From: patty@alpha.larc.nasa.gov (Patty Howell)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: exercises for handiness (was leg yielding)
Date: 16 Oct 1992 20:07:24 GMT
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: alpha.larc.nasa.gov


>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?

>YES.

 Sorry it took me so long to get back to you...we're having an
 open house here this weekend (which means frantic preparation
 for everyone)

 There are two issues involved here. One is educating the horse to
 respond to the aids with shifts in balance, the other is educating
 the rider use "good hands"
 The best thing I ever did from the perspective of learning good
 hand riding was to go to using a bosal. There is no way that you
 are going to get the exercises if you are not properly using your
 hands. What I mean is that if you hang on the horse with a bosal,
 he'll "go right through it." I never thought I was "pulling" instead
 of "checking," but using a bosal really emphasized things for me
 and insured that I getting my mare to work for me. In my opinion,
 there's no better tool for acquiring good hands.

 If there is someone in your area that understands how to use a bosal,
 I strongly suggest you ask them to work with you. With that said,
 let me caution you that an improperly adjusted bosal is bad news.

 The exercises themselves are really fairly simple from the rider's
 perspective. The objective is to get the horse to respond to 
 a tuck of the seat with a shift of his weight to his rearend, in
 preparation for quick turns or halts. One of my favorites is to
 start teaching rollbacks.

 I come along a fenceline (about a horselength away) at a canter. As
 you approach the corner, get up on your thighs a little (cue for
 "ok, shift your balance back, we're getting ready to do something")
 as you reach the corner, sit down in the saddle and lean back (a
 little.. tuck your seat) and close your fingers (halt). 
 Your job is to not let the horse reduce pace until you close your fingers.
 Be fair and don't leave it too late.
 Now, double in your track, and leave the corner at the canter.
 It is critical to leave the corner at the same pace as you came into
 it! I usually overshoot the original line when I swing around and
 then swing back to the line as I pick up the other lead so that
 they're naturally bent into that direction. A slow canter is ok for
 the first time or so, but shortly you should be able to move him out
 at a real working canter.

 Now, you have used the fence as a visual aid to help the horse
 understand that he has to stop (and stop quickly and from behind,
 because your legs have said "keep going" until the last second),
 he associates the aid (up on your thighs a little) with "come back
 to hand." Next try a handy little serpentine with halts and simple
 changes at the centerline. (In a standard dressage arena, you should
 be able to get at least 5 or 6 loops). If at any time during the
 serpentine he's not getting it, go back to the roll back exercise with
 the fence as an aid. You can go outdoor riding and do handy work
 around trees and the like, and work at the canter, ask him to come
 back to hand (tuck the seat) and go on without halting, until you
 feel like you could go out and do some cowhand work (maybe puppy herding?)
 Now your horse is handy with is balance, and the reins are acting
 through the horse.
 
 The key is that you're using his balance to facilitate maneuverability,
 not just reductions in pace. Very shortly, you can see how the aids
 are invisible. You're not even working with contact on the bit!

 Again, sorry it took me so long

 patty@alpha.larc.nasa.gov