Notice how the horse’s back is dropped behind the saddle. He is not using his body well.
forward steps. The horse should increase his reach of stride and not make quicker, shorter strides. Once the horse begins to anticipate this change, then you can use this rebalance to ask for a lope departure. Allow the horse to lope a full circle, then ask for the working jog. Repeat the rebalance cues a couple of times and then ask for the lope cue again. You will find your horse’s lope transitions will be greatly improved using this rebalance. Once the horse is proficient on the circle, then you can ask for these rebalances anywhere in the arena when you are going to perform any transition. Playing with transitions within a gait is a great way to encourage hind end engagement and connection to the rider’s aids. Have fun!
Lisa Wieben is a Level 2 Centered Riding Instructor, EC Coach, and Irwin Insights Level 4 Master Certified Trainer. Specializing in Western and English Dressage, she coaches near Bowden/Olds, AB. Lisa is also a Hanna Somatic Instructor and Practitioner in Training, working with riders, in class or privately, to learn movement exercises that target specific muscle issues in the body brought on by stress, injuries, surgeries, and overuse. A balanced rider equals a balanced horse. www. mountainviewtrainingstables.com.
After all the transition work the horse is now lifting his back. Notice how the poll is lifting and as the rider slows her posting while applying leg pressure the horse is lifting his back and appears shorter through the body. Compare the area behind the saddle compared to the previous picture.
Birgit Stutz is an Irwin Insights Level 4 Master Certified Trainer and offers horse training, lessons (English and Western), clinics, mentorship programs, horsemanship courses, workshops, short courses and demos on various topics, and working student programs at Falling Star Ranch Academy of Foundational Horsemanship in Dunster, BC. Birgit’s passion is to help humans have a better relationship with their horses through understanding of equine psychology, body language, biomechanics, as well as fundamental riding skills. www.fallingstarranch.ca. (See their listings in our Business Services section under TRAINERS)
MAY 2018
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