Objective: to apply the aids with intention in such a way
that brings the horse and rider into balance in motion.
Plan: to separate the use of the aids in such a way that
gives the horse the illusion of freedom under the guidance of a well balanced
rider. Establishing forward.
How to begin; groundwork is always first to maintain our
awareness and the horse’s calm
I begin this exercise on the ground with a snaffle bit.
First I take a position in front of the horse and gently rest my thumb on the
snaffle bit. I will gently pull the snaffle up and off of the bars of the horse
(careful not to lift it too high, just forward) and cluck so that he associates
the lightening of the bit with stepping forward and under. When I let go of the
bit and allow it to rest on the bars again I use the aid for halt (with my
horses they all halt when I breath out. If you are doing these exercises I am
assuming you have a lot of basic concepts and abilities already). I will do
this a couple of times and it is especially important with horses who have had
a negative history with the bit (having a reputation for being heavy, use of
draw reins, gaping the mouth from memories of pain). I will also do some gentle
movements with the bit while standing to induce chewing. See my article on jaw flexions for this part.
Under saddle; now that you are mounted (I assume you
have a good seat at this point and can ride on the longe a variety of horses at
walk trot and canter with no hands and no stirrups and maintain effectiveness
over the gaits) we will begin to separate the aids for an up transition and
down transition. In order to do this you must have an understanding of the aids
and their many uses. See my article on
Natural and Artifical Aids.
The sequence of aids for an upward transition (including
the use of the whip if necessary)
1.
Move the hand slightly forward in anticipation
of the movement in the head and neck during the transition.
2.
Stretch upward through your ribcage and spinal
muscles which in turn lifts your seat slightly
3.
Open your thighs (take the knee off the saddle
people!)
4.
Close the lower leg (DO NOT squeeze, see my article on Positive and Negative
Tension in the Horse and Rider. I rotate my leg from the knee down
laterally just slightly)
5.
Cluck and apply the whip behind the leg if necessary. The horse should readily depart from these aids.
Eventually you may never use your leg
because he anticipates all of the other subtleties.
This is one of the advantages of perfecting the separation of the aids.
The Sequence of aids for a downward transition
1.
Push your heel slightly down and back to
lengthen your leg.
2.
Close your thigh (this will NEVER grip or hold
on, it breathes with the horse even if the intensity changes)
3.
Stretch upward through your ribcage and spinal
muscles, while breathing out, (chin
up!) and engage your core root (you yogis know it as Mula Bandha) to slightly
resist the motion in the horse (this will give the sensation of slowing the
footfalls and swing of the back)
4.
Close your fingers on the reins (also a pressure
that is used only for a moment in time (as quick as a footfall!)) See my article on Timing and Application of
the Aids.
Eventually
the horse will begin to slow his footfalls and bring his hind legs closer to
his front before you touch the rein, this is ideal.
Now that you have the background to begin the exercise we
begin at the halt. Welcome to French Equitation!
Separation of the aids at halt
1.
At the halt, with a relaxed rider, apply a soft
pressure on one or both reins until you hear the mouth open (chew…not gape…but
you will hear the lips smack as the vacuum seal in the mouth is broken and the
horse begins chewing). This is an example of a jaw flexion.
2.
Simultaneously (timing is everything!) as the
horse begins chewing you must give the reins completely. Now all aids are
neutral.
3.
Repeat this at the halt until the horse begins
to chew on the bit and you feel a light connection with the mouth. Flexion at
the poll will come later. See my article on Teaching Flexions. If the horse begins to take a step forward when
you release the reins that is ok for now! Do not discourage forward thinking!
Once the contact is alive and
the horse is mentally engaged at the halt you may use the aids for an up
transition immediately following the instructions for obtaining a jaw flexion
as above. It is important that you follow the sequence of aids exactly and
focus on accuracy and timing, not just the response of the horse!
1.
Once you and your horse have begun to master to
separation of the aids at halt/walk as above (if your horse trots or canters
off when you apply the aids for the up transition praise him like a king and go
with the flow for a minutes before asking for a down transition) you can begin
to change your expectations and move up the gaits/transitions. Do not hesitate
at any time, in every ride, to go back to “elementary school” and repeat this
exercise at the halt and walk. If the foundation is not there you cannot build
the house. The house is collection. Now, before you move on from performing
this exercise at the halt or walk and try it in trot; you are looking for the
following qualities;
-The horse is beginning to anticipate your
aids and is responding lightly to the sequence of aids in upward or downward
transitions. He may even begin to show signs of ramener.
-The foundation qualities of the training
tree are fulfilled: rhythm, relaxation, freedom of gait, contact (chewing on
the bit).
2. Once the halt to walk, walk to halt,
Walk to trot transitions have been established I work on halt to trot and
transitions within the trot. Now you apply the theory of “Legs without hands,
hands without legs” to the trot. This is where you begin to develop to
lengthening and collecting work in the horse. Next article will be on; beginning lengthening’s and collected work.
3. Once the transitions within trot are
developed and you have a crisp relaxed halt to trot I begin to teach reinback
to trot (which is preparation for Piaffe!). Often by the time I have reached
this point this horse is offering light and balanced transitions into canter,
and at that point you may begin balanced work in the canter; the most difficult
of all the gaits to influence due to speed and asymmetry. When your horse
offers you forward don’t choke him out! Go with the flow, praise him like a
king, and then ask for a down transition.
