IN-HAND WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVING communication with our horses, regardless of discipline. If the horse understands what we ask, everything improves.
Once you have the idea of what you are looking for, I break it down into 3 steps.
1. The forward walk
2. The stop
3. The rein back
First, the horse must walk forward with us, moving the inside shoulder slightly away and lengthening the stride. The second is the stop. This is often a challenge for both horse and rider at first and I usually do not continue to the third step (rein back) until the forward walk and the stop are clear between both horse and rider, although there are exceptions.
Here are a few examples of working on the first 2 steps:
Chantal and Max (11-year-old TB)
Rebecca and Jacoby (almost 2 year old Friesian)
If you have a horse that wants to run past you, I start in the stall to explain to them that this is not an option (you have walls to limit the horse) and that they need to create a different response.
This is Robin, a 5-year-old Friesian. This is her first session after arriving in my barn, Friesians tend to invert and barge forward based on confirmation. I often begin in the stall so they learn that is just not an option.
Robin after a month of work. She is now working on HOW to go forward, stop and rein back which is key to learning to use her back and topline.
Once you have the stop established, then we add in the rein back.
Here are some examples:
This is Sasha (11-year-old Friesian whose primary job is a competitive driving horse)
This horse both wants to retract in the forward walk and then barge through the hand. The reason for that is another topic As she begins to relax into the exercise, she starts to be able to use her body (instead of the neck) which is what relaxes the neck and allows the horse to not hollow the back.
If you have a horse that wants to barge forward or has a bad reaction in the neck I will stay facing the horse to help them understand they can’t go past me. This also allows me to start to influence the neck and shoulders so the horse can move the body instead of bracing the neck.
This video is of Allure, a Lusitano mare with a negative and quick reaction in the neck. Note how the front legs brace when she contracts her neck.
This is a TB that is starting to relax into the exercise and connect with the rider. It is from this point we can begin to work on the horses’ balance and teach them to lift the front end.
