Is Your Horse Faking You Out? Or Is He Really Bending In Lateral Work?

Hi Guys,

In order for your lateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and half passes to be effective as collecting exercises, your horse must BEND.

Think of the following equation. Bend + Sideways = Engagement. (Engagement means the bending of joints. As your horse bends his hind legs, his croup lowers, and his forehand goes up–kind of like a seesaw or an airplane taking off.)

So here are some quick tips to help you determine if you're bending your horse correctly to get maximum benefit from your lateral work.

1. Shoulder-in–Look at the hindquarters. Are they parallel to the wall as if you're just riding straight down the track? If so, your horse is bending. If not, he's doing a leg-yield in shoulder-in position.

2. Haunches-in–Look at the forehand. It should look exactly the same as it does when you just go straight down the long side. If your horse's neck is more bent to the inside than that, you're fudging the bend. If his shoulders or front feet point out toward the wall, he’s just doing a leg yield in haunches-in position.

3. Half-pass–Half pass is just haunches-in on a diagonal line. So the same rules that apply in #2 above, apply for half passes. To check yourself, go straight across the diagonal as if you're just changing direction. Then ride haunches-in for 3 or 4 strides. Then go straight again. The critical point is when you straighten your horse. Ask yourself if your horse has to swivel his forehand around to get it back on the diagonal line. If he does, he isn't truly bending in the half pass.

A Happy Horse

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Comment by Jane Savoie on June 13, 2009 at 2:09pm: Hi Ann,
Thank you SOOOOOO much!! I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the Happy Horse lessons. And I very much appreciate you letting me know that my efforts aren't just ending up somewhere in cyberspace!! It's notes and posts from people like you that keep me going! :-)

Comment by Ann Crago on June 13, 2009 at 11:29am: ...just a quick response to your "Happy Horse" course selling out....I got my copy 2 weeks ago....just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying it ...I find it very nicely done , simple to understand and very friendly...like you ARE my coach of many years....I will be referring to it MANY dozens of times for refreshers and when I feel like trying something more advanced just to give it a try !!! Thanks Much...it is well worth the money..... and keep the blogs coming...I and I'm sure MANY others appreciate the time it takes for you to write for us...it is not going to waste...I'm sure there are many like myself...who either don't like the "lesson"route either because there are no good instructors in the area...or worse yet there are instructors but they are not too wonderful to work with...I like figuring things out in private so your course suits me to a T.......thanks much...Ann

Comment by Ann Crago on June 13, 2009 at 11:15am: ...Thanks Jane...LOVE these little "look-sees" that we can do even if we are riding all alone !!!!

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