Posture and your horse’s emotions.

 Posture and your horse’s emotions.

 

This exercise is "one step" We ask the horse to take 1 step and pause holding correct off the forehand posture

Howdy Friends!

Posture is more important than training. When your horse’s posture and improper body carriage make it difficult, or impossible, for her to complete a requested task, that causes stress in the horse. Stress quickly transforms into balking, refusal, resentment, and finally chips away at the horse’s willingness and emotions. Not to mention their bond with their human. Especially when the human then resorts to mechanical devices to force the horse’s compliance – forcing the horse to push through stiffness and pain. As the horse’s emotions wither, the more the distant the bond. For this reason, I vigorously promote, and teach, simple to learn exercises I learned from my mentor Diane Sept, that we can do to perfect our horses’ posture and maintain correct and healthy body carriage – For the sake of horses emotions everywhere, and their bond with their humans. Sadly, widespread in the equine industry is the image, and acceptance of, incorrect and even painful posture, as correct. If you love your horse, if you want to excel at any equine activity, and have an honest bond with your horse, you’ll focus on correct, soft posture. Nothing you can do for your horse will make as much a difference in health, emotion and bonding. Feel free to contact me for help. (I’ll be doing a series of 4 clinics at Belmead Riding Club this year)~

 Gitty Up, Dutch.

All these exercises are in my book "It's for the Horses" find it here www.itsforthehorses.com  

"Pre-Ride Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Folks,

How often do we see horses fetched from the pasture, stall or trailer, hurriedly saddled and folks just mount up and ride away? Often these horses are up, and moving out in a hurry, the rider shifts gears to discipline. In my humble opinion that's not fair to the horse. And can be made so much better with a few easy to do "Pre-Ride Exercises." Part of the tacking up time should be giving to your horse, too.

The other day when I shared the "One Step" exercise in my post "Reconnecting Your Horse To Her Feet" I mentioned that it was one of my "Pre-Ride Exercises."  A few folks have asked what my other "Pre-Ride" exercises are. As I said in that post I never step in the saddle without a few "one-steps" and I do the "rock-back" along with it.

Kessy LOVES the "Poll Wiggle"

The first thing I do when I go to Kessy is ask her to put her head down for the halter. Horses should always lower their head for you. It is polite to you, and actually feels good to them. It is easy to teach, and if you are having any difficulties with this, please feel free to email me. At this time I do a few "Poll Wiggles." Lightly place your fingers around the Poll and wiggle, just enough that would jiggle a bowl of jello. Your horse may ask for more vigor, go for it.

Then while she stands ground tied, I do a row of TTOUCH® circles starting at the side of her neck in the thickest muscle, going all along her back about 2 inches down from the spine, through her croup and down her thigh muscles. Do both sides. It will take about a minute per side ... Kessy can come and go as she pleases and is usually outside for these, then we walk to the barn to brush and tack ... On the walk I do a serpentine path, good for their legs and back. If you've trailered to ride, before you tie to tack, take a short walk doing the serpentine walk. Horses really appreciate a little walk after a ride.

Belly Lift

When we get to the barn I lift each leg, about halfway up, hold it a second waiting for the release, and do little circles, then set it down. Don't just let go, set it down. Softly. Next I ask for the belly lift, hold it a few seconds and release, slowly. Then I'll saddle. Girth loose, not yet snug.

Before I put on her headstall I do the "Cheek Wiggle." Place your left hand on the noseband, slip your fingers of your right hand under her cheek, lightly grip and wiggle, gently. For a few seconds. Repeat on the other side. Then the headstall goes on and I check the girth, then do the "one step" and "rock back."

On the way to the mounting block I ask for a few circles, left and right, at a walk and "keeping the inside shoulder up (very important)." I finish the girth, move to the mounting block, and step up. One last important exercise. The first step should always be a "lateral step" not straight on.

A big benefit to doing these aside from the relaxing and bonding is, if you make these exercises positively routine, when you're away somewhere, and you stick to the routine your horse will have a familiar feeling. It will build confidence before you ever start on the trail, or step in the show ring. All together they'll add only a few moments to your tack up time, will be time well spent and you will be giving to your horse. You and your horse will soon be gently starting each ride with soft comfortable steps. These exercises also have a wonderful way of simply making "bad habits" just go away. For you and your horse.

Kessy and I hope you'll make this a fun part of your pre-ride. Feel free to ask questions. There are others, perhaps I'll blog later about them, but these are the ones I do without fail.

Gitty Up,

Dutch Henry 

"Reconnecting Your Horse To Her Feet"

Howdy Folks,

This weekend I had the joy of chatting with a Facebook friend in England about her horse. Of course we had lots to talk about. You know how we horse people are! We discussed a few things going on with her and her new horse and one in particular. Does your horse know where her feet are?

Reconnecting your horse to her feet. They know all about forward momentum. They see and know where they are going, but because of many things we do, from training, to housing, diet, hoofcare, and other things, they can actually lose the ability to know where their feet are. This will help.

I'd like to share an important exercise Diane Sept taught me years ago, that I believe goes a long, long way to helping any horse become sure footed and light on the forehand. It promotes a proper healthy posture … She calls it the, "One-Step." And I teach it in my, "Therapy For Therapy Horses," clinics. It's easy and fun to do.

Stand in front of your horse and ask for, "One Step Forward," – This means the left front and right hind, and a soft whoa. When your horse stops, ask her to, "Rock Back Off Her Forehand." And allow her to feel and process this. Then ask for, "One Step Back," the same feet and then rock back, wait and process. Do this 3 or 4 times each side, always asking for the "Rock Back" and allowing time to process. Some horses prefer to start with "One Step Back," first … I never swing into Kessy's saddle without doing this (and other pre-ride exercises).

You might find your horse has great difficulty taking only "one Step." This is because she has lost connection with her feet. This little exercise will fix that. And will also help improve body carriage and engage the hind end. Just take your time, go slow and allow your horse to, "feel the change." Let her find her feet again.

Another great exercise to add to this "One Step" is the "One Step over a row of Cavileties." Lead your horse slowly over the cavileties, but pause and rock back, at each one, each step. Allow a second or three at each pause for your horse to process. It won't take long until you will notice a difference in how your horse places her feet. When you've mastered this, back through the cavileties, one step at a time.

Kessy & Dutch demonstrating "Rock Back"

What is the "Rock Back?" … Look at your horse from the side, really look. Study where she carries her weight. Does it look like she has most of her weight on her forehand? Leaning slightly forward? Very gently touch her chest and ask her to shift her weight back, off her forehand. That is correct healthy posture. Not a step back, but just a "Rock Back." Do this after every step in the "One Step Exercicses."

Kessy and I hope you'll make this fun exercise part of your routine. It also goes a long way to helping a horse look for soft cues. And helping us become softer in giving cues.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry