DEVELOPING THE YOUNG HORSE PART 5
by: Lynn Palm, Palm Partnership Training (TM)
"The Goal-Riding Training Level, Test 1, Part 5,
Balance Through Bending"
At this stage in your young horse's training, your main objective should be to control his balance. In order to do this you need to align the horse's entire body on both straight and bent lines because alignment creates balance. When you achieve this balance in your horse, he can display the qualities needed for Training Level-a steady rhythm, relaxation, and smooth transitions.
If you remember from the last article, the rider's seat and legs control two-thirds of the horse's body from the withers back and the rider's hands control the forward one-third of the horse's body including the shoulders, neck and head. To be more specific with the hand aids, the right rein control the right side of the head, neck, right shoulder and front leg. The left rein controls the same on the left side. To ride the horse straight (or keep his body straight along a curved line), the rider has to channel him between his legs and the reins.
Rein Aids
Your rein aids are important in aligning your horse's body in order to achieve balance, and they need to be explained here:
The Open Rein positions the horse's head in the direction you are going. Turn your palm up toward the sky as if you were turning a key to unlock a door and move your hand sideways from its correct position. Do not pull backwards.
The Indirect Rein, when in use, should be against the horse's neck at all times. Turn your hand as above and towards the crest of the horse's neck to allow full contact of the rein from the top to the bottom of his neck. Again, do not pull backwards.
Riding Figures Creates Balance
The more you change direction, the more you improve your horse's balance and suppleness. Riding figures is a great way to change direction often, and it also makes training more interesting for both the horse and rider. In order to ride figures, you first need to understand bending and the bending aids.
Bending
Bending is when the horse arcs his body, from the poll (top of the head), through his spine, to the dock (top of the tail). Correct bending will be required in Training Level Test 1 in riding 20-meter circles and in riding the corners of the arena. The bending aids are inside leg and inside open rein, supported by the outside leg and outside rein. The inside leg is the bending aid curving the spine from the withers to the dock. The open rein flexes the head inward and curves the spine from the poll to the withers.
Aids Sequence for Bending:
1. the inside leg just behind the girth,
2. inside open rein
3. the outside leg to support the horse's hips from swinging out, and
4. the indirect outside rein to control the head and neck from bending or flexing too far and to keep the shoulder in line of the bend.
Here is an exercise to help you practice using the bending aids to keep the horse in proper position on a curve and on a straight line. It uses an elongated Figure 8 pattern made up of two half-circles on each end connected by long, diagonal straight lines. We will start with the aids sequence used when going from a straight line to a turn and returning to the straight line:
1. start the figure on one of the pattern's straight lines using even leg aids and rein aids to keep the horse straight,
2. before the turn, use the bending aids (the inside leg, and open inside rein) supporting the bend with the outside leg and outside indirect rein against the neck,
3. as you get to the turn, use the turning aids (the outside leg and outside indirect rein) to direct the horse through the turn,
4. before going straight again, use the straightening aids (the inside leg to stop the bending and bring the horse to your outside open rein),
5. as you get back to the point of going on a straight line again, evenly apply both leg aids and rein aids to keep the horse forward and straight.
The process starts over again before the next turn.
Do this exercise at the walk to get the coordination of the aids. At the walk, you also have more time to do the figure and feel the horse's reactions in response to your aids. When you perfect the exercise at the walk, repeat it at the trot. (As you progress up the levels, this figure will lend itself to the canter with a simple change of lead in the middle of the straight line.)
Correcting Loss of Balance on a Curve
Horses will often fall inside the arc of the circle in a certain place-at the letter A in a dressage arena, for example, because that is where you enter and exit. Likewise, there will be a place where he will fall outside the arc of the circle. This loss of balance inward or outward is common, but a thinking rider will feel it happening and correct it with the natural aids.
Correcting Falling In: When a horse loses his balance inward, he will always increase his speed. To correct falling in, use your inside, indirect rein along with your active, inside leg aid to move him to the center track. Once he comes back to the arc of the circle, support the bend with your outside indirect rein and outside leg.
Correcting Falling Out: Use your outside leg aid more actively and the outside indirect rein to bring the horse inward and back onto the arc of the circle. Once there, support the bend with your inside, indirect rein and inside leg.
Turn on the Forehand
The turn on the forehand is a great exercise to practice your leg aids and rein cues. Stop along next to a fence or arena wall, leaving enough space so the horse will not hit his nose as he turns. Select a spot ahead where you will do the turn and walk towards it and halt without letting your horse step backwards.
Flex the horse's head a little to the right with the open rein but keep contact with the left indirect rein so he does not bend too much. The indirect rein also keeps the head from going too far to the right and keeps the shoulder and front end from stepping to the left. It is important that you keep your center of balance at all times. Position your right leg slightly farther back, and begin the move with your right leg aid to move the horse's hips and ask him to take steps to the left.
Your left leg aid keeps the horse's body straight and going forward. It controls the speed and stops the turn. The move should be steady and rhythmic. Use both your legs to ask him to walk forward after the turn.
Continue to practice all the exercises in this series of articles. Next time, I will take you through the riding of a test. In the meantime, my visual series Dressage Principles, available in VHS and DVD, will enhance this training. You may order it and other fine training products and learn about our courses by going to www.lynnpalm.com or calling 800-503-2824.
by: Jenny Rolfe, 