on the forehand – Horse Listening

When We Want To Actually Ride From The Hind End, But Get Stuck On-The-Forehand

This is a tough one. I bet we've all been stuck with on-the-forehand at some point during our riding career (probably longer than we'd like to admit).

So how do you transform on-the-forehand to (more) on-the-hind-end?

Learning the feeling of movement from the hind end takes time, and lots of practice. Because it's based on feel, it's more difficult to "find" than a simpler riding skill, like an open rein, or the outside leg back. Not only do we need to learn the feel, but there are seemingly never-ending levels of feel as we progress through our learning stages.

But let's start at the beginning. Let's assume we're working in the trot, but really, it's the same at all gaits.

Leg Aids

One of the most common mistakes we all make when we first want to access the horse's hind end is to let the horse go faster. So we squeeze with the legs and the horse speeds up. Faster means stronger, and stronger means hind end, right?

Not really.

The thing is, that the faster the legs go, the more the horse falls to the forehand. By sending all the energy to the front, the horse has to actually brace with the front legs (to avoid literally falling forward). Sometimes, the head goes up, the base of the neck drops and the back hollows. Sometimes, the horse trips or has a mystery lameness. But not all the time. Some horses can stay somewhat flat or round "looking" and still truck along with most of their weight on the forehand.

"Catch" The Energy

Sometimes, people call this "recycle" the energy but I find the term "catch" can be clearer when you begin with this concept. Pick a rein length that you feel is reasonable for your horse's level of education and keep it the same length while you ask for more movement. If the horse throws the head, reaches down, changes gait or runs faster, we must keep the hands steady and not-let-go-but-not-pull.

So we create the energy with our legs, but we must catch the energy with our reins.

Because if we let the energy "out the front end," we invariably have created the conditions for on-the-forehand.

So we catch but we don't pull. We also don't hold the energy for very long.

So far:

use legs for energy
catch the energy so the horse doesn't just speed up

Then Release

It's not a release like letting your reins slip out of your fingers or straightening your arms in effort to give more rein. It's more a release of your joints - your shoulders, elbows, wrists - enough that there is a small space forward that you invite your horse into, after the "catch" part. In terms of space, you might only let out half an inch of rein. The rest of the release comes from your body. (*Note: You can do this on long reins or short reins.)

The idea is to allow freedom of movement, allow the hind legs to reach further underneath the body, and ideally, have a soft, light connection with the horse that allows you to direct the energy lightly, softly and promptly.

What Does It Feel Like?

You might have to really tune in to your horse to be able to feel the hind end at first. This is likely because we are always so fixated on the front end. But if you work at it, and maybe get someone to help you from the ground, you will be able to identify what movement initiated from the hind end feels like.

Here are some thoughts:

- You might initially feel a really powerful surge behind the saddle. Sometimes, it might turn into a small buck. This is good because it's the horse trying to "come under" but doesn't yet know exactly how much. Don't reprimand the buck or the lurch. Just ride it through and thank your horse by doing your best to stay balanced and gentle in the aids.

The horse might breathe harder, deeper and/or louder. He might snort once or twice. This is also a sign that you are on track, because it is much, much harder for the horse to carry his weight rather than to let it run through onto his front legs. Again, give thanks and ride on.
The horse might miraculously feel straighter. If the horse usually leans on one shoulder or another, and suddenly, that all disappears - you're on the right track.
The horse might also stop pulling on your hands, or leaning forward and down with the neck. That too is a result of lack of hind end power, so once you really achieve energy from the hind end, the quality of your contact will likely improve dramatically.
Head bobbing/tossing might disappear. Same reasons as above.
Tripping and mystery lamenesses might also improve.
If you notice that your horse is moving with better expression (ears forward, looking ahead), more freedom in the gait, and seems generally more confident, you're on the right track.

The thing is, getting the horse off the forehand is something that takes time to learn, and then time to teach the horse. It's not something you can make happen in one day. Many horses don't even know they can move in this manner until they are given the opportunity. But you can make small steps of improvement. Occasional success will become more regular and one day, you'll notice that the horse is mostly initiating movement from the hind end - just because.

If you enjoyed this article, there is much more ready and waiting for you in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening Book 2 - Forward And Round To Training Success

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From the book:

"Regardless of discipline, what would be the most significant effect a rider would want to have on her horse?

We all want our horses to improve in their athletic

development, skill acquisition and connectedness. Much of our rider development and training efforts go into working toward our show or personal goals....

But the best riders aspire to do one essential thing each and every day, regardless of goals and lesson plans: they work hard to improve their horse’s way of going.

Because proper balance and weight carriage is essential to a horse’s longevity. Each and every minute of each and every ride has the potential to contribute to your horse’s health and well-being.

Or not."

Just as with all the Horse Listening Collection Books, this book is focused on helping the rider improve for the sake of the horse. But this book goes deeper into the best training articles from the blog - horse-centered theory, strategies and ideas you can try with your own horse.

The book begins with the horse's hind end (!), considers the horse's back, moves on to rider development, and fills it all in with the fundamentals of horse riding so your horse can be:

happier in his body

happier in his "work"

better balanced all-around

Instantly order online. Click here to learn more.

What To Do When Your Horse Loses Balance

balance horse listening — Photo Credit: J. Boesveld

There are many reasons why a horse might lose balance while under saddle:

change of footing (dips and bumps)
something interfering with his front feet (hits a rail during a jump)
rushing (not paying attention where the front feet are going)
gait problem (front feet brushing each other for some reason)
balance issue (too heavy on the forehand)
tension or braces against your aid and loses footing in the process

* This article is not about a health issue that may cause stumbling; rather, it is about a riding-related loss of balance. If any health problem is suspected, please consult with a veterinarian.

In any case, loss of balance can be a problem for many riders. If you can identify why your horse is stumbling, you can begin to address the cause with one or more of the five tips below. They will give you a good idea of how you can influence the horse's balance.

1 a). Don't fall with him

It's not fun getting bounced around in the saddle. You have two choices when the horse loses balance: stay balanced yourself (and help him get his feet back underneath him) or fall with him, thereby putting him even more off balance and risking a trip or real fall.

You can let your reins out if needed to let him regain his own balance. However, you should not add to the problem. Stay tall and strong.

1 b). Stabilize through your core and try to change as little as possible.

Again, if your horse tilts forward to the forehand, the last thing you should do is let your upper body flop forward over his neck (unless you can't help it). Instead, tighten through your core muscles and keep your upper body as quiet as possible. The horse will need time to regain his balance, and it is best if you can maintain your own balance as much as possible until he can regain balance. Do #2 if needed.

2. Lean back!

It might help to lean back, even further back than normal, especially if your horse is tilting forward. In this manner, you can counter the pull of gravity by maintaining your balance as the horse leans to the front. This will free up the horse's front end and prevent excess weight on the forehand.

3. Slow down.

Stumbles often happen when the horse is moving too quickly, too heavily on the forehand, or bracing against an aid. In all those cases, it is helpful to ask the horse to slow down his leg speed (tempo).

Half-halts are essential to help maintain and re-establish balance. Use a well-timed half-halt to slow down leg speed, if the horse is moving too quickly, and to re-balance toward the hind end. This will allow his legs that extra split second needed to "come back under the body" - meaning that he will be able to have the four legs (but especially the hind legs) supporting the body weight.

4. Be ready to move with him immediately after.

It won't be helpful to keep slowing him down, as it may cause the horse to disengage in the hind end. So as soon as you can, allow him, or even encourage him, to take a few larger steps. This will enable him to step deeper underneath the body with the hind legs, which will help take his weight off the forehand.

You might feel a surge of energy and that is just fine. Just be sure to ride right along with the movement and let the horse freely do what he needs to do to regain tempo.

***

You might be thinking that riding through a stumble is all about letting the horse handle it himself. In fact, it really is. The horse knows how to regain and maintain his balance. It's best if you become as invisible as you can and let him fix the problem.

Once he has his balance, just go on with your ride as if nothing happened. Don't make a big deal about a stumble, or try to correct the horse with stronger aids or "chasing" the horse along. Instead, keep riding and pay close attention to see what is causing the balance loss. Trouble-shoot the situation and see what you need to do to prevent future stumbles.

How to Ride the Stumble Out of Your Horse

Stumbling2 — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

* This article is not about a health issue that may cause stumbling; rather, it is about a riding-related loss of balance. If any health problem is suspected, please consult with a veterinarian.

Do you have a horse that seems to regularly trip or stumble, either in the front or hind end?

The footing is good. The path is clear. There were no sudden changes to your direction.

The horse is sound and you know the tack fits well. His feet are trimmed. You've had the vet out and she confirmed that there are no other underlying physical issues.

Yet your horse stumbles here, trips there, and as time goes on, you learn to just quietly ignore it. After all, the horse is trying his best and there's nothing you can do, right?

WRONG! 😉

If you listen carefully, you might even discover that you are more a part of the equation than you give yourself credit for.

It might be something you are doing. Or it might be something you are NOT doing!

Be an active rider so you can help your horse through these moments. Your strong problem-solving skills are just the ticket to helping your horse develop better balance during riding.

Reasons for Stumbling

The root problem might be one, or a combination of these ideas.

1. Horse is heavy on the forehand.

We know the tell-tale signs for that. The horse is heavy on the bit. The front leg strides are bigger than the hind leg strides. The horse might even feel like he is on a downward slope, leaning in to the ground rather than up away from it.

2. Horse's outline is too long and low.

This might come hand-in-hand with #1. Often, we feel we are being "nice" to let a horse stretch his neck up and/or down, because we are taught that a longer rein leads to a softer, lighter contact that is kind. What we aren't always told is that the horse might have to brace his back and tense his muscles to hold a longer body position, especially in order to deal with the weight of a rider in the saddle.

Add to the "strung-out" outline - a hind end that is no longer able to support the weight (because the hind legs have stretched beyond the horse's croup, thereby not allowing for adequate weight carriage) - and there you have it folks - the stumble!

3. Horse speeds up faster and faster in the same gait.

A horse that tends to move his legs faster and faster when you ask for more impulsion or a gait change is a good candidate for a stumble. Again, his weight (and yours) falls forward and the front legs have to carry the majority of the impact.

4. Inadequate engagement.

The opposite can also be true. The horse that "sucks back" is bracing with his front end, effectively pushing backward or lacking enough energy to maintain balance while progressing forward in space. This active tension can be a cause for stumbling.

5. Horse needs extra help on one side.

A horse with a weak side (for example, a weak left stifle) could have trouble bringing that hind leg up with the same amount of strength and fluidity as the rest of the body. After the true source of the problem is identified and addressed (i.e. call a veterinarian!), you can support that side with more active riding aimed at building up the muscles around the joint.

6. Horse is overly crooked.

Some horses are particularly stiff to one side. This might be influenced by a natural cause (born that way), or from previous incorrect riding. In either case, much attention needs to be given to at least straightening the horse (even if it is too difficult to get a true bend) while he is moving.

7. You shift your weight to the horse's forehand.

Riders often lean forward in movement. As bi-peds, it is what we are naturally programmed to do! However, "listen" carefully to your horse when he stumbles. If he tends to trip when you lean forward, you know the reason why. In this case, you will need to hold your weight back, even if you want to ride in two-point or go over a jump. You can hold your weight and change your posture - just be aware!

4 Steps to Prevent Stumbling

1. Leg on for impulsion.

Even the fast-footed horse can be disengaged and needs to bring his hind end underneath him. So put your legs on and be ready for more movement! Lighten the contact as you apply the legs.

2. Commit your body to the energy surge.

The horse should lurch forward a bit. This is good. Go with him. Be sure you don't stop the forward inclination by pulling back during the lurch moment.

3. Straighten the horse (if needed).

Use the energy surge to straighten the horse, left or right as needed. Just guide the energy into straightness, don't stifle it.

4. Half-halt.

This is key. Without the half-halt immediately after the energy surge, you tell the horse to run away. You don't want your horse to flee your aids, so within a moment after your legs and straightness, you half-halt should come on (brace your seat, back, arms momentarily) to control the energy you just created.

*Then release.

The idea is to re-balance that energy surge to the hind end rather than let it run out the front end. Think half-halts and use them as often as necessary to help your horse maintain balance. Constantly work on that re-balance - you may need to do the whole thing three, four, five times in a row, in rhythm with the horse's strides, to help the horse understand he needs to sift his weight backward.

This might be very difficult for a horse (and rider) that is not used to working from the hind end. But it is essential, first, to prevent the stumble, and second, to keep the horse sound long-term. Good luck!

Did you try this? Let us know how it worked out in the comments below.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From Horse Listening, The Book:

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

5 Steps to Effective Short Reins

Don't be intolerant of the short rein! Just as with any other movement and technique that is taught to horses, short reins can be very beneficial to the horse when applied correctly.

It's not that you should never ride in long reins - but many disciplines require shorter reins.

Simply put, the bit allows us to communicate effectively with our horses, keeping us safe on the back of the horse and permitting communication between two otherwise unlikely partners.

Reasons for A Short Rein Length

You might want a shorter rein length for several reasons:

Control

Let's face it - not every horse is so well trained that you can get away with very little direction from the mouth. In fact, we might even say that maybe only 5% of all horses are trained to that level. So yes, for the average rider and horse, we need the reins to indicate direction to the horse. We also need reins to slow or stop the energy, and we can even use the reins to redirect the energy to the hind end.

Horse's balance and well-being

The reins play a significant part in how the horse travels over ground, under the weight of the rider. Although the other aids also help the horse with balance, speed control and use of the body, the reins act as the final reinforcement.

If the horse travels long-term in a stretched out, disengaged body outline that is unhealthy for his muscles, joints and tendons, then his overall health will be affected. The reins do play an integral part in encouraging a strong body, controlled balance (that doesn't fall forward or "upside down") and regulation of the energy.

Different rein lengths affect the body of the horse differently. Sometimes, when you think you are being kind by letting the reins out, the horse has to change his balance in order to compensate for the longer body and the heavier weight on the forehand.

Connection/Timeliness

Riding a horse is all about asking and answering questions. There is constant communication going back and forth between the horse and rider primarily through the rider's aids (which include the seat, legs, hands, torso, etc.).

Rein length might affect the clarity of this communication and determines how clearly and quickly you can communicate with your horse.

5 Steps to Developing Comfort With A Short Rein Length

1. Shorten the Reins in Increments

Instead of just tightening and pulling on the reins (and effectively squishing the neck into a shorter length), shorten the whole body of the horse first. Use a series of half-halts to bring the hind end underneath, round the horse's overall body outline, and take up the rein as the horse's body gets rounder. This may take several half-halts. It might also take an entire warm-up with several exercises aimed at "bringing the horse's hind end under" so that the front end can come up and allow the shorter reins.

2. Recognize How Short is Short Enough

The length of the reins really depends on the horse's training level, strength and conformation. It isn't easy for the younger horse to maintain a body outline that allows for a very short rein; one horse's "short" may be longer than another's.

3. Achieve A Light Contact

In all disciplines, one of the goals of riding is to achieve lightness. A soft rein contact can only happen when the horse is truly straight and balanced. At this point, the reliance on the rein diminishes and you might discover that the pressure on the reins reduces not because you have lengthened the reins but because the horse is better able to control his balance and level of collection.

Creating space without letting the reins out is one method of developing lightness in contact.

4. Less is More

When it really comes down to it and once you have your others aids in place, you can use the reins only for intermittent, subtle use. But be forewarned: it will take time, infinite patience and practice, and determination for you to get to this level and for your horse to respond at this level. Don't be discouraged if you find yourself grappling with the physical coordination it takes to get to this point.

Your communication will occur more through your body than through your hands, and your horse will become more "in tune" with your subtle weight shifts and seat aids.

5. Better Understanding

At this point, both you and the horse have progressed through to a higher level of training and know better what to expect in your work. Thanks to this better understanding, the horse requires less guidance, especially from the front end.

So there you have it! Of course, I know this is purely my take on a sometimes controversial and complicated subject.

What are your thoughts? Have you been able to achieve a light but short rein contact? Is there anything you'd like to add in the comment section?

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Would you like to be the rider that all horses dream of?

By following simple, useful exercises, you will be able to develop a better understanding about many topics including:

- the rider’s aids

- the use of the seat

- the half-halt

- accurate turns and circles

- transitions

- horse ownership and horse care

- goal setting for the rider

- rein lameness

… and much more!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

What Being On the Forehand Means to the Horse

On the Forehand Moment — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

We often talk about the ills caused by the horse moving on the forehand, and we dissect and analyze movement in an effort to understand.

The idea here isn't to cause guilt and doom and gloom; instead, we should learn all we can and take steps to avoid known problems.

What does being on the forehand really mean, from the horse's perspective? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Lack of balance.

First and foremost, from the moment we get on the horse's back, we are messing around with the horse's balance. Horses that are naturally balanced have to negotiate movement with the weight and (dis-) equilibrium of the rider. Horses that are naturally unbalanced have to negotiate gravity with not only their own tendencies toward unhealthy movement, but then also with the extra weight of the rider.

2. Heavy on the front feet.

Have you ever heard a horse banging his feet heavily down on the arena footing? If you've ever wondered if that foot pounding might hurt the horse in the long run, you'd be right.

3. Pain in the hooves, joints and tendons of the front feet.

Travel long enough on the forehand, and you will create a perfect recipe for eventual lameness. The front legs were not designed to carry most of the horse and rider's weight for extended periods of time.

4. Hollow-backed.

A horse that is heavy on the front end often has to compensate in other parts of his body. So don't be surprised to discover that the horse has to drop his back, or become more "sway-backed." By hollowing out the "bridge" that carries the rider, the horse is counterbalancing the weight that is on the front end. This way, he doesn't actually fall head-first to the ground.

5. Braced neck to counteract gravity.

Similar to having to drop the back, the horse sometimes has to drop the base of his neck and lift his head. This will help him keep going although there is a lot of weight on the front end.

6. Restricted hind-end action and ability.

When the neck is dropped and the back is hollow, the hind end simply cannot support the body. There is no room for the legs to reach forward and under the body, which is where they need to be to receive the bulk of the weight.

7. Short strides.

The strides shorten because the horse becomes more earth-bound. In order to maintain the forehand balance, the horse has to scramble to keep from falling forward. Both the front and hind legs shorten in stride and often speed up in tempo.

8. Trips and stumbles.

Although we like to blame trips and stumbles on external problems such as foot trims, footing and tack, if you watch and analyze carefully, you might notice that the way of going of the horse is often responsible for his regular missteps and occasional falls to the knees.

9. Reins pulling on the mouth.

The rider often feels the imbalance (although might not know how it is being caused) and therefore to help correct that awkward feeling, will take up the reins in an effort to hold herself up in the saddle.

10. Body-wide tension.

You know the horse that seems forever off but you can't tell exactly what is wrong? It might be caused by the tension in the muscles. A horse that is heavy on the forehand needs to become tense in order to counteract the balance on the front end.

11. Short and shallow breath.

When the horse is tight and tense in the body, he has more trouble breathing. If you can hear deep, strong breaths, and occasional long-winded, body-shaking snorts, then you know you are on your way to allowing the horse to move comfortably underneath you.

12. Mental insecurities.

Imbalanced movement often causes mental strife as well. Horses that have to regularly counteract gravity tend to lose confidence in their riders and sometimes display irritated behaviors such as tail-swishes, pinned ears, bucks and kicks.

---

If this list makes you cringe, and think that riding on the forehand is the root of all evil, you are beginning to see the point.

There's no two ways about it: being ridden on the forehand causes the horse much difficulty and possibly even physical harm. Always remember that the horse has no choice in the decisions we make as riders.

Therefore, it falls to us - the people who want to enjoy the amazing experience of riding horses - to continually work on our education, improve our skills and regularly challenge ourselves to learn how we can not only NOT cause damage with our riding, but even improve the horse's physical and mental well-being through riding.

If you want some ideas on where to begin, check out the links below. But always, always, look to your own instructor to develop your riding skills and resolve your horse training questions.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the first book:

Riding gives us the place to just be.

And so begins the book that reflects the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Tag: on the forehand

When We Want To Actually Ride From The Hind End, But Get Stuck On-The-Forehand

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening Book 2 - Forward And Round To Training Success

What To Do When Your Horse Loses Balance

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening Book Collection - beautiful paperbacks with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands! Click on the image for more information.

How to Ride the Stumble Out of Your Horse

Reasons for Stumbling

4 Steps to Prevent Stumbling

*Then release.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

5 Steps to Effective Short Reins

Reasons for A Short Rein Length

5 Steps to Developing Comfort With A Short Rein Length

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

What Being On the Forehand Means to the Horse

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding