Horse Listening

4 Steps to Help Your Horse Through A Turn

go and no — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

I’m sure you've seen it before – there are many situations where a horse turns too abruptly, unbalancing himself and also the rider. Most often, the rider hangs on but other times, she might be unseated, losing balance, stirrups and/or seat.

It happens when the horse turns too soon, cutting the arc of the circle so small that he has to catch himself with his front legs in order to avoid a fall. It can happen in the hunter/jumper ring especially after a jump, on a dressage 20m circle, on a reining or horsemanship pattern or on a trail that winds its way through the forest.

Regardless of the situation, there are several ways to help the horse through the turn. By being an active rider, you can:

1. Predict the lean into the turn.

2. Support before the horse loses balance.

3. Teach the horse to reach straight through the turn.

4. Release (lighten contact and follow the horse with your seat) as soon as possible.

Let's take a closer look at each step.

Predict the Lean

You know it's coming! So instead of waiting for it to happen and THEN trying to do something about it after the horse is off balance, prepare several strides ahead of time. Shorten your reins if they've become too long (but keep the bend in your elbows). Sit tall in the saddle. Use your inside leg more actively before the lean. Keep the horse's neck straight (although the head can slightly flex in the direction of the turn).

Support

Use an active seat, leg and reins to lightly carry the horse several strides past the point where he wanted to lean. Your legs and seat can act as a wall that prevents your horse's rib cage from leaning. You might need a stronger inside rein if the horse is travelling with his head and neck flexed to the outside. You might need a stronger outside rein if the horse is swinging his head to the inside. In any case, keep your horse's neck aligned with his body.

Half-halt once, twice, or several times, at the right time, in order to help rebalance the horse's weight to the hind end. For the horse that rushes, slow his leg speed. For the horse that slows down, ask for more from the hind end.

Straighten

Even though you are on a turn, the horse does not have to feel like he has to scramble through it with a tight, tense body. Break down your turn into a number of straight strides, and ask your horse to go straight longer, and turn for less strides. Imagine that your turn or circle is a hexagon, with many short straight lines attached together.

Find all the straight lines in the circle. Then ride the turn that way.

Make sure you are not leaning into the turn yourself. We often lean without even knowing it. Stay tall, stay straight with your own seat and shoulders, and follow the arc of the turn at the right moment.

Take as many strides as needed to make a better balanced, more controlled turn when you finally ask for it.

Release

Well, this doesn't mean throw the reins away. It does mean that you can stop resisting through your body and flow with the horse. You can lighten the rein contact and encourage the horse to reach forward with a bold stride or two. It also means that he can find his balance once again in preparation for the next turn or movement.

It might take many repetitions before the horse can maintain better balance. It is often more tempting to give in to gravity than to carry one's weight with strength and agility. But it can be done.

Once the horse has better understanding, you will notice that he becomes less tense as he nears a turn. You might feel that he begins to swing through the back better, become bouncier in his gait and maybe even take bolder steps with his hind legs coming further underneath the body. He might snort, soften through the poll and ears, and generally give you a feel-good message.

You will also have an easier time because you can maintain better balance and prepare for the next movement up ahead.

And the onlooker will see a horse that calmly but boldly negotiates a smooth, easy turn without fuss or scramble, appearing to be so athletic that he could turn on a dime - if he wanted to!

Do you help your horse through a turn? If so, how? Please comment below.

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

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). Send me a message for more information.

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: 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.

Why You Don’t Want to Pull on the Inside Rein, and What To Do Instead

When we ride horses, we often assume that the inside rein is used like the steering wheel of a car or a bicycle. We think that when we pull the inside rein, the horse must obviously turn his nose and then follow it. Right?

Pulling to Turn

In some cases, the turn does happen. The horse's body moves along the direction of the head and he accommodates us the best he can. This is the reason why many of us think we are on the right track by pulling to turn.

However, at some point in time, we begin to better understand the biomechanics of pulling and how it affects the horse's body.

Sometimes, although the horse turns his nose in the direction of the pull, his body continues in the original trajectory. He doesn't easily make the turn. Other times, his body even goes in the opposite direction (in effect, drifting out) from where we pointed his nose! Has this ever happened to you?

Then we learn about the usefulness of the outside rein in turns. We practice using the outside rein while turning until it eventually becomes a habit.

But there is one other consequence to pulling on that inside rein that has little to do with turning. It isn't as straightforward to identify or visualize. And it affects the horse under almost every circumstance - on a turn, over a straight line, in a gait change, through a half-halt and more.

Blocking the Inside Hind Leg

If you want to prevent the inside hind leg from coming through underneath the body, this is how you do it:

pull back on the inside rein.

The only problem is that the haunches then cannot support the horse's balance.

Without the hind end as the engine, the horse is left to having to initiate movement from his front legs. He must then drag his body (and yours) along from the front, thus losing balance and falling to the forehand. You know the rest: tripping, stumbling, tension, rock-hard hollow back, discomfort and so on.

What NOT To Do

Most people's reaction is to do the exact opposite and fully drop the inside rein. Sometimes, you can even see the droop as if the rider wants to say, "See? I don't even have any contact at all!"

Having absolutely no contact can be counterproductive too, because then there is no way for you to support the horse when necessary. You will end up with an on-again, off-again pull that becomes difficult for the horse to negotiate. In the end, no contact can be as bad as too much contact.

There is always a happy medium.

What To Do

You have three strategies.

#1 is the easiest to do while #3 takes the most coordination. You can probably progress through the steps as you become better able to find that release. Your horse might also have a preference between the three at different times - so you can use the skill that suits him best in the moment.

Please note: these techniques can be used in the same manner on a snaffle bit (short rein length) or any curb/shank bit (long rein length) or anything in-between! Please feel free to try this in your riding style and discipline.

1. You could let out an inch of rein.

Lengthening the rein an inch out might be all the horse needs to get the freedom in the hind quarters. The rein is therefore short enough for us to communicate with him at a moment's notice, but long enough that there is that space for him to reach - from his hind legs, over his topline and through the poll to the bit.

There is no better feeling than when the horse reaches for the bit into the rein space you just gave him!

2. You could maintain the same rein length and let out your elbow.

This strategy gives the horse the same feeling as #1 but you don't need to let out the rein length.

When is it useful to maintain the same rein length?

When you know you need to be able to give clear and timely half-halts in order to help the horse maintain balance through a variety of movements. For example, if your instructor is asking you to negotiate several movements in sequence, you won't have the time to let the rein out and take it back, and doing so will unnecessarily disrupt your horse's balance.

Instead, you just let your elbows out and take them back in the following strides. The effect is the same - the horse gets a release and then a take-up for further communication.

3. You could move better with the horse with the same rein and contact pressure.

This one is the icing on the cake.

If you can move through your entire body, staying in sync with the horse's movements but releasing where and when needed, you will have one happy, confident, bold moving horse. You might need to release through your seat. You might "loosen" through the inside shoulder, allowing the inside hind to reach within a moment's notice. Maybe your legs need to "breathe" with your horse's sides.

In any case, riding in tandem with the horse is something we always aspire to and there is good reason for that. When you both move "as one", the earth stops rotating and you float on that ninth cloud!

Letting the inside hind leg do its job is one of the first keys to riding with the horse in mind!

Try this: ride with the inside hind leg in mind. Even if you regularly let the leg come through, make it a point to pay closer attention for your next few rides. Try one of the above suggestions, or let us know if you have another method that works for you and your horse.

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

From Horse Listening Book 2: Forward And Round To Training Success

"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

Click here for more information.

A Question of Imbalance: Can You Tell?

We often obsess over riding in balance or the lack thereof. We deliberate on the techniques we can use to resume balance - or better yet, stay in balance. But before we can problem-solve and correct, we need to know that the horse did, in fact, lose balance in the first place.

In the beginning, it is difficult to feel the difference. As time goes on and you develop new "nerve endings" (not literally - it's just that you become more sensitive to certain feelings or situations), you begin to differentiate between being in and out of balance. It takes time and practice because each horse has his own way of going. Add specific conformation and it's no wonder that it might take several years to identify the nuances that point to imbalance in the horse you are riding.

There are as many solutions as there are reasons why a horse has lost balance. For the purposes of this article, we are going to focus on how you can identify an imbalance. We hope the list will assist especially those who new to riding, or to those who do not have professional help while they ride. It is sometimes easier to notice a balanced horse while watching instead of riding, but at some point, it becomes essential to be able to feel what is happening so that you can hopefully address it sooner than later.

A trip or stumble.

When horses lose balance, they tend to fall forward-downward in response to the pull of gravity. Thanks to their four legs, they rarely actually fall to the ground (under normal riding conditions). If you have a horse that trips or stumbles often, you might consider that he is being ridden off balance.

A tightening of the back.

Ever felt a back that reminds you of a plywood board? Horses that fall out of balance often have to tighten their backs to compensate for the being on the forehand.

Jarring sitting trot.

Youch! Along with the plywood back, the trot becomes stiffer and stiffer until it becomes very difficult to sit to. Guess what? This is another sign that your horse is off balance.

Lack of movement.

Sometimes it is easy to think that a small moving horse is a good moving horse. We often think that not moving feels good (because we don't have to work as hard to stay with the horse). However, the horse must rely on his hind legs to support the weight of the forehand, and lack of stride length is a major contributor to imbalance.

Sewing-machine trot.

We've talked about this one before. The horse that trots faster faster faster is without a doubt out of balance.

Runaway canter.

The same goes for the canter. Horses that have difficulty making downward transitions, or half-halts within a gait, are often out of balance.

"Hard mouth."

We can mistake what feels like a reluctant poll or hard mouth for disobedience when it is in fact the horse trying to manage his lack of balance as he moves along.

Inconsistent contact.

Have you ever felt your reins go on-and-off even though you tried hard to maintain a steady contact? The cause may be the horse coming out of balance rather than just your rein length or pressure.

Unresponsiveness.

An imbalanced horse has more difficulty responding to aids. He tends to scramble and save himself but he might not be able to do what you want him to be doing.

"Giraffe neck."

This is a term for a neck position that many horses carry. The neck protrudes out of the body in an awkward angle, low at the base of the neck and high at the poll. The giraffe neck is usually stiff and it may be difficult to get the horse to bend or look in the direction of travel.

Drifting to the outside.

The horse that moves against your outside aids and heads to the rails sideways is already out of balance.

Tight, falling to the inside turn or circle.

The opposite is also true! Many horses turn sharp into one direction, making tiny circles or tight, uncontrolled turns.

Horse travelling up the rail with the head and neck pointing to the wall.

Take a look next time you go up the rail. Does your horse "lean in" diagonally with the haunches pointing to the middle of the ring? Then he is off balance.

Lack of straightness.

This goes hand in hand with the diagonally-moving horse. Any type of lack of straightness (i.e. shoulder jutting out, horse leaning heavily on your leg, etc.) contributes to lack of balance.

The question now may be, what to do about the loss of balance? Although the solutions depend to a certain degree on how the imbalance came to be, always begin with yourself. Are you contributing to the horse's imbalance in any way? Find an educated "eye on the ground" who can guide you and explain what they are seeing (because you may in fact feel more balanced that you really are).

Then, when it comes to your horse, the bottom line is that you want to get him using his hind end and lengthening his stride length. He can not be too slow or too fast. The art of travelling straight (even on a turn) is critical as is a loosening of the body, so that the tension may dissipate.

There are certainly many other ways to identify the loss of balance. How would you describe it?

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

Available as an eBook or paperback.

If you enjoyed the above article, you might also enjoy these:

Cultivating Your Multiple Riding Personalities: In daily life, assuming different personalities might be frowned upon. However, if you can can channel several different personas while riding, you might actually be doing your horse a favour!

Breaking the Cycle: It Might Not Be What You DID Do…: … but rather what you DIDN’T do!

Perfecting Perfection in Horseback Riding: We will never really find the perfect horse, nor will we ever be a perfect rider. However, of course we try for perfect!

Why You Don’t Need to Panic When Your Horse ‘Falls Apart’: Even if you are not thinking “panic”, your body might be communicating it by either being completely passive or too reactive after the horse is off balance.

Top Ten Reasons To Ride A Horse

Riding — Photo Credit: N Banaszak Photography

What are the reasons you ride horses? There must be as many reasons to ride horses are there are people who ride. For those of us that are bitten with "the bug" that is horses, there are few reasons not to get on a horse's back!

10. The chance to be in the great outdoors.

Spring, summer, winter or fall - you can find things to do with horses. As you participate in your various activities, you become so much more a part of the outdoor environment. Although conditions might not always be the best, you learn to work with the weather and appreciate the art work of mother nature. You also learn to take better care of yourself as well as your horses in response to the weather conditions of the season.

9. The joy of being in the world of horses.

You learn new communication skills when you interact with horses. By their very nature, horses are not the same as the pets we are familiar with. They are large, they are prey animals and they allow us to ride them!

8. The privilege of being allowed to sit on the back of such a magnificent animal and seeing the world from his perspective.

Life on four legs, several hands high is certainly different than what we are used to! Not only does the act of riding bring us new and (at first) unfamiliar experiences, but the places you can literally go is good enough reason to ride. Thanks to horses and riding, I have traveled all over my own province, in other provinces, and in other countries. Certainly without horses as a reason to pursue these activities, our lives would be lacking.

7. Exercise that is so similar to our own movement that it is healing for ourselves.

Riding horses gives our body the movement it relishes and needs. In the case of hippotherapy, riding can literally be therapeutic. Also, riding as a sport benefits the body and mind in many ways.

6. The variety of activities and events you can participate in if you ride a horse.

Once you get involved in the horse world, you will be amazed at all the activities and events that you might participate in! From weekly riding lessons to trail riding to vaulting to fundraising rides - the sky is the limit! There are simply too many events to list here. The clincher is that those who don't participate in riding do not have the opportunity to even begin to understand such vibrant experiences.

5. Learning skills that promote coordination, timing, rhythm, balance, core strength and much more.

Skills, skills and skills!

Skill development is one large component of what horseback riding is all about. As you grow as a rider, you'll be amazed at how your physical abilities progress. You will be sure to improve in all the above areas as well as in your mental skills such as problem-solving and determination.

4. The self-development process that goes hand-in-hand with skill development.

Self-confidence, self-control, patience, empathy - all these and more traits will be developed as you progress through your riding experiences. There is no way around it. If you ride, you will grow as a human being.

3. The life-long, ever-changing learning process that is horses and riding.

If you like learning, and feel a pang of excitement when you discover something new, horse riding is for you! The catch is that you would do well to enjoy this feeling of discomfort-before-learning-something-new because it will happen again and again - even years into your riding career!

2. Learning to problem solve effectively and ride with enough tact to improve the health and well-being of the horse.

There is nothing more motivating to realize that one day, you will ride well enough to be able to give back to the horses you ride. As your skills develop, your aids will support, redirect, enhance and even improve the horse's natural tendencies. One day, you might notice that your horse is physically healthier and mentally happier because of the riding experiences he receives - from little ol' you!

1. The ultimate release, and the feeling of oneness when everything is going right.

Well, though rarely realized, this togetherness is what will keep you coming back for more. Once you feel the connection, you will be able to persevere through every negative experience, setback and obstacle. Because once you have achieved harmony, you will know why you ride.

Why do you ride? Please add to the list in the comments below!

Now is the time to re-evaluate your goals and path to riding success!

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look our Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals

long- and short-term planning,

debrief your special events such as clinics or shows

reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals

sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Available as an eBook or paperback.

17 Wise Reflections – Straight From the Horse’s Mouth!

My horse, Annahi, is full of words of wisdom for those horses around her who are willing to listen.

She has quite the resume and has been there, done it all: she did lessons, participated (and won her share of awards) in western, english and dressage shows, rode in parades, even became a reliable enough trail horse to lead many a public ride. She has learned much through her many and varied experiences, and now, at the ripe old age of 25 (her birthday was in June), she decided she'd like to share her wisdom by writing a short post on my blog.

Although her intention is to help improve the daily trials of fellow equines, I'm sure us humans can benefit too. So here are her words of wisdom.

1. Stop and smell the roses - err... chomp on a bit of grass (especially when things seem to be getting a little hectic during the ride)!

There's always a good time to stop for a leisurely munch, but one of the best times is while your rider is desperately kicking to get you moving! Take extra time and go for that one last mouthful before you bring your head up. Then, dive down for one more bite!

2. If your feet get stuck in mud, give a good buck and carry on!

For some of us Princesses, there's nothing worse than the extract-your-shoe sucking action of deep mud. What do to? Just swish your tail and throw in a good buck! Oh, and yes, make sure that your human can hold on.

3. There's nothing better than mutual grooming.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours - this was invented by us horses!

4. If there isn't enough grass to eat, head for the trees.

Leaves make good alternative nutritional sources - so even if there still is some grass in the field - give leaves a try!

5. When you're hot, find a full water trough and splash around!

Ahhh... there's nothing quite like a splash in the water trough on a hot day! Make sure it was just scrubbed and filled before you start digging your muddy hooves into it. Flail away and get as much water out as possible! Humans enjoy filling water troughs.

6. Put your ears forward and charm the one with the treats.

Put on that cuddly, bright-eyed, ears perked face and no human will be able to deny you those delectable yummies! If you know how to make that look, you'll always get what you want!

7. Releasing your topline makes it easier to carry the load.

There is no better way to travel! Let go of your tension and put a little bounce into your step. All you have to do is let go, let loose and swing! The rest just flows along easily!

8. Snooze short but often.

Sleep often. Sleep well. Eat in between!

9. Clear out the flies from your face with a reliable swish buddy.

Sometimes, a friend is all you need to help you solve your problems. Find a swish buddy and there will be no more flies on your face! Just be ready to give back.

10. Jump high enough to make it over the fence.

Well, if there are any obstacles in your way, you just have to figure out how to jump high enough! A little practice and that should do the trick.

11. Give a loud, wet snort to acknowledge your contentment.

Deep snorts mean so much. They mean that you're happy, breathing well, even soft in your muscles. Be sure to let your human feel the depth of your contentment and snort ON them when they are standing in front of you!

12. Slow the legs to float longer.

It is possible to go too fast at any gait. Have you ever found yourself scrambling to get your footing? Make it easier on yourself and slow down to bounce higher and stride longer. Then you will feel this floating sensation that just can't be beat!

13. Go balanced into the corner, and full steam ahead coming out!

Collect a bit before the corner, but be sure to add a little "oomph" on the way out. That little extra energy can set you up smoothly for the rest of the ride.

14. Bending left and right makes for a better straight ahead.

They say that going straight needs a good left AND right side. So get out there and be your ambidextrous best!

15. Always have someone on the lookout.

When you feel a nap coming on, be sure that one of your trusty herd members is prepared to stand watch over you.

16. Life is all about finding the right rhythm.

That's what they say, and it's the truth. There is nothing better than a steady, reliable rhythm - whether in walk, trot, canter or in everyday life. So get out there and find your rhythm - and enjoy!

17. Always give before you take.

This one goes without saying. Take the half-halt, for instance. The best half-halt is the one that gives first, then holds for rebalance, then gives again. And so it should be in life.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine

Horse Listening Book 4: 20-Minute Exercises To Add Variety To Your Riding Routine is a compilation of the best patterns that have been shared on the Horse Listening Blog. The book is divided into five sections: Warm-Ups, Left and Right, Straightness, Suppleness and Collection. Each section has specific exercises and theory based on its topic.

But there's more!

There is a Special Center Section dedicated to only Transitions - something that we can all work on throughout our riding careers. And finally, scattered throughout the book are chapters that clearly explain theory, technique and skills that can help improve the featured exercises of teach Section.

Available as an eBook or paperback.

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:

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.

In Celebration of Canada Day

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In Praise of the (Horse Riding) Hand

“A good hand is the one that can resist and yield when necessary and receive with precision the action created by the legs.” - Salomon de la Broue

Have you ever watched someone riding in complete sync with their horse, and marveled at the way their hands somehow just floated in tandem with their equine partner, seemingly doing absolutely nothing?

Then, when you looked at the horse (which is the proof of the pudding) you saw the epitome of pleasure? You could almost see the smile on his face! While the rest of him floated along gracefully - ears flopping, body swinging, stride reaching - you knew there was no mistake: those hands were singing poetry in his horsey mind and he was relishing the moment!

Before you protest - I know! Riding ISN'T all about the hands! 🙂

We've discussed the critical dependency of all the aids on each other as well as the foundation of riding, the all-powerful seat. There is no such thing as just one aid that surpasses all others. The hands are just one aspect in all the puzzle pieces that must go together to make their own subtle contributions to the scene described above. There simply is no other way.

Having said that, as we are a hand-dependent species, and most of us pay entirely too much attention to what our hands are doing with the reins (and therefore to the horse's mouth), I thought we should peruse over the aspects of the hands of riders we admire.

What goes into developing the type of hands that all horses dream of?

1. Good hands wear gloves.

Let's face it - there is a reason for those riding gloves. Don't wear them only for their beauty! Good riding gloves allow for a subtler, finer grip on the reins. There is no slip and conversely, no stick. You can hold the reins with a firm grip when necessary and soften the grip in a moment's notice. Compare good gloves to good tires, and how much nicer your ride feels with better tires.

2. Good hands give.

I believe that learning to give in a way that is useful for the horse is one of the most difficult skills to learn. There is something indescribable about a good give - it's all about how it feels. Certainly, an onlooker will never be able to see a good give.

However, what will be clearly evident is the horse's reaction to the give - he rounds more, he flows more fluidly, his neck reaches forward (not the same thing as sticking up/down and out) and his strides become bolder.

3. Good hands don't give too much.

Aye, there's the rub. Hands that "throw away" the reins are doing a disservice to the horse, even if the rider thinks that letting the horse go is a good thing. An effective contact, whether on a long or short rein (and in a long or short body outline), is a support system to help the horse maintain his balance.

The very act of riding (weight of the rider and expected movements) changes the horse's natural equilibrium. Beyond that, our horse's natural balance is often something we want to purposely improve because he was born with less-than-perfect conformation. Therefore, if we let the horse "do his thing", he may be in fact off balance and resentful for it.

4. Good hands stay closed.

There is a reason why the hands should always stay closed in a soft but firm fist: the horse's mouth. From the moment they pick up the reins, the hands hold a responsibility for being kind and consistent to the horse's mouth. Any change in the hands translates to a change in the horse's mouth. Consistency is key in keeping the horse's attention and confidence.

5. Good hands are connected to upright forearms.

You've probably heard this one before: "Thumbs uuuppp!"

However, it's not really about the thumbs. It is about the forearms and the strength they project into the horse's mouth.

Take a look at this excellent diagram to see the thumbs up versus thumbs down position of the arms.

If your hands are thumbs up, the forearm bones are "supinated." That means the bones are parallel to each other. In this position, the arm has more strength and better fine motor ability.

If your hands are flat on the reins, the radius and ulna are "pronated." When the bones are twisted in this fashion, the muscles of the arm arm much less coordinated. Every action is harsher in the horse's mouth.

Good hands are constantly aware of the power they put into the horse's mouth, and work hard to avoid being abrupt.

6. Good hands support the body aids.

There are times that the hands need to support the aids coming from other parts of our body. Therefore, they need to be "clicked in" with the rest of the body so as to follow through what our body said - allow to move bigger, resist to hold together, close the outside and open the inside to reinforce a turn aid, etc. Basically, good hands know how to morph into the body and "become one" with the aids to present a unified feel to the horse.

7. Good hands are independent of the body aids.

As with everything horsey, the opposite must also be true! That is, good hands must also know how to be entirely independent of all the other aids. In this case, the hands choose to NOT follow the body aids - in fact, they may stay completely neutral, or even signal something else.

Consider the half-halt. The body says, "Go!"

But the hands say, "Put your energy over the back and into a rounder body outline."

8. Good hands play the piano.

If you've ever played the piano, you know what it feels like to lightly and delicately press on a key in order to influence a sound. You can press harder, softer, longer, shorter - you can even dance the fingers along the keyboard! So yes, good riding hands have fingers that do exactly that on the reins. They know what the horse needs when. The horse can count on those fingers for support when he needs it and for a freedom or sense of humor at other times.

9. Good hands don't think.

Thinking hands are slow, awkward, reactive. When the horse is in motion, thinking through what the hands need to be doing simply takes too long. You will always be behind the motion and reacting to what the horse has finished doing. Developing non-thinking hands that do what they need to do in the moment takes a lifetime and much concentrated work. But it is possible. And every horse you ride will be thankful for your efforts.

10. Good hands change little and often.

And this is why you cannot truly see good hands doing their thing. They are as much in a flow of movement as the rest of the body and the horse.

Good hands are working even when they appear to be still. (Click here to tweet that if you agree.)

But they make small changes, stay consistent, and continuously keep up a conversation with the horse.

What do you think good hands do? Please add to the list in the comments below.

Horses. Riding. Life.

Author: Horse Listening

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*Then release.

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In Praise of the (Horse Riding) Hand

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