Horse Listening

Dressage As A Healing Tool

At its essence, the French term, dressage, means "training". In effect, all we do when we ride "dressage", is develop a better training regiment for both ourselves and our horses. Regardless of discipline, solid basic training is what every movement is based upon.

Even at its most basic level (or perhaps, especially at the most basic levels), dressage holds a value to horses of all disciplines.

Done well, it presents opportunity for you to analyze your horse's way of going, strengthening weaknesses and evening out imbalances in movement.

Done well, it provides you opportunity to develop your basic riding skills, strengthening weaknesses and evening out imbalances in your aids.

Because both are critical to your horse's success in performance, and your success as a rider.

What do dressage exercises do for the horse?

Stretching/Releasing/Bending/Strengthening

If riding were a language (which in fact, it is), then the alphabet would be based on the above qualities of movement. The foundation for all movements begin with the horse's ability to stretch, release, bend and be strong. All four qualities combine to allow the horse to move in a way that keeps him sound and physically functional for years to come. If any one component is missing, then the horse runs the risk of joint/muscle/tendon injury.

Stretching

There are two ways a horse can stretch - longitudinally (over the topline), and laterally (side to side). The former is usually the first to be accomplished well and the latter improves along with the topline as that develops. As a young horse learns to stretch, the muscles have an easier time releasing and working in tandem.

Releasing (Suppling)

Some people refer to muscle release as "relaxation" - as in, the horse should relax while cantering. However, a horse cannot truly relax in movement - he must "release" his muscles instead.

You will know that your horse released his muscles by how the movement feels: fluid, ground-covering, lightweight and sometimes even bouncy. Your horse's expression might change - from tense ears to soft and floppy, from almost no breathing sounds to snorts and deep grunts. You know you are in true suppleness when the movements feel effortless.

Stiffness and tension are the opposites to a release. Horses ridden with tight muscling develop mystery lamenesses and other ailments over the long term. All riding exercises should be aimed toward improving the horse's ability to release the muscles through their particular exercises and limit stiffness and tension as much as possible.

Bending

Increased ability to stretch and release will invariably lead to better bending. All horses have a preferred side, much like we humans have a dominant hand. Better bending will lead to better evenness in the left and right body. The horse will develop his ability to bear weight more evenly on both hind legs, and therefore stretch through both sides in an easier manner.

Strength

You might be amazed at the horse's development once the muscles work together instead of against each other. First of all, the horse's muscling will change visibly. You might notice a top line musculature where there was none before. You might notice a squaring of the rump when viewed from behind. There might also be a delightful groove developing over the horse's back over the spine, a sure indication of supple muscles working underneath the saddle. But the clincher is that the horse becomes capable of doing the movements (in whatever discipline) easier, slower and with more control.

The Healthy Horse

Regardless of our disciplines, we want horses to live long and thrive in their work until old age. Adding dressage exercises regularly into your routine workouts will always reap benefits in several areas at once.

When combined, the above components of riding will result in the horse's increased capacity for correct weight-bearing. And more than anything, improving the horse's ability to carry the rider's weight in a manner that not only prevents damage, but in fact improves the horse's health and well-being, is what all good riding should endeavor to produce.

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- 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.

Living in Flying Changes

Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

Moonless

evening darkness.

Noiseless calm-filled quiet;

even the animals are sleeping.

Horse and rider snugly enveloped in the soothing twilight blanket

watched by twinkling diamond specks in the ever far but oh-so-near sky,

capably cantering.

Weightless footfalls soundlessly landing

save for the faint crunch of almost-frozen sand underfoot,

leaving large figure-eights and loops behind

as she reaches loftily ahead

in a rocking-horse rhythm,

effortlessly progressing through space and time.

Perky-eared bay mare boldly expressing her creativity, living in flying changes.

(Click here to tweet if you like that image.)

*****

I wrote this poem in attempt to capture how it felt to ride my always fun-filled, giving mare during an almost surreal evening.

It was dark (no moon), shockingly quiet, and hard to see where the fences of the outdoor riding ring were. I find it interesting to be stripped of my sense of sight (well, not really "stripped", but you know what I mean - it was so dark that I could barely distinguish the horse's head, never mind the space around us). You don't know what the horse looks like in front of you, and you can't tell how large the strides are or where you are really going (you have a general sense, but can't see the exact dimensions of your surroundings).

When you can't rely as much on your vision, I find that you can "feel" deeper.

The overwhelming question in my mind was, can we ride (effectively) in this dark night when we can't see anything?

My mare answered confidently: yes!

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 favor!

beauty — Photo Credit: NBanaszak Photography

The reason?

Horses, just like people, have different personalities and needs. If you are lucky enough to ride multiple horses, you will quickly realize that what you do for one horse may not be useful for another. If you have the ability to respond quickly and effectively to each horse, you will be well on your way to achieving riding success!

Even if you ride just one horse, you know that you may not meet the same horse every ride. Just like the rest of us, horses have good days and bad days. They have excited days, lazy days, scaredy-cat days and even not-feeling-well days. In order to be the best riding partner you can be, you might need to alter your feel and mood to meet your horse's needs.

The best riders cultivate their ability to switch from one riding "personality" to another, in order to meet their horse's requirements, each time they ride.

The Sensitive Horse

Be gentle and kind to the horse that works hard and tries his best all the time. This is the horse that can hear you whisper if you can be quiet enough. In time, you might even be lucky enough to develop your communication skills so well that it feels like the horse can read your mind. You can use the lightest of aids and he will respond with enthusiasm and internal motivation.

However, his perfectionist nature might cause some difficulties. This horse will likely be the overachiever - you put your leg on, and he explodes into the next gait. You lean a little to the left, and he leans even farther and cuts the corner. You ask for a canter, and although he isn't balanced in the trot, he scrambles, hollows his back and still changes his legs to the three-beat gait. Over time, this horse might be the one that becomes resistant, reluctant and anxious.

Meet this horse with light and gentle aids, and you will develop a lasting friendship. Be kind, release your aids quickly and give this horse the benefit of the doubt. Assume that his "misbehaviours" are not caused by a lack of desire, but from trying too hard. This horse may need you to wait for a response rather than reinforce immediately. Let this horse take the initiative at times and help him develop his confidence by accepting his attempts even if they are not exactly what you wanted. Ideally, you should always be calm, quiet and poised.

The Uninspired Horse

At the other end of the spectrum, you might come across a horse that is simply not inspired to work. This horse might present as being quiet and calm, and might even be the horse that you would choose for a beginner rider. He likely won't be particularly spooky, and he would be the horse that seems content to stand around in the riding ring while you chat enthusiastically with your friends.

Unfortunately, his laid-back nature could lead this horse to regularly resist responding to aids. He might be the one that meets your forward request with pinned ears and swishing tail. He could feel like he's stuck in quicksand, moving only after several nagging aids. You might feel exhausted within the first ten minutes of the ride because you really are doing more work than he is!

To be an effective rider for this horse, you would have to do a complete turn-around compared to the last horse. You might need to be assertive, black and white in your aids, and be prepared to follow-up instantly. It could be fine to challenge this horse more than you would with the last horse, because he will need more external motivation to be responsible for his part of the work.

Go Ahead - Switch Personalities!

Of course, we all know that there are as many variations in personality as there are horses (ain't it the same with people?). In our examples above, riding the "lazy" horse the way you would ride the "sensitive" horse might lead to more problems that you can imagine. The key to riding effectively (and keeping the horses working correctly and happily) lies in your ability to discern the horse's needs.

Then, if you can be prepared to meet those needs, you are well on your way to developing a wonderful riding partnership!

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If you enjoyed the above article, you will find many more relevant tips and concepts in Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Dark Room Doors and Dressage: A metaphor for the learning process.

Horseback Riding the Yoga Way – Practice! Find a balance between achieving and letting go. How to include the concept of “practicing” in your riding.

Riding is Simple, But Not Easy! Let’s face it – all we want is for the horse to do what we want, when we want, where we want, with suppleness and strength!

Take the Credit, Bad AND Good: In our quest for balance (not just on the kind on the back of the horse), it is essential for us to look at our achievements from both angles.

10 Ways on How NOT to Buy Your Dream Horse!

Tongue-in-cheek, just-for-fun!

(OK admit it - how many of these have we all done at one time or another??)

dream horse — Photo credit: NBanaszak Photography

Buy your friend's (unridden-for-the-last-few-years) horse -

that she never could ride and can no longer afford to keep.

Buy at a local auction.

Breed your unrideable mare.

Breed your mare to the neighbour's super-friendly-sweet-as-pie

(but when was he ridden the last time??) stallion.

Take the neighbour's (or anyone's) free hand-me-down horse

that hasn't been ridden in two years.

Buy your super horse sight unseen from a picture on the Internet.

Buy him after your rode him once under the best circumstances.

Listen to the now-your-best-friend coach (horse dealer) that you met last week.

Listen to the big-name-trainer who really just wants you to buy a horse for himself!

Find an ad on Craig'slist.

Do you have any other recommendations??!!

*****

If you like what you are reading, become a subscriber and receive updates when new Horse Listening articles are published! Your email address will not be used on any other distribution list. Subscribe to Horse Listening by Email

Browse through our other articles just for fun!

14 Reasons to Love Horseback Riding: There must be hundreds of reasons why people enjoy horses and horseback riding. Here are fourteen.

Top 10 Annoying Riding Habits: Enjoy this tongue-in-cheek list coming from the opposite perspective – things NOT to do while riding!

Horseback Riders Do Nothing Anyway! Well, at least, that’s what “they” say. But we know differently, don’t we?

A Song and My Very Own Chestnut Mare: You will find me bristling at the suggestion that chestnut mares are unworthy.

Breaking the Cycle: It Might Not Be What You DID Do…

... but rather what you didn't do.

Steps — Photo credit: NBanaszak Photography

Time and again, we find ourselves having the same problem with our horses. We have worked repeatedly on a particular skill only to be faced with the identical issue once more. We try to resolve the situation using tools we already know but to no avail; the same result is obtained, and it isn't the one we are looking for.

We blame ourselves.

We blame the horse.

We try harder.

We get emotional. Surely, the horse would do what you want if he wanted to please... right?

Why is he not responding?

And then, we do it all over again. We use the same aids, go through the same exercises, approach the problem from the same angle(s).

Need a Change-Up?

To modify the situation, we need to alter our perspective. The unfortunate part is that often, the change that is needed is not easily accessible or acquired. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we simply cannot adjust ourselves in the manner required by the horse, simply due to inexperience or lack of skill.

But that does not alter the fact that the horse needs something we might not be able to give him.

The Essential Instructor

There are so many possible ways to approach a riding problem. Unless we have the opportunity to ride many horses under good instruction for many years, we may not be aware of the approach that is needed for the particular situation our horse is facing. Finding an accurate solution may in fact be impossible for us to reach on your own, especially if the problem is something we have not experienced to date.

Enter the essential instructor: there simply is no other way.

What our horse might need is a completely new perspective. Perhaps we have to learn something new that we would never be able to dream about without the help of an informed instructor.

Practice and Time

Don't kid yourself - new riding skills take time to develop. The necessary change-up may require numerous repetitions until we become proficient and effective enough to be able to change our horse's performance. We need to be content knowing that we are on the right path and that walking the path may take longer than we originally anticipated.

Changing the Rules... Again

Finally, we need to recognize that in changing our own responses to the problem, we are also expecting the horse to change his behavior. Not only will we need to master the new skill, but we also must de-program our horse's responses that WE blueprinted into him, and replace them with new ones. Although we usually find horses to be extraordinarily forgiving and patient, it will nevertheless take time to explain the new rules clearly enough to make changes in his responses.

Listen to Horses

We will know our goals are being achieved by being sensitive to our horse's reactions. If we uncover more tension, insecurity, lamenesses, tail swishing and/or pinned ears, we know we are not quite on the path we are seeking. In contrast, if our horse gives us snorts, bolder, more confident forward strides, strength and roundness and/or soft expressive eyes and ears, we know we are on the right track.

So the next time you get stuck in a rut and don't know what to do, think of what you didn't do, and give that a try!

Caught

Here is a try at short piece of horsey fiction. Interested in your thoughts.

******

The yellow turn sign pointed to a sharp left.

In the darkness, Dan pressed on the brakes, slowing the car as he followed the turn in the road. Trees loomed high on either side, making the black asphalt appear to be an endless, curving path disappearing into the distance up ahead.

"I can't see a thing," said Tina, peering out into the darkness from her passenger window. "How on earth are we going to find this horse?"

"He has to be somewhere out here. There really is no other way for him to go," said Dan.

They continued along in silence, hoping to spot the wayward horse before it got hit by a car.

The afternoon had started just as any other - Tina had headed to the barn to help out with chores before her riding lesson. People were already in the riding ring, warming up for the six o'clock lesson, when there was a loud scream.

Before anyone had a chance to acknowledge the source of the sound, a chestnut horse streaked by at a full gallop, running full-tilt up the driveway and out onto the road. Sparks flew as the horse's feet scrambled to take hold of the asphalt. The rank smell of burning hoof wall filled the air.

People who had been nearby rushed to help the rider, who was now lying in a crumpled heap in the middle of the ring. Finishing up the stall she was cleaning, Tina stepped outside the barn to get a better look.

There was an air of concern as the rider seemed to be completely immobile. Someone was already on her cell phone, presumably phoning for the ambulance. Several people were at the rider's side assessing the situation. It seemed that there were plenty of people willing to help if needed.

Tina strained to look up the driveway again. There was no sign of the horse. She was well aware that there were miles and miles of fenced fields in both directions. Where would the horse go, she wondered? Most horses would head back to the herd, but there was no way for the chestnut to return to the pasture, thanks to the long fenced crop fields that surrounded the barn property.

That was when Dan had driven up to the barn doors.

"Hop in," he'd said after rolling the passenger window side down so she could hear him. "Let's go find that horse." Terry ran to the tack room to grab a lead rope and halter, and they were off.

So there they were, still driving around, through first dusk as the sun started going down, and now in full pitch blackness. Where could the horse have gone?

A quick call to the barn had confirmed that the horse had not returned. It would have been difficult to miss him as he would have had to pass the car on the way back.

So they drove slowly onward, squinting eyes trying to pierce through the darkness.

Another turn was completed when Tina noticed a darker, almost imperceptible shadow in the dense gloom around them.

"Stop! Look over there," she pointed. As there was no other traffic anywhere to be seen, Dan coasted until the wheels stopped turning. Sure enough, to the right side of the road, there was a bulky blackness near the side of the road. It looked like somewhat of a misfit in front of the tall tree trunks that rose skyward. It didn't move.

"It's hard to tell what that is," said Dan, although he was already opening the door to get out of the car. Another few feet and they were sure it was the horse. However, his massive form was bent over into an odd shape.

Now they could hear his breath heaving his lungs from side to side. It was difficult to distinguish his expression because his neck was bent into a tight curl and his legs seemed to be tied at an awkward angle.

"He's wrapped up in his reins," said Tina, finally understanding why he was motionless. She edged close enough to be able to see him better. Even in the dark, she could see that his eyes were wide with fright and stress. His neck was tight and quivering from muscle tension. The sweat was dripping off him in small rivulets to the ground.

Carefully and as calmly as possible, Dan approached the horse from the near side. The horse's eyes followed him as he stepped close enough to be able to reach the reins.

The reins were so taut that it would be impossible to unwind them off the legs.

"I have to get the knife," said Dan.

"OK I'll stay here with him," said Tina, reaching out to pat the horse's massive side to calm him a little. It would be impossible to put the halter on in this position, so she reached gently for the reins on his left side. The chestnut let out a short grunting sound, trying to take in more breath. It was obvious that he was struggling to maintain this unnatural posture. His tension was palpable. Tina felt his anxiety as if it were her own.

When Dan returned with the knife, she told him, "Be really careful. I have a feeling he might explode when he gets his legs free."

Dan reached down, watchful that his head was out of the way of possibly flying hooves. Tina went around the horse to the other side, holding on to the tops of the reins in order to steady him when he got free.

The knife was not cutting. It was all Dan could do to rub a line into the tight leather, leaving a crease but not making even one tear. He tried again.

It was at that moment that the horse had enough. With a deep breath that turned into a moan, he heaved up, hooves still tied together, head and neck pulling down even further. Showing great strength, he managed to lift up his whole front end, sending Dan toppling over to one side, while Tina stepped back and was forced to let go. He hovered for one long, immeasurable moment on his hind legs, balancing precariously, only to fall with a crash into the underbrush to his left side.

Now his feet were frantically kicking at the air, trying to loosen the grip around his legs. There was nothing for Tina and Dan to do but stand there and watch as the reins dug into the horse's canon bones. With one resolved flip of the head, there was a loud snap as the reins finally split.

For a moment, everyone stopped moving. The horse's sides continued to heave but his legs quietly stretched straight ahead like two long tree branches.

Tina was the first to spring into action - and she was quickly by the horse's head, grabbing for the ripped end of the rein on her side of the horse. Too exhausted to respond, the horse only watched as she took a good grip and positioned herself out of the way of the horse for the inevitable lurch forward to stand up.

And then he was up. With a deep snort, and another, and even another, the horse shook his neck side to side, grunting as he went into a full-body shake. The tension released, his eyes went soft as he shifted his weight side to side. Becoming a little more alert, he looked curiously at Tina, who was still at his right side, and reached forward for a soft sniff of her arm. It was as if he was thanking her.

A quick scan over his body told Tina that there would be cuts to clean and legs to wrap, but overall, the damage was minimal. She hoped the same was true for the rider.

"I'll walk with him," said Tina, and Dan headed for the car. The quiet stillness enveloped them as they started off for the long walk home, the clippety-clop of the hooves being the only disruption to the serene nighttime earth sounds.

Perfecting Perfection in Riding: A Lifelong Quest

Let's just face the facts - there is no such thing as perfection in riding!

One step at a time — Photo credit: N. Banaszak

It is simple and true: one merely keeps developing, and once a particular technique or skill has been mastered, the next (absolutely necessary) step must be reached for. It is inevitable - for the lifelong rider, there is no other way.

Often, the fact that perfection can never be attained is the reason we keep coming back for more. We discover growth in so many areas thanks to the interactions we have with the horse. If we can listen carefully enough, we will achieve goals that also transfer into other areas of our lives, making riding relevant not only to our physical development, but also to so much more.

We all have our flaws.

Some people are perpetual "hand riders". They ride more on the reins than with their seat and leg aids.

Many people forever lean to one side, working against tightness or rigidity in their cores. Others have to struggle with a tight lower back and pelvis, always trying to release more than their bodies are willing to permit.

A few of us rush our horses and put them on the forehand, while others ride slow and flat so their horses are unable to use their hind ends and swing in their backs.

Finally, some of us eventually realize that we have several issues that must be overcome (!) before we can reach our potentials as riders.

After a few years in the saddle, you will be able to identify your main weaknesses and strengths, and you will know what you need to work on for a very long time.

The same can be said about our horses.

Some horses are severely one-sided. Some horses have a behavior they revert to as soon as something causes tension: rearing, bucking, head shaking, ducking in or out, balking/quitting, etc.

From an outside perspective, it seems obvious that everyone has something to work on at any one point in their development, and horses are not an exception.

So how does the concept of "perfection" fit into our many inadequacies?

We will never really find the perfect horse, nor will we ever be a perfect rider. However, it would be irresponsible of me to give you the impression that riders don't try to find perfection.

Of course we try for perfect.

We learn new skills, develop our weaknesses, practice over and again. Just when things seem to become insurmountable, and the same problems reappear repeatedly, we learn that it is essential for us to put the pieces together and invest the extra effort it takes to get over the hump.

We begin to revel in the moments of glory when they occur, and then continue doggedly when they disappear. We string together a series of great steps to make one movement shine.

Then we develop performance movement to movement. Here's how.

Six steps to perfection:

1. Take lessons.

2. Identify your "normal" (unconscious?) habits that might be interfering with the horse's movement, and work tirelessly on developing your physical skill.

3. Set goals and change them when needed.

4. Become an active rider and gently but firmly expect the horse to respond to your requests.

5. Watch better riders and analyze their reasons for success. Then try to duplicate.

6. Take more lessons.

Once that's all done, repeat!

Because perfection for you and your horse at that moment is what it's all about!

What do you do to attain perfection in your riding?

The Dreaded “Rein Lame”: A Mystery

You know the scene: it is virtually impossible for you to figure out what is wrong. The horse has a mild gimp in his movement, but you cannot pinpoint where it is. He does not appear to be lame, but he isn't sound either.

Your friends watch you ride and they can see it - there is that mild head bobble, the lack of stride in the hind end. But no one agrees on one verdict. One friend says it is the left hind leg, another thinks it is the front right. While you ride, you think it is somewhere front and back but it really is hard to tell.

You go through all the tried and true solutions. You even bring the vet out, and she sees nothing. On the lunge line, your horse presents even striding and no head bob.

But you know it's there.

Or maybe, your vet does see something. After extensive (and expensive) radiographs, there is nothing to be found. There is no swelling, no irritation, no injury. You give your horse some time off (while he runs around the pasture in circles at a gallop, showing no sign of discomfort) but as soon as you start your regular riding routine again, the mystery lameness resurfaces.

Does this scenario have a familiar ring to it?

If so, you are not alone.

Mystery lamenesses come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common characteristic they share is that they are hard to identify, diagnose and pinpoint. They may come and go, or they may linger for weeks on end. The key is that the "lameness" is mild and generally unidentifiable.

First we must check every other possibility to ensure that all the bases are covered.

Then, it is time to consider the one thing we often fail to recognize as a possible source of discomfort for the horse: our own riding technique. It stands to reason that horses will reflect any stressors that are put on their bodies - and riding can be one factor that is demanding enough to become detrimental to the horse over time.

Common Symptoms

Most mystery lamenesses can be blamed on unreleased tension in the horse's body. This might occur during riding, while the rider is mounted. Often, the lameness is not evident when the horse is moving around freely in the paddock.

Some horses tighten behind the saddle in the lumbosacral region, where the lumbar vertebrae stop and the sacrum begins. This area tends to be a weak zone and prolonged tension in the area can translate into uneven steps and lame-like symptoms in either the front end or the hind end. Hip problems can also be connected to the l-s joint.

When you ride circles, does your horse have a habit of making small circles in one direction and large ones in the other direction? The size difference is likely due to shoulder tension (which goes hand-in-hand with lack of hind end engagement - see below). This type of front-end lameness comes and goes but is usually present in turns and corners (less obvious on straight lines). The root of this problem is that horses generally travel in a crooked manner. If action is not taken to address the crookedness in their movement, ligaments and tendons in the shoulders may become affected.

Finally, another type of mystery lameness can be due to lack of engagement of the hind end. If a horse is not taught early in his riding career to reach underneath the body with a deep, strong stride, the hind end development may suffer. Without a strong hind end action to support the weight of the horse and rider, you may find the horse falling heavily to the forehand. You might notice heavy sounding footfalls, tripping, inconsistent stride lengths, heavy contact, and a generally unhappy and unwilling attitude. Eventually, the wear and tear on the horse's front legs can lead to ligament and tendon damage that appears in the form of an on-again, off-again lameness.

Most of the time, regardless of how the lameness appears, the horse is not "forward" enough in all the gaits.

What to do?

1. Become very aware of tension during riding.

Some horses truck along calmly, willingly riding along even with tight muscular tension. It is easy to overlook the tightness of movement because of the horse's generous character. Learn how to spot the tension, or better yet, how to feel it. Identify where the horse is blocking the energy so that you can take steps to address it.

Find a good instructor who can teach you how to help the horse release tension - whether it is mental or physical - as much as possible during every ride. You can imagine that if the horse is moving in tension almost all the time, there will inevitably be painful repercussions in the long run. Finding techniques to release the topline of the horse and encourage strong, bold movement will help your horse let go of the blocks that are holding him back from completing his strides.

2. Check in to your own body.

If you are tense, your horse will likely be tense in exactly the same place! Invest in lessons, or get an educated eye on the ground to help identify your areas of tension and how to release (not "relax") the tightness out of your body. It is very common for riders to grip steadily through the reins to help maintain their own balance, ride with unforgiving elbows, or hold a tight lower back even while the horse is moving. The good thing about being the source of the problem is that you can fix yourself!

3. Keep your horse moving straight, even on circles and bends.

A horse can move crooked on a straight line or even on a circle. Often, a horse prefers one side to another, putting too much weight on one shoulder. It is the task of the rider to identify the strong (and tight) side of the horse and develop stretching techniques to encourage even development of the horse's muscling.

4. Help your horse find his "happy place" as often as possible through the ride.

As mentioned in this article, it is possible for a rider to teach her horse to enjoy being ridden. The better you know your horse, the more you will be able to "play" while you work. Horses that enjoy their rides are generally more willing, giving and supple in their movements.

5. Start with and end the ride with a balanced, rhythmical stretchy trot, canter and finally walk.

There is no replacement to the stretchy walk, trot and canter. It is a great way to loosen the horse during the warm-up, and the best way to wrap up the day's lessons. When the horse lifts his back and reaches down and out with the nose, the top line muscles have an opportunity to stretch and release. Since the neck is attached to the withers, and the withers to the large muscles over the top of the back, the stretch can reach far back toward the hips.

Once horses know how to stretch, they look forward to the release and often announce their pleasure through snorts and licking an chewing. The stretch is a way to consolidate all that was done during the ride and is an excellent way to come to a calm and relaxing end.

*****

There are likely many more ways to teach a horse suppleness and release of the muscles. The key point is to become aware of the tension and learn how to address it. As you improve your riding skill, and learn more techniques (and "tools") to draw from, you will be able to pinpoint the cause of the lameness and then the solution.

If you want a more specific suggestion on how to improve rein lameness through riding, here is an exercise: Stepping Out of the Rein Lameness.

Do you have any other techniques to help the horse work with less tension?

Read the following for more information:

https://www.horselistening.com2012/03/11/the-dynamic-dependency-of-horseback-riding/

https://www.horselistening.com2012/02/26/when-do-you-start-riding-your-horse/

https://www.horselistening.com2012/02/24/how-to-be-an-active-horseback-rider-a-k-a-riding-with-intention/

https://www.horselistening.com2012/01/29/when-good-enough-just-isnt-good-enough-in-horseback-riding/

https://www.horselistening.com2018/12/04/its-one-thing-to-know-what-it-should-look-like/

The Healthy Horse

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Moonless

evening darkness.

Noiseless calm-filled quiet;

even the animals are sleeping.

Horse and rider snugly enveloped in the soothing twilight blanket

watched by twinkling diamond specks in the ever far but oh-so-near sky,

capably cantering.

Weightless footfalls soundlessly landing

save for the faint crunch of almost-frozen sand underfoot,

leaving large figure-eights and loops behind

as she reaches loftily ahead

in a rocking-horse rhythm,

effortlessly progressing through space and time.

Perky-eared bay mare boldly expressing her creativity, living in flying changes.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

The Sensitive Horse

The Uninspired Horse

Go Ahead - Switch Personalities!

Tongue-in-cheek, just-for-fun!

... but rather what you didn't do.

Need a Change-Up?

The Essential Instructor

Practice and Time

Changing the Rules... Again

Listen to Horses

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening!

Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening!

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

We all have our flaws.

The same can be said about our horses.

So how does the concept of "perfection" fit into our many inadequacies?

Six steps to perfection:

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

Recent Articles:

But you know it's there.

Common Symptoms

What to do?

Horse Listening - The Book: Stepping Forward To Effective Riding is a beautiful paperback with all the excellence of the blog - in your hands! Click on the image for more information.

Available as an eBook or paperback.