horsemad32
Well-Known Member
I've been taught one way (which concurs with all the dressage books I've read), yet two friends have been taught another. They're adamant they're right, as that is what their instructors have said.
What I was taught:
1) Impulsion first, going forward in a rhythm.
2) Take a contact and ride forwards into it. Contact needs to be such that if they lower their head onto the bit, it is comfortable and light (yet never a loop in the rein), if they raise their head it's stronger. Nudges with leg encourage horse to go forward and to lower the head.
3) If they lock their jaw against you, little twiddles with the fingers to loosen the jaw, get them chewing and thus get the lowering and submission.
4) Once head is down, keep a steady light contact. If it's too light, or hands unsteady, or too heavy, head will pop up again.
Obv with a trained horse you just ride forwards into a contact and they lower their head - my two do anyway! They will then follow the contact down to stretch, or collect/extend etc as a result of you altering how much there is.
The way they were taught:
1) Niggle at the jaw with alternate reins back and forth, no steady contact needed. Head goes down.
2) Every time head comes back up, back and forth with the reins again, so in theory get head down with an almost non-existent contact.
In practice from what I can see, hands always moving, head only kept there by constant reminders from the hands. Often loops in reins.
What I was taught:
1) Impulsion first, going forward in a rhythm.
2) Take a contact and ride forwards into it. Contact needs to be such that if they lower their head onto the bit, it is comfortable and light (yet never a loop in the rein), if they raise their head it's stronger. Nudges with leg encourage horse to go forward and to lower the head.
3) If they lock their jaw against you, little twiddles with the fingers to loosen the jaw, get them chewing and thus get the lowering and submission.
4) Once head is down, keep a steady light contact. If it's too light, or hands unsteady, or too heavy, head will pop up again.
Obv with a trained horse you just ride forwards into a contact and they lower their head - my two do anyway! They will then follow the contact down to stretch, or collect/extend etc as a result of you altering how much there is.
The way they were taught:
1) Niggle at the jaw with alternate reins back and forth, no steady contact needed. Head goes down.
2) Every time head comes back up, back and forth with the reins again, so in theory get head down with an almost non-existent contact.
In practice from what I can see, hands always moving, head only kept there by constant reminders from the hands. Often loops in reins.