EquestrianHow2 » Training http://equestrianhow2.com Operating Instructions for Your Horse Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:19:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 How to get your horse long and low http://equestrianhow2.com/2012/01/14/how-to-get-your-horse-long-and-low/ http://equestrianhow2.com/2012/01/14/how-to-get-your-horse-long-and-low/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:13:43 +0000 admin http://equestrianhow2.com/?p=377 In many disciplines, riders use long and low as a way to encourage their horses to stretch down and engage their backs. When done properly, this helps relax the horse, encourage more “swing” to its stride, and improves suppleness. The problem is, too many riders focus on head position and not enough think about [...]]]>

riding long and lowIn many disciplines, riders use long and low as a way to encourage their horses to stretch down and engage their backs. When done properly, this helps relax the horse, encourage more “swing” to its stride, and improves suppleness. The problem is, too many riders focus on head position and not enough think about engaging the horse’s hind end, riding the energy forward and asking their horse to lift his back by engaging his abdominal muscles. When you ride from the back to the front of the horse, you achieve the full stretch and have a horse that is balanced and light on its forehand.

Long and low happens when you have your horse on the bit and then you encourage him to stretch forward and down by moving your hands forward. The horse follows the contact into the stretch without becoming heavy (on the forehand). Contact must come first, then the stretch. Ideally, the horse’s poll should be no higher than its withers and your horse should feel like it is in arc — it’s head and neck are low, it’s back is rising up to meet the rider, and it’s haunches are lowered and stepping under its body.

Video demonstration of how to ride your horse long and low

The video below gives a very clear explanation and demonstration of how to get your horse to use it’s back and encourage it to stretch.

]]> http://equestrianhow2.com/2012/01/14/how-to-get-your-horse-long-and-low/feed/ 0 How to bridge your reins. http://equestrianhow2.com/2009/11/05/how-to-bridge-your-reins/ http://equestrianhow2.com/2009/11/05/how-to-bridge-your-reins/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:13:46 +0000 admin http://equestrianhow2.com/?p=65 “Bridging” your reins is a way for riders to maintain a steady contact with their horse’s mouth when riding.

It keeps the rider from fussing with their horse’s mouth, from inadvertently pulling back, or from having the reins pulled through their fingers by a horse that pulls. It’s also a helpful technique to know when [...]]]>

Bridging your reins is a useful technique.

Bridging your reins is a useful technique

“Bridging” your reins is a way for riders to maintain a steady contact with their horse’s mouth when riding.

It keeps the rider from fussing with their horse’s mouth, from inadvertently pulling back, or from having the reins pulled through their fingers by a horse that pulls. It’s also a helpful technique to know when you’re hacking out and need to hold your reins in one hand.

Instructions:

  • Hold your reins so that you have light contact when your hands are 4-6″ in front of your horse’s withers.
  • Take the “bite” of the rein from one hand and cross it over the horse’s neck so the reins are stacked on top of each other.
  • Grab the stacked reins with both hands.
  • Hold the doubled “bridge” of reins on either side of the horse’s neck.
  • Press down on your horse’s neck to remove any slack.
  • Hold the bridge approximately where the neck strap of a martingale or breastplate would be located.

Tips

Some trainers suggest that students tie a knot in their reins and hold at that point. This also helps you keep a steady contact but it does not allow you to easily slip the reins when needed.

Hooking your index finger through your breastplate can also help stabilize your hands and keep you from pulling (or being pulled).

You can buy reins that come with a bridging attachment such as the “4-Star Bridging Reins“.

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