When I ride a new horse for the first time there is one common training issue I come across. The horse is very heavy in my hand, does not steer very well, and has a terrible halt. What could be the issue behind these symptoms? The horse is heavy on the forehand! Now how can you possibly get a horse to readjust his weight to his hind end and become more sensitive to your aids? One exercise is to activate the horse's shoulders, which will encourage the horse to lift his back and shift his weight on his hind end. To do this I like to first establish a nice halt which I describe in the "How to use your back" article. Using the bio-mechanics of the horse establish a nice walk. When your ready ask your horse to halt by rocking back slightly and sinking your seat bones into your saddle. The second step is to squeeze with your calf and lift your hands towards your belly button (slightly). Hold your hands still and let your horse run into your hand. When this happens, if your horse does not give to the pressure of the bit, hold your hands steady, keep squeezing, and wait for your horse to give to the pressure. As soon as he does, even if it's only a cm, release your hands forward and reward your horse. Imagine this exercise as a 1, 2, and 3. Sink in your saddle is 1, 2 squeeze your calf tight and hold it, 3 lift and hold with your hand. Practice this a few times and you will really start to feel your horse become very light in your hand. It may take several rides to really establish a light horse, but keep practicing and soon you will have a melt in your hand connection. It feels like butter!
The next step is to walk your horse in a straight line. When you are about to turn to the right, lift your hands to the right, opening the right rein and closing the left rein, then use your left leg and turn. Your horse should turn at a 90 degree angle by lifting his shoulders. If he leans on you and is very hard to turn, try it again and this time you are going to lift your hands and literally pick up his shoulder and put it to the right. When you attempt this, envision yourself really picking up your horses shoulders. Keep your leg left leg on, look to the right, and remember to lift your hands up and over to the right never back towards you. Walk your horse on an imaginary square and every time you arrive at the end of a side, you must keep the turns at 90 degrees. To do this the horse must lift the shoulders and rock back off of the forehand.
Another exercise I like to use with western horses is to ride on the rail of your arena or round pen, turn your horse into the rail and back up in a strait line. Ask your horse to halt, then turn the opposite direction and continue down the rail the other direction. This enforces the principle of getting the horse off of the forehand and onto his hind end.
Tips to Remember:
1) Do not use your direct rein to turn- it only turns your horses head and not his entire body
2) Open the rein to whichever way you want your horse to turn and apply the pressure to the opposite rein (Open the Door and Close the Door)
3) Always, Always release your pressure on the reins to reward your horse, even when he gives only a little; he needs to know that he is doing what you want
4) Remember horses take time and it's important to teach your horse slowly in steps; start out at the halt, then the walk, then trot, etc. If he begins to be frustrated at the trot, go back to walk
Stay tuned for the video!
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