I call this the "windshield wiper" leg. If you can free your leg at the knees, you can "swoosh" your lower leg back behind the girth, and basically teach the horse to take that first step with the outside hind leg as you swing your leg back. Please note that the leg doesn't have to stay far back behind the girth, though it should be positioned a little further back than the inside leg to be effective in keeping the hip straight and asking for the correct lead.

In general, you shouldn't have to apply a lot of pressure with the outside leg.

3. Seat

Well, I'd be remiss to not mention the seat here, even though I know I'm focusing on the leg aids.

The seat really is THE aid that indicates the gait change. In other words, your legs position the horse's body so he doesn't swing in with the shoulders, or swing out with the hips... but really, it's the seat that indicates the canter.

Just to keep it short - you position yourself so you are sitting tall on the inside seat bone, and you switch your seat rhythm from the trot to the canter. You can sit the last few trot steps so you can be in the saddle for the transition.

Please Note

Notice that I didn't mention a kick in any of the aids.

Sometimes I get questions about why I don't want to kick into the transition, and I realize it might be a little controversial for me to say this. However, in theory, the strike off for the canter does not need the rider to bang the horse on the sides and throw her weight forward (or fall behind backward). In fact, the quieter you can be, the better it is for the horse (and invariably, for you as you negotiate the balance change into the canter).

If your horse absolutely won't canter without a kick, then yes, go to the kick. But I encourage riders to work toward first positioning the legs as above, second exaggerating the windshield wiper outside leg, third changing the seat to a canter movement, and FOURTH - kicking with both legs. Then work toward weaning your horse off that kick, and become quieter in your position.

The Upper Body

The idea is to not fall forward or backward through the transition. Many of us want to collapse forward in attempt to encourage the horse to "go forward" - but changing from the trot (or walk) to canter is not really going forward at all.

In fact, it's more about changing the horse's legs. It's not about going faster, or getting longer in the body, or pulling on the horse to keep him shorter, or anything at all. There should really be no change (in our dreams!) other than the legs going from the two-beat trot, to the three-beat canter with an easily heard moment of suspension.

Ideally, the first step in the canter should be bold and strong, but not runaway. The next steps should be the same. You should clearly hear the three-beat rhythm of the footfalls. The canter should be round (not flat), ground-covering (not fast) and consistent (not slow down-speed up - slow down - speed up).

The Hands

This article is about the legs, so I won't go much into the hands except to say that they really shouldn't do much. 🙂

Ideally, they'd maintain the horse's flexion and bend. The rein might need to be shortened a little (an inch or so) if the reins were long-ish at the trot. Otherwise, there's little to do other than not interfere.

For a more advanced description of all the aids, check out the 7 Essential Aids For An Epic Canter Transition.

Now that I've shared my version of the leg aids for canter, I'd love to hear yours. What problems have you had with the transition to canter? What solutions have you found over the years? Share in the comments below.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the book:

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Where Should You Start?

Start somewhere.

It's easy to get caught up in perfectionism. The kind that holds you back and makes you stop before you even start.

Take horse riding, for example. There are so many successful riders out there to compare ourselves to. They make it all look so easy. Their horses just cruise through their movements effortlessly and seemingly without a care. Everything just comes together or them - simple, smooth and fuss-free.

But don't be tricked into thinking that those riders didn't put in their dues long before we ever came on the scene. Invariably - the ones that are the most polished, the most prepared and the most perfect - are the ones who have put in countless hours and thousands of repetitions in the process of just getting " there", to the moment you are watching them.

So what can you do?

Recognize that the path is long but filled with joy and adventure. While you work with the long term in mind, identify what you can do in the short term.

Then just start. Figure out what you can do today. Make it easy enough - maybe just 5% more difficult than you want to - and just do it. Push through the exercise, no matter what the result. If you end up with a hollow horse, note the discomfort, and put effort into changing something so that it might become better in the shortest time possible. But still, give it a go.

Then take some time to rethink the situation.

Find some help.
Get an instructor.
Read a book or two.
Watch other people's lessons and clinic rides.
Watch some good videos on YouTube.
Talk to your friends and peers and see what works for their horses.

But there is no answer more critical than getting well-informed, educated feedback. What you think you feel might not be what it actually looks like. What you want might not be where you or your horse are ready to go. Horse riding is one of those things that always requires an eye on the ground, and an expert opinion can help you avoid reinventing the wheel. It might also help keep you safe and your horse happy.

In our yearning for instant gratification, we tend to want things to fall into place quickly and easily. Be willing to let go a little and allow yourself room to explore, make mistakes and grow. Your horse will benefit from every effort you put into yourself, and so will the horses you ride in the future.

However, you have to start somewhere.

Once you start, you will invariably take another step. And another. And soon enough, you'll find your way to places you never thought you could get to - and it all started with that first step.

So today, get off that computer, get out to the barn and do something. Your horse will appreciate it and you will be better for it. Start somewhere, and soon enough, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve!

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening! If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

Click here for more information.

Read more here:

When "Good Enough" Just Isn't Good Enough In Horseback Riding: What does it really take to improve?

7 Great Tips For Beginner Horse Riders: Here are a few ideas to help you navigate your way through your first steps (walk, trot and canter).

8 Ways To Help Your Horse Achieve His Highest Potential: Regardless of what we want to do with our horses, our first responsibility is always to the horse.

42 Ways to Learn, Play and Grow With Your Horse: Horses give to us in countless ways. We play, learn and grow with them, making horseback riding not merely a sport (which it truly is, like no other), but so much more.

Top 10 Ways to Reward Your Horse: A happy horse is a willing partner, and many horses will give everything they have if they feel your acknowledgement and generosity of spirit.

The Many Uses Of The Oval (Exercise)

Ride the circle but don't diss the oval!

The oval is rarely talked about in dressage circles (see the pun?) but it can be used quite successfully for many purposes. While a circle is helpful in establishing a bend and encouraging better use of the horse's hind end, the oval offers something that the circle does not: the straight line that occurs in between two turns.

If you want to throw a little line into your circles, the oval is a great option. The horse has to learn to not only bend and adjust the hind end activity for the circle, but then he can use that increased activity to take into a line. The line allows the horse an opportunity to move more forward, increase the stride length and reach ahead. Think expansion after compaction.

Then comes the next turn. Back to engagement of the hind end, bending, and using the inside hind leg deeper under the body.

Exercise

Try this exercise for some challenging balance and transition development.

Transition points are in the middle of each turn section.

- Start with a trot as you come out of the turn into the straight line. Go up the line at trot (probably should use a shoulder-fore to ensure straightness).

- Begin the next turn in trot. Transition to canter in the middle of the turn.

- Finish the next turn and head into the straight line in canter.

- Transition back to trot in the middle of the new turn.

Keep going! Do it a few times, then you can take a walk break and change directions.

If you want to increase difficulty, do walk-canter transitions.

If you think you're ready for it, try canter-counter-canter transitions through walk (as in, canter in the true lead for half the oval, and counter canter in the other half). 🙂

Possible Problems and Corrections

Correct ovals can be difficult to master, considering the various balance shifts and bend changes. If you can be aware of potential problems, you can help support your horse through the oval to help him (and you!) maintain the best balance he can as he goes through the exercises.

I've added several links to further reading, if you need more information.

Crookedness

The oval is a great tool to show you just how straight you and your horse really are. Any drifting, falling in, or shoulder-bulging will become very evident as you negotiate the end of a turn and head into the straight line.

Horse drifts out: Use a strong enough (as much as needed, as little as possible) neck rein to keep your horse's shoulders moving on the turn and not drifting out. You can add outside leg to help keep the hips on the line and a mild open rein on the inside rein to invite the shoulders a bit to the inside (shoulder-fore) if needed.

Horse falls in: Use a direct inside rein combined with an open outside rein to help invite the outside shoulder to stay on the track. Also use your inside leg and seat bone to push the horse outward.

Shoulder-Bulging: By this, I mean that the horse leans (or "falls") on one shoulder or the other. It can happen on the inside shoulder or the outside, depending on the crookedness of the horse, even if the horse still moves in a straight line. In either case, ride with two direct reins (with contact but not pulling), hands in front of the saddle by the withers, and don't let the horse take the reins away from you. Stabilize yourself through strong elbows on your body and tight core, and you can stabilize the horse too.

Add some leg for impulsion and get the horse to straighten thanks to the forward energy.

Speeding Up On The Line

Many horses will have a tendency to speed up after they round the final part of the turn. The extra energy and strength achieved by the turn will prompt them to speed up their legs and head off into the sunset! Beware of that extra tempo, because extra speed invariably means falling to the forehand.

You can't let all the energy just fly out the "front door", so to speak. This is where half-halts are essential in helping to keep the horse balanced and moving uphill as much as possible. Maintain the leg speed by half-halting even as you turn the last corner before the straight line. Then half-halt as needed as you straighten.

Your horse will begin to predict the balance control after you do this a few times. Always remember - you don't want the leg speed to increase. If anything, you want the stride length to increase. Not the speed!

"Sucking Back" on the Turn

The opposite can happen as you come into a turn. Your horse might actually disengage in the hind end - shorten his stride, hollow his back a bit, slow down... think that he leaves his hind end out behind him. You might actually feel like he becomes more comfortable as he moves less and stops swinging through the back.

It's perfectly reasonable for a horse to do this as he enters a turn, because negotiating a turn off a straight line takes work and strength. In this case, you will need to be aware and feel it coming on. Use both legs to encourage your horse forward, and use your reins to prepare for the bend and turn aids.

Again, you're not trying to get your horse to launch off to oblivion, but you are working on maintaining the energy you acquired on the straight line.

Using the Rail For the Turn

This is generally a rider problem. Sure, the horse might want to drift to the rail, but the track the horse takes is always determined by the rider.

Because it's a rider problem, it can be easily fixed! Make sure that you turn off the rail early, not at the end of your ring. Teach your horse that he can come off the rail at any point on the line. Then head to the opposite rail off the end of the ring as well.

You can also work on staying a few feet off the rail itself when you're on the straight line. Practice teaching the horse to move straight on his own, not using the rail for direction. If you have a large ring, this can be easily done. It's harder to do in a small ring, but you can make a point of staying off the rail even in that case.

Well, have fun with this exercise and let us know how it went in the comments below! What did you find success at? What was the challenging part? What do you need to change to improve you and your horse's balance as you negotiate the transitions and bend?

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

Click here for more information.

It Really Is All About The Horse’s Back – Video

Which starts with the the hind end: impulsion, engagement, "stepping under".

In case you haven't seen this video yet on my Facebook page, I thought I'd post it here.

This has to be one of the most informative videos I have seen about how riding affects the horse's back. There are visuals, radiographs, an instructor's perspective, as well as veterinarian explanations. The video is 18 minutes long, so save it for when you have enough time to sit and really watch.

One of the riding recommendations is to use the stretch as a way to help the horse develop his topline and strength over the back. I've written quite a bit about this over the years, and I'll attach links below. Needless to say, I'm a "stretchy fan" - if you're familiar with my writing (and riding) - so I am thrilled to see this information presented so clearly.

Of course, I'm not saying that you should go around in a stretchy all the time - just as a way to develop strength, suppleness, "forward", and comfort for the horse - especially in the early years of training. You can start with a stretch, take a break with a stretch, finish with a stretch. Intersperse it through your whole ride.

I'm hoping you'll find some nuggets of useful information here. Enjoy!

From the blog archives:

How To Stretch Your Horse Over The Topline

Why An Active Stretch Is Nothing Like A Neck Down

An Awesome Over-The-Back Suppling Warm-Up At The Walk

Ode To The Stretchy Trot

How You Can See A Horse's Active Back - And What To Do When It Happens

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

The Difference Between Knowing and Doing

Knowledge is a wonderful thing, especially when it comes to horses and riding.

There is no doubt that we need to read and watch and comment and form opinions. Thanks to the prevalence of media on the Internet, almost any type of information is now available to us. The horse industry is benefiting from this knowledge surge as much as every other industry.

There is good reason to work at knowing what you're looking at, especially in terms of horse and rider. Knowledge is a significant part of the learning process.

It does take an educated "eye" to be able to see quality - of the horse (conformation and movement), of the rider (aids and effectiveness and attitude) and of knowing that what you think you're seeing is actually what you are seeing.

But it's something else to actually do it.

Once you put some work in, you begin to realize the time and work it takes to develop yourself and your horse. Put yourself into the spotlight in any form (whether at a show, clinic, performance or even trail ride) and you'll understand the difference between knowing and doing.

It is during the doing of something when you understand that each moment of a ride is only that - a moment. Some days can be good days while others can be not so good. Sometimes everything falls together in perfect synchronicity while other times, each good step seems to require great effort.

However, it is only in the doing that we can truly learn and develop as riders and horse people. While knowledge is key, putting that knowledge into action is what horse riders live for - the struggles, mistakes, corrections and the momentary, momentous "feels" that come with achieving your goals.

The best part - while you're out in the ring busily doing, you'll amass even more learning. Because it is in doing that we really know.

So get out there and do something with your horse. And have a great time!

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

Click here for more information.

What Is Contact? The Second Stage

contact stage 2 — Contact Stage 2 - Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

* This is the second part of a three part series. In Part I, we discussed "Take Up The Contact". Click here to read Part I.

Stage Two: "On the Bit"

Eventually, "contact" begins to take on a deeper meaning. You will find out that just shortening the reins won't help your horse a lot. The horse will tend to feel any pressure you put on the reins, and will often either brace or tense against your pull.

We've previously talked about how pulling is not the answer to achieving healthy and quality movement. The simple reason is that every time you pull, you block the horse's energy from his hind end and through his back - resulting in a shortening of the horse's stride and a reduction in his ability to use the inside hind leg for balance.

Stage Two is when you start to notice the "pull" and do something about it. Although you know you need to shorten the reins for better communication, you begin to learn that contact cannot happen if it doesn't start in the hind end. So you begin to use your legs and seat to initiate the shorter rein length. Notice that the short rein happens as a result of impulsion/engagement. First, you activate the hind end. Then you shorten the reins.

When you ask the horse to engage (come under the body deeper with the hind legs), the horse's body will round more. The horse uses his topline muscles better and suddenly, your previously shortened reins seem too long! This happens because in rounding, the horse's body length from head to tail actually becomes shorter (the top line actually gets LONGER!).

So at Stage Two, you initiate movement with your seat and legs. The horse uses that energy to round through the body and come to the bit. Even though you shortened the reins enough before you asked for the horse to round, it is the horse that takes the bit at this stage.

To repeat: the horse takes the bit.

You don't pull back or harder to get a result. The horse steps "forward" - to the bit. Some people call this action "seeking the bit". The only thing you do is decide on a rein length (by the way, it could be short or long - it's not the rein length that matters) and then send the horse to the bit from your seat and legs. Then you maintain balance through well-timed half-halts.

You will know this happened the first time you get it. It feels great! The "contact" is light, the horse's whole body, including the poll becomes soft, and the movement becomes bouncy bouncy - in a nice, round, trampoline-y sort of way. You will likely get a snort or two, and the horse will feel as buoyant as you do...

...even if it only lasts a few strides! 😉

You will also feel a distinct difference between the feel of the contact between this and the first stage, when you just shortened the reins. This feel is more like you're really communicating, progressing through space together. The pull feeling is replaced by a contact feeling (if that makes sense!). You're in touch but not in a heavy way. The horse feels distinctly more powerful and round. Your aids become clearer and your horse feels freer even while he responds sooner and easier.

To recap:

Stage Two: "On the Bit"

initiate from the hind end
horse steps to the bit
horse rounds
shorten the reins
half-halts

Stage Three: "On the Aids" or "Connection"

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Read more here:

Listening Corner: Contact and "On the Bit": Read the words of some of the masters about this concept.

18 Reasons to Establish "Forward" Energy: It’s not exactly about just getting the horse moving faster – this is where the ideas of impulsion and then engagement become more critical.

Collection: A Beginning Exercise To Try: Your leg and seat aids combined will be morphing into something new to tell the horse: put more energy into your movement, reach deeper underneath your body, and begin to tilt your pelvis so that you can start to carry rather than push.

17 Things I Learned While Developing My Seat: Maybe some of these will resonate with you too.

What To Do When Your Horse Pulls: “Pulling” is something that is absolutely under your control and something you can change if you focus on your aids and timing.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Tag: rider development

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

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Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding