Some horses are hard to get going and really easy to stop. Others are easy to get going but just keep on going when you want to quit. Finding the balance is the key and is also the first step toward true impulsion. As with all things, this too begins on the ground.
In coming articles, we will take a close look at impulsion, what it is, why it’s so important and how to get it. For now, we can safely say that a horse that needs a high phase to get going when doing the 3 Basic Skills on the ground, will probably be the same when you ride. The same can be said of a horse that is very light in the yields but is hard to stop. They’ll more than likely be just the same as a ridden horse.
Now that we are looking for greater positive reflexes and asking a little more, horses that were a bit dull in Level 1 will start to lighten up. One important factor to remember with these horses is that if you feel like you are working too hard … you probably are.
A positive reflex should be light. In your contact yields for example, if you feel that you have gone to phase 2 with your contact, rather than getting harder with your phases, try adding in rhythmic pressure lightly as well. Keep the contact there also or you will have changed the task, but don’t go any higher than phase 2 with the contact….let your rhythmic pressure be phases 3 and 4. As soon as your horse yields, go back to phase 1 with your contact and then quit while he is still light. Good timing is imperative. Remember, it’s the release that teaches the horse, so the last thing you do will be what he learns, so make sure you finish with a light phase not a heavy one or by taking the pressure away all together. This will only reinforce escaping from the yield. If you do this consistently, your horse will get lighter and lighter. If you keep on just pushing on him, he will get more and more dull.
If you have a more reactionary horse, one with more go than whoa, you may need to slow down a little. If you rush and try to keep up with him when you ask for a yield, he’ll just keep getting faster and faster and you’ll find yourself running to try to keep up. Just ask for a step or two and quit and rub him as soon as he tries. Comfort will work for you here. Teach your horse to stay with your hand by rubbing him and establishing comfort each time he tries. Before long he’ll put effort into staying with you in all yields.
Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.
- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.