Have you ever known someone who can't help but talk too fast when he's nervous or excited? It's as if words keep tumbling out of his mouth, even if he doesn't have anything particular to say. Sometimes a similar thing happens with our horse when he gets all revved up. He's not talking with his mouth, but his body is tense and his feet seem to have to keep moving.
While we might like to tell the person or the horse to "stop," we can't because they probably can't, and because we don't want to destroy the relationship. Instead, we can direct their energy. In the case of the person, we can shape the conversation so he will gradually settle down. In the case of the horse, we can tell him where to put his feet, and get control of the "conversation" in that way.
Use changes of direction:
- For speed control. The horse has to slow down in order to change direction.
- For high-headedness. The horse normally lowers his head to balance through the turn.
- For balance. Frequent changes of direction teach a horse not to drift, lean or drop his shoulder through the turn.
This serpentine lesson - a series of "S" turns - will allow you to get control of a horse whose motor is running too fast. But this is not just a basic control exercise. If you work through the serpentine lesson, you'll also find that your horse is better balanced and that he carries his head at an appropriate elevation. This lesson is one of the foundations for any kind of a performance horse.
We're going to explain the lesson as if you were riding a well-controlled horse and beginning at the walk. Then we'll go on to tell you how to take the same lesson to more advanced work, or how to apply it to the horse you're having difficulty controlling. It's ideal to work through the lesson at the walk first, so you get the timing down. The most benefit for nearly any horse, though, will happen as you work at the trot.
The Basic Exercise
Put a snaffle bit on your horse, and use reins long enough that you can let them droop completely. Even if you normally ride with contact on both reins, for this exercise you'll be using one at a time.
Ride in a large area where you can change direction often. Start out by going in a large circle to the left. You're going to make big loops with your horse, turning to the left and right as if you were making a series of half-circles that are 15 to 30 feet in diameter.
- Ride your horse forward at the walk. When he is walking freely (when you don't have to urge him to keep going), you're ready to make your first loop. Allow your right rein to hang loose. Pick up the left rein and hold light tension on it until the horse turns his nose slightly to the left, ideally about 45 degrees. Slightly release the left rein when he turns his nose to the left. That tells him he did what you wanted, but you want something else, too.
- Look down at his left shoulder. If the horse steps a little to the left, following the direction of his nose, then release the left rein. Be sure to sit squarely in the saddle, no leaning into the turns.
- As the horse "follows his nose," allow him to walk freely. After a half circle, slide the rein through your hands so that you can ask for a curve to the right, using the right rein. Try to handle the rein smoothly and without hurrying. Remember that one rein should be drooping while you use the other.
- Continue making a series of left and right half-circles - big loops - first to the left, then to the right and back to the left again. The first few won't be pretty, but as you work with this, the horse will get the idea and the loops will smooth out. Anytime you feel the horse get stuck, move his hip.
- Do the same exercise at the trot. Try to get into a steady rhythm, and make the loops approximately the same size. You want big, sweeping turns.
Of course, it won't look smooth the first time. Here's how to deal with the variations that will occur.
If the horse's nose turns but he continues walking straight ahead, then use both legs to tell the horse to speed up slightly. Don't try to steer him using leg aids. (That wouldn't help him get more responsive to the bridle.) When the horse's shoulders begin to follow his nose direction for one or two steps, release the left rein.
If a little increase in speed didn't help, then you're going to use the "hips over" maneuver to align his body with his new nose position. Increase the pressure on the left rein, and hold it steady until the horse swings his hindquarters to the right (which will turn his whole body). Release the rein the moment you feel the hindquarters swing over, and tell the horse to continue walking.
If the horse turns his head too far to the left or down and back toward his shoulder, then you have to push his head forward without releasing pressure on his mouth in order to show him that's not what you wanted. It's a little tricky until you get the hang of it. Slide your left hand forward onto the upper part of the horse's neck, shortening your left rein as you go. Then use the rein to push the horse's neck, causing his head to face forward again (as you see John doing in the photo). The moment the horse's head faces forward, release the rein.
The next time you ask for a turn, use less rein pressure and try to release the rein the instant the horse begins to turn his head. That may help him get the idea that you only want a 45-degree turn. Even with that, some horses will think they're doing the right thing by turning their head way around to the side or tucking it down toward their shoulder. Don't scold the horse, but just reposition his head, release the rein and tell him to walk forward. It may take 15 or 20 times doing this before he understands you only want him to turn his head slightly.
