Rein back help

soulfull said:
Teaching my welsh mare to do rein back
She is nice and soft but moves hind legs a fraction before fores

What am I doing wrong?
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I also do a lot of ground work with back up - I was taught to use hands and voice finding the individual button for each horse, as I was out in America for a while, I find teaching the back up prior to the rein back useful. It would help you if you had someone on the ground to assist you or stand facing the wall and keeping the contact light make sure horse is relaxed and standing still and quietly,close your legs firmly but retain the contact evenly on both reins.

Gradually lighten your seat and lean a little forward so your weight is off your seat bones, without turning the horses neck either way close the fingers alternately on each rein in time with horses movement.
(the old way was to close your legs together round the horses side and ask the horse to go forward, and as horse goes moves forward he finds resistance in the reins not allowing him to go forward so backs up as your asking for impulsion but not allowing him to move one way so he moves the other)
Even if you don't get more than one stride at first, reward the horse by asking him to move immediately forward and return weight down onto seat bones.


I find its easier to show the movement with someone than try explain through a forum. Don't rush it and don't pull back on the reins, keep calm and ask for help on your yard if you can. Its harder if the horse has never done rein back than one who knows but the rider doesn't
 
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Thanks. That's exactly how I ask

Don't get me wrong it feels good nice and active It not until I watched the video back I can see the diagonal aren't quite timed right. Hind leg moves a fraction before fore leg
She feels soft and is straight
Could do with more lift in the limbs but presume this will come with time
 
Improve the activity of the steps prior to the halt, establish halt and ask for rein back while the horse still has the impulsion.

Be careful you aren't dropping the contact at the halt.

I use the traditional aids of riding forwards into a closed hand so that horse steps back.

For the person who finds their horse moving crookedly make sure you are using your legs evenly. If your horse starts to waver to the right, increase your right leg aid, if to the left then use the left leg.
 
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