Comments on: A Horse Will Lay Or Pull On Any Bit

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 22:11:51 +0000

In reply to Nancy. Thanks for your comment. Yes with horses it's not always cut and dried. This is exactly how I would start to teach a horse not to run through the shoulder, but extra steps are involved in the rider recognizing it, and correcting it, with appropriate timing. It's a challenge to write an article and not have it turn into a book as there are no many variables. That's why I the Working Equitation Mastery, For The Rest Of Us program. It includes step by step instructions for training the skills a horse needs, but also includes a community where I can review videos and get to the heart of specific problems as they come up. Some have even become full lessons that I added to the program in the Beyond The Basics section. Working Equitation Mastery

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 19:19:51 +0000

Hi – I agree with the activity to engage the hind end, as often that is the reason the horse will brace. However, a recent project proved that it isn’t always just the hind but also the front end that can get stuck. In the arena the horse was was fine, but get out in the wide open spaces and the more you tried to move the hind end the faster he lost balance sideways. Falling sideways is the best way to describe it as it was the weirdest and most unsettling of feelings. I realized it wasn’t just the hind end but his front end that was locked up against the rein, the reason he would lose balance. I switched focus to the outside shoulder and the drifts stopped. We did a lot of move the hind end bring the front end across through that so it was weird to see how it showed up when the space changed. Anyway he’s gone home with his human, a lot of different activities for the two of them to work on and I await his first update.

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 18:08:05 +0000

In reply to Ann Burgess. I'm go glad you liked it. I'd love to hear how it goes for you.

By: Ann Burgess

Ann Burgess — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:24:39 +0000

I really appreciate this article! I have used small circles to increase impulsive with shoulder in, but your article is both detailed and explicit. It will allow me to make a correction and continue on more seamlessly.

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 23:31:06 +0000

In reply to Ruth Flaherty.

Thanks Ruth. You’re right, send him more forward is often suggested. And as you mentioned, the problem often continues. It comes back to balance and if they couldn’t balance before they often lose their balance more. The theory is correct that you need to engage the hindquarters but instead the tempo increases and they fall forward faster as you and I have both seen.

I appreciate your rewording of the same exercise in a way that some of the more English style riders can identify with.
The cool thing about either description is that you’re asking the horse to engage just the inside hind leg. Something that is easier for them than engaging both, and the reason why practicing both directions is important.
When they learn and develop the ability to engage each hind leg separately, then the rider will be able to start asking the horse to engage both which is necessary for a half-halt to work.

By: Ruth Flaherty

Ruth Flaherty — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 23:16:45 +0000

Thanks Trish. My horse had a habit of doing exactly what you described- laying or leaning on the bit. And yes, no amount of changing the bit improved it. I believe this is also a rider problem as, if you simply accept that your horse is ‘heavy’ in the hands and try to push him forward to engage hindquarters more, the problem continues.
A trainer I had once instructed exactly as you described, with a shoulders fore and increased bend on a small circle, I’d ‘wait’ until the horse lightened by better engaging the hindquarters. Voila, lighter and more consistent engagement. The point is to ensure that the horse lightens before you allow straightening and also, as you say, maintain the feel through the bend as you straighten.
Thanks Trish. You’re the first person to describe this so accurately. It’s a real life changer!

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 23:16:38 +0000

In reply to Liz Brown. Definitely. Thanks for the suggestion Liz.

By: Liz Brown

Liz Brown — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 23:12:25 +0000

I totally agree with you Trish, this method can also apply to a horse that is increasing tempo and not responding to half halts.