Working from behind. ;)

T

tillytime

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Hi all, another question (sorry :o)

Can anyone explain how I can feel if the horse is working from behind please? I can tell when the Trot / Canter feels faster and / or smoother but can't fingure out what it would feel like to be working through their back!

Also, How do I encourage my horse to work like this?

As a side line, any recommendations for good, interesting jumping books (at a mediumish level) I'm just getting into jumping doing about 3' singles (no space for any more) the horse can easily jump 5'+ with a good rider!!! :)

Thank you all so much for the great advise I've receive! :)
 
when a horse is working from behind youl feel it engage and take more of its weight onto its hindquarters also u should feel its back legs stepping underneath itself lots of transition and lateral work help with engagemnt :):)
 
What does it mean to feel the horse engage?

Is that when it feels like they are responding to what I'm asking?

I'm sorry I come across real ditsy, I'm rubbish at knowing what the terminology is and also what is actually happening with the horse (just whether is feels right / good or not) :confused:
 
From my experience you can often feel the horse round over its back (kind of lift his back a little?) and also everything becomes rather springier, esp in the trot you can really feel yourself and the horse swinging along, and you can feel the power of the canter. Every horse or pony I have had has been rather forward going so not sure this description would apply to one that isn't so.
 
It kind of feels like the horse is pushing itself along as opposed to pulling. When the hocks are underneath and the horse is using itself, it should feel soft and light in your hand - they should be working from your inside leg into the outside rein. My horse is getting better at using her hocks and working through her back, we do loads of transitions, leg yielding, turn on the forehand, spirals and rein back. When she starts to use herself properly esp in rein back and quarters in, I can feel her hindquarters sink slightly. Do you have an instructor? Mine has helped me massively, porridge is a different horse - and my ability to ride her has improved no end since starting regular lessons 18 months or so ago :)
 
for me, I know it's happening when she is doing more work than me! It's not necessarily a feeling of going faster, just bigger, ground covering steps. And if you give the rein she just keeps going in the same rhythm and outline. A great feeling on the rare occasions we achieve it. They should also be over tracking with the hind leg (I think - could be wrong, no doubt someone will correct me) - ask someone on the ground to see if your horse's hind hoof lands in front of where the front hoof landed.
 
If a horse is working correctly from behind it shouldn't be on the forehand. The steps will feel bigger, spending more time in the air. This doesn't mean faster!

You should feel as though your horse could do anything you ask the moment you ask it.
 
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