Riding without a bit by Josepha Guillaume

Author:Josepha Guillaume
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783840469251
Publisher: Cadmos Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Basic lesson: Rein back

The rein back is a very important exercise amongst all the gymnastic exercises. As with all the other exercises, it is only of benefit when done correctly.

When the rein back is performed correctly, the horse will tip back its pelvis and all the vital joints in the hind legs will be bent. This means that, when you back a horse using the correct aids you are training the same muscles and joints that are required for collection. A horse that cannot step back correctly will also be unable to collect correctly, and a horse that has not (yet) been taught to rein back will have difficulty showing any true collection.

THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE:

Start teaching your horse this exercise from the ground. Stand up straight in front of your horse and use hand signals or the reins to get it to hold its head straight and ideally slightly in flexion. Line your hip bones up with your horse's shoulders and move towards your horse, keeping your back straight and pushing your stomach forwards. As soon as your horse even slightly moves back, reward it with your voice or a treat. If the horse doesn't immediately move back, touch it on the chest with your hand and exert a light pressure. If the horse moves his weight back, remove the pressure straight away. If you horse steps back willingly and easily then it will also be stepping back with collection.

A very good additional exercise that you can add onto the rein back, is to ask the horse to step forwards out of the collected outline that the rein back has created. This repetition of taking a few steps back and a few steps forward is a very old exercise called the "see-saw". It is one of the basic exercises that is done in-hand and under saddle to develop collection and to prepare for collected movements such as the Piaffe.

Once the horse has mastered the rein back in-hand, you can also practice it from the saddle. Ask your horse to come to a halt and give slightly with the reins.

It is important that you restrict the forwards movement with only light pressure from the reins if the horse does try to walk forwards, but the reins should be held lightly without totally giving up the contact once the horse is standing still. Move your upper body slightly forwards while moving your legs back a bit. Close your hands, but do not pull back on the reins, and close your legs. As soon as your horse moves back even the slightest amount, give with the reins and reward with your voice or with a treat. The goal is for the horse to go back in response to the rider leaning forward slightly while closing his legs. The cordeo is also very good for training this exercise. Instead of closing the hands, simply lift the cordeo so it touches the bottom of the neck. At the slightest sign of backwards movement, drop your hand and thus the cordeo, and reward your horse.

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