| Bend and balance are fundamental to a horse's | | | | will then be instructed to pick up the horse's front |
| sense of security and safety because they affect | | | | end by lifting the inside rein to "support his |
| his ability to protect himself from danger. If he is | | | | shoulder" through the turn or to take more |
| unable to run away from danger, the horse uses | | | | outside rein to block the drifting shoulder. Now the |
| his energy to move into and unbalance his | | | | rider is trying to fix what she has caused! |
| attacker by pushing into the push. The horse only | | | | Ideally, we want to develop a soft, supple horse |
| willingly yields his body to another horse or person | | | | that is willing and able to bend around the slightest |
| that has gained his respect through trust. | | | | suggestion from the rider's leg or inside seat bone. |
| Surrendering control of the body is a huge deal to | | | | We must start by asking why the horse resisted |
| the horse. | | | | the bend in the first place. The resistance must |
| True bend comes from the horse moving his | | | | be resolved in order for the horse to give the |
| barrel away from the pressure of the inside leg | | | | bend. Is the rider out of balance or alignment with |
| and seat bone. With a true bend, the neck flexes | | | | the horse? Is the horse afraid of something (e.g. |
| naturally as the nose turns slightly into the turn. | | | | the "spooky" corner of the arena)? Is the horse |
| There is alignment through the spine from the | | | | not respecting the rider's aid because the rider |
| nose to the tail without any crookedness or kinks. | | | | has not earned that level of respect? |
| Picture the water flowing through a garden hose | | | | To develop true bend in the saddle, the rider |
| that is gently curved. Then picture how the flow | | | | works with whichever bend the horse takes. For |
| of water is slowed by a bend or a kink being put | | | | example, if the horse counter bends through a |
| into the hose. The horse's forward energy is | | | | corner, rather than insisting the horse change his |
| affected the same way as the water - if can | | | | bend the rider uses the counter bend to leg yield. |
| flow freely with bend, but is jammed up with | | | | This exercise requires the rider to tune into the |
| crookedness. | | | | horse and follow the natural motion of the horse's |
| So often, coaches tell their students to "teach | | | | gait. She temporarily gives up asking for control |
| your horse to respect your leg". They encourage | | | | of the bend to gain trust. By working with the |
| their riders to kick, use spurs and hit with whips | | | | horse's motion and bend instead of against it, the |
| to get that "respect". Using "more inside leg" or | | | | rider helps the horse to improve the natural bend. |
| adding spurs and whips against the side of a | | | | This action enhances the physiological benefits of |
| counter-bent horse simply creates more stress | | | | smooth, balanced motion. As the horse feels |
| that manifests in resistance, a hollow back, | | | | physically more balanced, his levels of fear and |
| inverted spine and a high head that is creating | | | | stress are decreased. As the rider aids rather |
| adrenaline and, therefore, more stress. A | | | | than dominates the horse, she earns the horse's |
| consistently good and strong rider can get results | | | | trust and respect and develops leadership. |
| through these "bullying" methods with some | | | | Following the horse's bend is a transitional exercise |
| horses, but the horse will be a sullen, nervous or | | | | that works the mind, body and spirit of the horse. |
| angry horse rather than willing, calm and relaxed | | | | It earns the rider emotional authority to |
| one. A lesser rider will end up pulling on the inside | | | | realistically ask the horse to give the rider control |
| rein to turn the horse in the direction of the | | | | of its barrel. Once this level of authority has been |
| desired bend. But, the rest of the horse's body will | | | | earned, the horse will willingly follow the rider's aids |
| be crooked. The shoulder or hip will be out of | | | | and can be the soft, supple horse the rider |
| alignment - either falling into or drifting out of the | | | | desires. |
| turn - and the horse will be unbalanced. The rider | | | | |