As we delve into the last part of Level 3, we will be concentrating on Contact Riding, with two short reins and soft feel. It will be particularly important that our hands and reins are only used for refinement and accuracy of communication with our horses via the bit and not for control. Go, whoa, left, right and sideways will all come from our seat and focus. Doing stick riding will offer the perfect opportunity to ensure that we have all of our ingredients firmly in place, that our confidence levels are high and that our horses are soft and responding willingly to our yields.
To date we haven’t done a lot of riding with our Sticks, mainly using them for groundwork and to support our leg yields when riding. They are an ideal and effective phase when applying rhythmic pressure with consistency, to soften, lighten and support leg yields to make sure we do not just push harder causing opposition reflex.
At this point we will use our sticks to isolate rein positions and footfalls; to learn to use our bodies and focus more accurately without being able to disguise the yields with our reins; to move our horses in all six directions; ride circles; upward and downward transitions from all gaits; simple lead changes; flying lead changes and jumping! In fact, we encourage you use your sticks as much as possible. You will improve your balance, confidence and your horse’s responsiveness to your legs and focus very quickly by doing so. You might even take your sticks when you trail ride!
Use your two-stick riding to improve your stops, turns and transitions at all gaits so that your horse is primarily listening to your seat. This will ensure that you are leaving his mouth alone in your Contact Riding, saving your bit for refinement and accuracy of communication.
Successful Contact Riding and bridle-less riding is all about trust, respect and taking the time to create a mutual connection. As an inter-species relationship, especially with the human desire to be in control, it is easy for us to want to dominate and make our horses take our suggestion. Because of their nature and willingness to please, horses will often allow us to do just that, all be it with a sour taste in their mouths.
Like us, given half a chance, horses will respond positively to trust and go out of their way to please us rather than oppose us. It is only when we believe that our ideas are more important than their needs that we begin to cause opposition. Have you ever had a boss or teacher who showed you trust? Didn’t you also wish to do better for that person to prove their trust was warranted?
Now is the time to put our preparations to the test and give our horses the chance to show that they are a willing part of this team. Riding with two sticks will keep the relationship honest as you have no reins to hide behind and your horse has plenty of options. Here then is your opportunity to create an even closer relationship with your horse and hone your skills.
Read More Road To Horsemanship articles.
- By Meredith Ransley, Quantum Savvy.