As you progress through the levels your horse may try to wriggle out of work by cheating or throwing a few extra things into the mix for fun. You need to give yourself the time and chance to work out why things don’t always go to plan, and support can help, providing you the (brain) space to process it all.
How many of us have got upset with a horse, then when our instructor gets on the horse performs as it should?
Lots to think of here..!
Teaching a horse to bring the shoulders off the track, whilst keeping the hind quarters travelling straight on the track.
The horse should be supple and needs to start taking more weight behind, allowing the shoulders more mobility and lightness. The rider needs to understand the feel of fluidity and steering.
Transferring In-Hand to Ridden: The rider must understand where they need to be positioned in order to set the horse up for the best results. The whip is used just behind the riders inside leg while the leg aids are introduced, at which point the whip aid is not needed.
The quarters stay on the track while the forelegs shift to inside and the bend is opposite to Shoulder-In.
The rider's seat and leg aids stay the same, but the contact changes asking for a new inside flexion to lighten the shoulder.
Great for suppleness and lightening the body especially the shoulders when a horse gets a little stuck/ solid in flexion.
Teaching the horse to travel with its forehand straight on the track, and its hind quarters on an inner track (i.e. moving on four tracks).
Transferring In-Hand to Ridden The rider needs to control the forehand though their body, and introduce one leg behind the girth in addition to their whip on the horse quarters. The horse is asked to step his quarters in away from the aids. Once the horse associates the leg aid with the request, the rider is able to simply ask the horse with their body without needing the whip.
Teaching the horse to step forward and sideways, with an inside flexion.
Transferring In-Hand to Ridden: The horse and rider should understand yield and how to move the forehand and quarters.
To get the best from this movement the rider needs to be in good alignment and balance with an understanding of diagonal flow and where their seat bones should be.
The whip can be used on the shoulder or quarters if you require to back up the rider’s body aids. With correct biomechanics a rider can control the movement with the lightest of leg and hand if required.
Training the horse to step its quarters around on a small circle, while the forehand steps around on a slightly larger circle.
Transferring In-Hand to Ridden: By now, the horse should understand the aids. Rider alignment and Biomechanics here are key. This requires correct, even weight, along with a good feel for turning the forehand and keeping connected to the quarters and understanding flow.
In Series 1 I hope I have given you a fun yet simple insight into how In-Hand can help.
In Series 2 When the In-Hand work is transferred to ridden, and coupled with correct rider alignment and biomechanics, anything is possible!!
Support to help you understand, along with brain space and patience are key!