Relaxation Vs. Tension
In the
previous articles, we have discussed the correct way to ride in order to
effectively and gently control the horse. Yet, when things go wrong, we
cannot always accuse the rider of faulty riding; horses do have bad days
too!
When
looking at the average riding school, how many horses do we see are
avoided as rides for novices? Possibly about half the horses will be
considered 'flighty' or 'excitable', therefore not suitable for beginners.
What does a horse do when he's excited? He bucks, rears, gallops, kicks,
etc. These are all signs of anxiousness. An anxious horse is not a focused
horse. No matter what you do to 'kick the horse into obedience' you will
be unable to achieve much success because the horse is simply not
listening. His muscles have contracted, his pulse is racing, and his mind
is set.
The best
way to get the horse under control is to relax him, physically and
mentally. To begin with, you must remain relaxed, physically and mentally,
as well, otherwise your anxiousness will seep into the horse. Once a horse
is relaxed, he will become balanced, focused, and will present a pleasant
and successful ride.
The
Anatomy of Relaxation
If you
watch a horse grazing, you will notice that he swishes his tail casually,
carries his ears calmly, turning them occasionally, and walks around
lazily. Beyond your vision, his pulse and respiration rate will be low. In
the grazing position, the horse's neck and back muscles are stretched and
his abdominal muscles are contracted. This is called the
antagonistic muscle group, or the relaxation
group.
If the
horse is startled, his neck and back muscles tense and contract.
"Immediately, all their neck and back muscles go into extension, in
readiness for action. They lift their heads, extend their necks and backs,
their tails stand up and they erupt into a stiff-legged trot."
Karen
Blignault, "Successful Schooling".
Long and Low
The Long
and Low method is commonly used to relax the horse and supple his muscles.
It can be described as riding the horse on a long rein, allowing him to
stretch his neck and lower his head, while engaging his hind legs into a
balanced and rhythmic pace. Benefits of riding Long & Low for the horse
are as follows:
-
It
develops the abdominal and hip muscles, which strengthens the back.
-
Produces
submission as the horse's field of vision becomes minimal, thereby
avoiding a startle.
-
The
horse's strides become longer and more elevated as his hindquarters
become more engaged to maintain his balance.
-
Produces
longitudinal suppleness because the horse's back is raised and
stretched.
-
Allows
the horse to gain independence from the reins and carry his own weight
rather than depend on the rider's hands.
-
Relaxes
the horse mentally and physically.
-
Develops
the horse's sense of balance.
Achieving Long & Low
While in
walk, ask the horse to stretch his neck down by sponging the reins.
'Sponging' refers tightening your fist around the reins, then relaxing
them. It does not mean pulling against the horse's mouth, since this will
cause resistance. When the horse reacts by lowering his neck, release the
pressure immediately, as this will act as reward. So sponge the reins
alternatively, allow the horse to stretch lower, then sponge again, and
the horse should lower his head further more.
The desired
effect should be as follows: The angle between the base of the neck and
the chest of the horse will decrease, while the angle between the horse's
head and the neck should remain constant. In other words, the horse should
lower his head and neck by rotating from the base of the neck. Keep the
contact with his mouth as light as possible to encourage him to carry
himself.
Once you
and the horse are secure in the walk, gently urge the horse into trot.
There might be a tendency for the horse to raise his head during the
transition. To eliminate the possibility, continue to softly sponge the
reins to let him know that there will be no changes in position.
 |
Refer to the photo left
to help you see the desired effect:-
1 - The reins are sponged
gently and the horse lowers his head.
2- Notice the
engagement of the hind quarters. The horse should be stepping forward
with impulsion.
3- The horse's back
is raised, which allows him to engage his hind quarters and support
his balance
Note: Horse must be
kept active and engaged so that he does not fall on the forehand. |
Trot him on
a 20m circle without allowing him to lean on your hands. His pace should
be kept slow and balanced. Rushing is caused by nervousness, which you are
currently trying to demolish. Keep him in a manageable trot until he has
balanced himself. After he has become used to carrying his own weight, you
can drive him energetically forward so that he trots with a swinging back.
When that is established (whether in one session or after a series of
fifty), urge the horse into canter. Again, let the pace be lazy rather
than hurried until the horse finds his balance. Remember to adopt a very
light contact.
Ideally,
the horse's poll should not be higher than the withers. Give the horse a
chance to experience some independence while positively affecting his
muscles. The good news is that it's easier than it sounds! You will notice
a difference from your first experience with Long & Low. You can use this
technique to calm a nervous horse or to strengthen and supple his muscles.
Eventually, you could spend the first 10 minutes of your riding sessions
with a period of Long & Low exercise.
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