Foundation of the Spin
The key to a good spin is collection, as it is with every reining maneuver. Come to think of it, almost every
thing a horse does in any type of performance is, at the very least, enhanced by collection. Once a horse
understands walk, trot, lope, and then to give his face the collection process begins.
Start at the walk. You want a few things from your horse here -- you want him to give nicely in his chin, pole,
neck, and shoulders. You want him to pick up his front feet easily and put them down softly. Also, he should
round his back and soften his rib cage, and take a bigger step with his hind quarters. Do not allow your
horse to lean. They must keep in a straight line or the arc of a circle. You may arc your horse in either
direction going both directions. This sounds like a lot, but once you feel it you will know it. Until then, take
once piece at a time.
Starting at his mouth, work your way back until you get all of it at the same time. Reward him for every effort
to yield each piece by releasing your contact at the hand or leg, then ask again. Ask him to hold that
position longer until he can hold it collected for an extended length of time. Then get the same thing at a
trot. This is where they really start to learn that the trot lengthens their stride and begins the cadence for a
great spin.
The step for a spin, including a cross over step in the front and a pivot foot behind, is not as complicated as
you may think. As part of the previous exercises explained, you will spend hours in a tight circle working to
keep your collection from that circle. Remember to go both directions. Keeping your horse's stride engaged
(forward motion), begin to spiral your horse down in patient increments. Don't force it. Let him find his foot
fall. If you keep the forward motion and collection, he will slowly (sometimes quickly) learn the spin.
Now, that said, keep your priorities right. The pivot foot that everyone wants is the last thing to worry about.
Of course, it is cool to see a horse "drill a hole to china" with one foot. However, the actual part that allows
that to happen is the collection and cadence with the front end. The reach with the inside front foot is very
important. I always tell people, "if you can see the inside front foot when he is crossing over, it's in the wrong
place".
So what is the right place? You want the inside front foot to disappear under your stirrup, to be followed by
a comfortable step with the outside front foot without any hesitation, hop, or bobble. If a mishap happens,
90% of the time your collection or forward motion is not right, yet. Go back to the trot and "re-engage" the
entire body -- chin, pole, neck, shoulders, rib cage, hind quarters -- and try again.
Here is an exercise that you can do to help put the inside front foot under your stirrup. It will help you refine
your feel for your horse at the same time. Start at a walk with correct forward motion and collection. Begin
to feel the foot fall of your horse's front feet. Ask him to stop, then back up. Again, with collection, feel the
front feet. Now comes the hard part. As the desired foot is about to come off of the ground ask for a pivot
of 180 degrees in the same direction. It is important to not let your horse stop to make this turn. If he tries
to stop, continue backing and repeat until he backs collected on his hocks and rotates around placing that
front foot under your stirrup. Then go back to your circle and repeat the spiral exercise. You will be amazed
the first time that you feel it all happen together. It's almost a drug. Enjoy!