From: patty@alpha.larc.nasa.gov (Patty Howell)
Subject: Re: half pass vs leg yield (was flying changes)
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 20:15:01 GMT

>
PH>YES YES YES YES YES. Once you have the horse's balance in hand,
PH>the bending comes much easier.

GG:The funny thing is this: the bend is irrelevant. Most horses are
GG:over'bent' anyway, and need to be taught to be STRAIGHT.

  Well, not quite. Usually, they are over bent because the reins are
  not acting through the horse. Usually, the horse is gathered into
  collection from the front instead of driven into collection from
  behind in this case (hence the tendency to be on the forehand and
  the whole "balance through bending" approach of de la Guereniere).
  But you don't want to go overboard, either. They should be laterally
  balanced and well as longitudinally balanced. That means that
  they should be bent *through their whole body* in the direction you
  put them. It is important, but should be preceeded by longitudinal
  balance. When approached that way, the horse sometimes offers
  a higher degree of collection when lateral exercises are introduced
  (briefly and naturally).

PH>was the leg yield on the circle. I am coming to realize how *CRITICAL*
PH>this exercise is. Another one is figure eight at the trot with counter
PH>flexion (essentially shoulder-fore on a circle).

GG:Are you talking about what I call a "counter-bend"? In other words,
GG:a circle with the horse bend the "wrong" way?

  Yes

PH> There are two reasons
PH>this exercise is critical.
PH>
PH>        1. A leg yield is easiest for the green horse. On a circle or
PH>           serpentine, it is natural for them to swing their haunches
PH>           out anyway..take advantage of that to teach them to yield
PH>           sideways to the leg instead of forward. This exercise can
PH>           also be called a turn on the forehand in motion.
PH>
PH>-->     2. It teaches the green *rider* the feel for the bend of the
PH>           *WHOLE HORSE* instead of just the neck or the hindquarters.

GG:This is so cool -- counterbending is the first time I really
GG:REALIZED how much power I had underneath me. Probably because it's
GG:the first time I felt the WHOLE HORSE.

  Very perceptive.....exactly.

PH>Counter flexion in a figure eight

GG:Do you change the bend on each circle, or maintain one bend
GG:throughout the whole 8? The latter is very helpful, in my
GG:experience.

  Sometimes yes, sometimes no. When I get a few really good strides
  in counter flexion (usually takes till about the third loop), then
  the next time across the center I keep the bend "as a reward" and
  change it the next time to do the other side. It is also interesting
  to note that after some good strides in counter flexion, the next
  circle w/o counter flexion  is *very* well balanced. (No surprise, obviously)

PH>If a horse is leaning on your hands during these exercises, he needs
PH>to learn the critical lesson of letting the reins act through his
PH>body to place him on his haunches.

GG:Are you saying this is something he'll naturally figure out, or are
GG:there things the rider needs to do?

  Definitely things the rider needs to do. This is where we can all
  learn something from the oldtime Western reinsmen. Balance w/o
  collection. ON A LOOSE REIN. Want some specific exercises? 

PH>My my, I do tend to ramble on, don't I?

GG:No no, this is great. Thanks.

  Yea,I think so too. So, why do you live in CA?!!

patty@alpha.larc.nasa.gov