Relaxation of the Jaw

[eahotson]

Does anyone else have a trainer that teaches this.?My old trainer did and when I bought my old boy he used to hang onto my hands.She sorted all of that out and said that if the jaw is not relaxed the horses body can't be relaxed, which, when you think about it is absolutely correct.

 

[Orangehorse]

This is true.

I did a taster weekend with Derek and Jo Clark who teach the Karl Phillipe way, from the Cadre Noir. Relaxation of the jaw is the first principle and we did quite a lot of on the ground work to start with. I must say that it was the first time that I felt that I and my horse were understanding each other and he did a lot of very good work that weekend. There were a few complications which meant that I didn't continue, a good part being that there wasn't a similar instructor in easy reach. But I said that if I ever had another horse that this is the way I would train it.

I think that ultimately which ever school/method/system are adopted, all Roads Lead to Rome. We all want to get to the same goal of having a light in hand, comfortable horse, collected horse.

The trouble seems to me is in interpretation of the theory and important things get forgotten along the way.

Its good to know that relaxation of the jaw is the first thing that your instructor teaches - so right.