Lateral Flexion Under Saddle (or, Bend Around and Say Hi, please…)
Goal: For the horse to softly bend their head and neck around when asked with the rein.
You and your horse should have already practiced this on the ground in the rope halter before attempting it under saddle using a bridle (see "Final Pre-Ride Preparations" for a review of lateral flexion on the ground). You will want to be sure your horse is competent on this exercise before proceeding to doing it from the saddle.
Rein Use
Before we make it any further into the riding exercises, it is important to talk about the appropriate use of the reins. In most cases, the reins are depended upon far too much and are used in a way that confuses communication and hinders movement in the horse.
In both groundwork and riding, we should be communicating with our horse through our body language predominately. Tools and aids may be used (i.e. the halter and leadrope or training stick when doing groundwork, or the rein and leg aids when in the saddle) to enhance our message, but it should be our body language that gives the strongest and clearest message.
With that said, the reins should be used as merely an aid through which we support the communication from our body when riding. Therefore as you learn to ride as a partner to your horse I will be asking you to use your reins in a way that may be new to you. It is important that you commit to this way of riding for a while as it is what will get you to be the kind of rider your horse desires to carry.
From hear on out you will hear me use the phrase 'riding on a loose rein." What that describes is holding the reins with just one hand directly in the center of the rein.
Riding on a loose rein promotes relaxation throughout the rider's body and encourages a balanced and independent seat as well. It is also a safer position to ride as it is easier to gain control of the horse in the event of an "Oh, no!" situation (more on this next week when you learn the emergency stop).
For you English riders, do not write off riding on a loose rein as a Western style of riding only. In fact, I believe that one of the biggest mistakes made in the English riding world is allowing the rider to have contact with the horses mouth, before developing balance and fluidity in their own body.
Learning to maintain balance and enable communication on a loose rein will greatly benefit Western and English riders alike. And will make the transition of riding with contact and collection a much easier and more pleasant experience for you both.
Instructions: To ask your horse to flex laterally, begin by holding the reins in a loose rein position. Lift the hand you are holding the reins with straight up in the air. This will take the slack out of the reins. Slide your other hand down one rein as far as it can comfortably go and begin closing your hand one finger at a time. Putting the pressure on progressively like this will teach your horse to respond to the lightest request possible.
Once you have hold of the rein, keep holding it as you pull your hand out and around until it rests on your thigh. This will encourage the horse to bring their nose around. With your hand firmly planted on your thigh, just wait until your horse softens their nose toward your foot. Once the horse brings his nose to your foot, release the rein, allowing the horse to have their head and neck back.
When a horse is learning to mentally and physically yield their head and neck, it is not uncommon for them to pull against the rein or move their feet in a circle as they search for the right answer. Do not take any more slack out of the rein, just wait with your hand steady against your leg until they tuck their nose down and in toward your foot. Only then should you release the rein.
Be sure to practice this on both sides. You will likely find that your horse is stiffer on one side than on the other. If so, flex them to their stiffer side twice as much as on their good side, to help your horse develop equality.
Learning how to stand still while being mounted and also during lateral flexion are very important skills for a 1,000 pound flight animal to learn. Now that you know the importance of standing still, next time we'll move on to movin' on.
About the author: Emily Johnson, owner of Mountain Rose Horsemanship Training, LLC, located in Broomfield, Colorado, is an accomplished horse professional with a passion for bringing horses and humans together through credible and approachable instruction.
Emily studied Equine Science at Colorado State University before spending the following years traveling, mentoring under many accomplished trainers nationwide, as she developed her own natural horsemanship style. Her training methods utilize a direct approach the horse naturally understands, which she combines with her knowledge of human learning to create the most effective environment for both.
Emily specializes in areas that include young or troubled horses, as well as horsemanship that emphasize the mind and behavior of the horse. Her instruction reflects her passion for equipping both horses and humans for success on their journey toward partnership. She may be contacted at mountainrosetraining@gmail.com.
