Going the Distance (October E-News)

Patrick & Jigger, Ohio. Photo by Nicole King.

Going the Distance

A common trouble that comes up at many clinics and courses around the country, and seems to plague many riders, is the trouble of a horse that doesn't maintain a good rhythm in his gait (this would also include trouble maintaining gait - a challenge that we discussed in this month's issue of Horsemanship Unscripted). The root cause of this trouble would possibly seem to be disrespect - but I think that the real cause is simply misunderstanding.

I see many riders (the majority, in fact) walking their horses for the largest portion of their working sessions. They'll trot a few strides, or maybe even a lap around the arena, and then they come back to the walk again... frustrated that their horse is so inconsistent in his gait. They may then canter a few strides or even a lap, and then they come back to the walk some more... frustrated that their horse is so inconsistent in his gait. The trouble with this approach is that the horse doesn't get the necessary time to relax into the trot or canter. He usually only gets to trot or canter around long enough to be inconsistent and 'bracey.'

A large part of each clinic that I teach focuses on riding each gait long enough to get our horses to make a mental and emotional shift so be more relaxed and rhythmic. This may take quite a bit of time at first, and it's not uncommon to see someone in our clinics trotting around for twenty minutes or more without stopping. The time trotting isn't the goal, it's the mental and emotional energy that the horse puts into the trot that is the goal.

Lets say, for example, that the trot is a job that requires 10 pounds of energy from the horse, but your horse is putting 25 pounds of energy into trotting. You would trot around long enough for your horse to realize that he is doing too much work and needs to only offer the 10 pounds of energy necessary to maintain the trot. This may take you 5 minutes, or it may take you 25 minutes, of maintaining that trot until the horse makes that shift in his mind. Once the horse relaxes into the trot and maintains a rhythm, we'll let him stop and rest.

[SUCCESS TIP: I like to have the horse stand still for at least half of the amount of time it took to get him to find his rhythm and relaxation. If it took 20 minutes of trotting, then I'll allow him to stand and rest for at least 10 minutes. This really helps the horse to make that shift in his mind.]

Each time a rider attempts this task, it takes less and less time for their horse to come into the right mental and emotional state... eventually the horse would understand the energy he needs to put forth, and he won't waste any extra energy by trotting around out of control.

The same ideas apply for cantering... we need to get our horses cantering long enough to make the mental and emotional shift to a relaxed and rhythmic gait.

Please keep in mind that I am not discrediting the importance of walking. Everything that we want to accomplish at any gait, softness, lightness, attention and sensitivity to our cues, understanding of our requests, starts at the walk. The walk may be the most important gait our horse has when we are talking about creating understanding, control, and clear communication. It is important, I think, to use all of the gaits that our horses have to the best of their abilities.

Give this 'trotting task' or 'cantering task' a try and see how much it can benefit you and your horse. Keep in mind that we need to maintain that gait until the horse makes that mental and emotional change.

Most of all

-Enjoy the journey!