using back end/engaging hindquarters - explain please!!!

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eatonbraynat

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We hear this all ther time, we are supposed to ride our horses with their back end engaged and underneath them. But, no one ever explains exactly how to do this???? Do i need both my legs on or just inside leg?? And when they say put leg on does that mean hold it there and apply pressure or use it on off on off?? If i am told more leg do i just apply more pressure? Or do my on offs harder/faster?? And finally how can i tell if i have successfully got my horse to use his back end as needed??

Any help greatfully recieved????
 
I got someone to tell me! :o Well, during a lesson. The instructor said there was only one point when I'd gotten the horse into the right shape, and engaged his hindquarters properly, and that I should have known this because this is when the horse flexed its neck and had its head in the correct position (that's my poor paraphrase of her wisdom there).

Makes a change the German club I went to, where the horses all wore "triangle reins" and had their heads bowed the whole time, no matter what state their quarters.
 
SusannaF said:
Makes a change the German club I went to, where the horses all wore "triangle reins" and had their heads bowed the whole time, no matter what state their quarters.
Click to expand...

My German instructor when I lived there had me use triangle reins (dreick zuegel) on Pablo.
 
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My RI describes it as 'more heels into hand'. You need to apply both legs, to drive the horse forward into your rein contact, and allow the horse to move forward with your seat. It doesn't mean going faster - if you don't have a contact, any energy & impulsion you create from behind will just run straight out through the front.

I find that riding lots of transitions can help to create forwardness & engage the quarters, and lift your horse off the forehand. Lateral work can also help to get your horse using their quarters and stepping under and through. It should feel like your horse is powering along from behind, rather than dragging themselves along from the front.

It is a lovely feeling when you get it, and your horses lifts through their back and *swings* along. I'm no expert by any means, but hope this helps a little! ;)
 
The best and only way i have found to get a horses back up is to allow it by sitting in the correct place at the correct time and being incredibly strong in your core so you are easy (and a delight) to carry. If you can read any of mary wanless' books, then in my opinion, she offers the most logical explanation of this.

I also think that riding them 'seat to hand' or 'creating impulsion and containing it in the reins' is open to a lot of misinterpretation and bad riding. A lot of 'outlines' :rolleyes: can be achieved by various means but when you look at the horses back it isn't up, and thats where it needs to start from.

Haven't had too much time to look for the best article from her, but this one has some interesting points...

http://www.mary-wanless.com/What-is-dressage.html

Hope that helps

Trina x
 
I was told to use leg to get the horse forward but slow the front end down so th back end can catch up. I did this by putting both legs on amount of pressure applied depends on the horse and by using my seat I kind of tuck my bum underneath me (if this makes much sense) my instructor said its kind of like having a front wedgie but without collapsing at the core or hollowing the back.

Then when ever it is needed I would half halt so if the horse felt it was running from my legs I would give a half halt. If the horse was really running on I would imagine doing a piaffe or 2 steps on the spot for a about 4 seconds and really bring the horse back but keep the impulsion but if the horse really tries to take the pee and go off I may do the 2 steps on the spot at every letter.

Hope this helps its easier to show to someone then to type :p
 
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