Forward Motion From The Saddle
The number one ingredient in any riding horse should be forward motion. I always seem to be telling people "you
can't control motion unless you have motion". That sounds like something simple and for some horses it is.
However, for many riders and horses it is not so simple.
When I think of forward motion, I am also thinking about collection. Collection is not a nice head set. We have all
heard about driving a horse up from behind, but many people don't know what that truly means. It simply means a
nice combination of both.
So what do we work on first? Most of the real control for a horse, is done from the hind quarter. I want to be able
to take hold of a horse's face and squeeze with my legs. I want to lead every maneuver or action with the back feet.
Very seldom does that happen on a young or green horse. It is difficult for him to give his face and go forward at
the same time. Most horses will always fight the bit. So forward motion has to be first.
I start by trotting. The only thing I will do with the reins is steer left and right. Remember to keep away from the
fences so you, not the arena, are steering the horse. Just trot. It is important to keep him at a trot and not to slow
down, this will keep his hind quarters engaged. If you ever squeeze with your legs and you feel your horse slow
down, even just a little bit, you are losing collection. Keep squeezing. If that doesn't work, you will have to kick a
little harder. Get him back to a trot.
Be especially careful not to let him slow or try to stop while you are turning him. Some horses will react the
opposite in this situation. Keeping them from loping is hard enough and when you try to turn him he might step to a
lope. Just quit squeezing and hold in a turn. It is much more effective to slow your horse by turning him rather
than pulling straight back. Your horse will be less willing to fight one rein than two.
As soon as he is trotting again leave the reins alone and just concentrate on keeping his hind quarters moving. The
more you practice this exercise, the more familiar your horse will become with the correct way to use his body. As
your horse becomes efficient at engaging his hind quarters, you can begin to add some face to it. This is not to be
confused with head set. I don't believe that head set is ever necessary. It usually takes away from a horse's natural
way of motion. What I look for instead, is a relaxed neck, pole, mouth, and eye. If you keep those things right the
rest of the body will follow. When you begin to add face to forward motion it is very important to use only one rein
at a time. Do not pull straight back with two reins. If you horse gives to this pulling at this stage it will only be an
accident and he won't continue to give. He doesn't really understand what is happening. By using only one rein
mixed with plenty of forward motion your horse will be able to absorb, more easily, how to relax his face and neck
while continuing to drive from behind.
When I am beginning this process, I start by walking a lot of small circles. Spend a few minutes going each
direction. Take the slack out of one rein and hold that pressure. Continue that forward motion. When your horse
makes an attempt to bend his neck or tip his nose the direction you are pulling, give the slack back as reward. When
he gets good at this exercise ask him to give his face for a few strides. Then a whole circle. By the time you can
walk several circles in both directions ask him to give straight back (gently pulling with both reins). Repeat the
exercise until he can give straight back easily. Remember to go back to one rein if he gets stubborn or confused.
Once he can do this very well at a walk go to a trot and repeat. Then to the lope and repeat. Take the necessary
time at each step. Don't be afraid to go back to something easier if your horse can't do what you are asking. If you
and your horse can walk, trot, lope, and turn with a relaxed front end and engaged hind quarters, you are well on
your way to good forward motion.
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