Mince Pie
Well-Known Member
Am interested in doing some in hand work with my horse but have no idea where to start. He has the basics but I'd like to start doing some lateral work with him when I don't have time to ride over the winter 
In hand work - where to start?
- Thread starter Mince Pie
- Start date
Lexiemoo
Well-Known Member
I started doing some inhand work with my youngster with a view to building up the correct muscles before I get on her next year.
I started with turn on the forehand, getting her to move away from pressure on her side, then gradually started doing this at walk. I was really only looking for her to move away a couple of steps and build on that.
She will now leg yield on both reins for a few steps with the whip pressing where my leg would be.
To start the in hand work, you ideally need to be at the horses shoulder, with the outside rein over his neck just in front of his withers, and the inside rein shorter. The whip would be carried in the hand that is holding the outside neck.
I used this book "Schooling Exercises in Hand: Working Towards Suppleness and Confidence" to get me started, and as a referral guide.
Hope this helps!
I started with turn on the forehand, getting her to move away from pressure on her side, then gradually started doing this at walk. I was really only looking for her to move away a couple of steps and build on that.
She will now leg yield on both reins for a few steps with the whip pressing where my leg would be.
To start the in hand work, you ideally need to be at the horses shoulder, with the outside rein over his neck just in front of his withers, and the inside rein shorter. The whip would be carried in the hand that is holding the outside neck.
I used this book "Schooling Exercises in Hand: Working Towards Suppleness and Confidence" to get me started, and as a referral guide.
Hope this helps!
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
There are some great books on the subject. I don't think you necessarily *need* a book to do the most simple stuff but it's very useful to have a reference and an idea of what you're working towards.
stencilface
High upon a hillside
When I was long reining mine for rehab I had a long reining lesson with a classical instructor and it was really good. We did a mix of long reining and more close working in hand stuff, totally worth it to give me an idea of what I was doing
Mince Pie
Well-Known Member
Ideally I'd like to start getting him to leg yield, shoulder in and if at all possible quarters in (bending in the direction of travel so travers?).
He can already do turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches