Backup

(Photo on left of Yield Hindqtrs to the right & then asking Trigger to backup. Followed by the photo on the right of Trigger starting to backup with less resistance.)

Backing Motion - Similiar to Forward Motion
I've mentioned in the Yield Hindqtrs exercises, the idea of teaching a horse to backup after the yielding of the hindqtrs as another advanced step. The reason for this is that the horse needs to be moving when we teach them to backup.

The backup.... after all.... is backward motion.

In one fluid motion, the horse can be asked to backup 1 step from the yield. It's easier for the horse to get the idea. Conversely, it is hard for them to backup or start backward motion when they are not already moving. The horse gets stuck.... there's that stuck problem again. We have to keep them moving. Backwards.... in this case.

If you watch horses in the pasture, they seldom move backward. It does happen but rarely. They are blind or cannot see right behind their butts, so they would prefer to go forward.

Not To Confuse With Forward Motion
As a trainer and rider, we don't want to confuse the horse with the idea of forward motion and backward motion. So if we are working on backward motion, I wouldn't recommend working on forward motion at the same time. It's just easier for the horse to keep the 2 things separate until the horse is familiar with both.

So the yielding or sidepassing is a great way to create motion to start your backup.

If you go back and read the yielding hindqtrs series of articles, just add the steps to ask your horse to backup BEFORE they stop. That's the trick. It's the secret to a hassle free backup.

Start with one step at first and then gradually build on your success until the horse is able to back several feet.

Of course this is started on the ground...... then mounted while yielding at a walk, and then progress to faster and faster speeds.

Eventually you can eliminate the yielding or sidepassing and just ask your horse to backup.

It's easy.

Good luck.

Question or comments are always welcome.

If you need help with the backup or any other articles, please contact me.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Dancing With Trigger - Sidepassing

Let's tune back into our live example, Trigger, to let you know where he is at with his dancing lessons. This will also give you a review of the sidepassing articles, the flexion articles and how they fit together to make a training plan. This is all part of the body control or western performance horse development training.
I taught Trigger to:

1. Yield Hindqtrs while being handled (Groundwork)
2. Yield Hindqtrs while being longed (Groundwork)
3. Yield Hindqtrs, mounted @ standstill and
4. Yield Hindqtrs while walking around the exterior of the round pen (body control/western performance horse developement)

Let me explain....
Yield Hindqtrs While Being Handled
When I started to work with Trigger while being groomed and tack up, I asked him to flex laterally (as you recall in my 1st lesson). This is where I usually check to see if the horse has had any prior experience to being flexed at all. He had none. (And that is typical. I don't usually expect it. I would be shocked if he did.)
He was a quick learner though. I was able to get him to flex laterally really quickly after the first session. I always repeat the lesson several times until I get some progress or slight understanding on the part of the horse before moving on to something else.
Incorporating Lateral Flexion with Yielding
I then progressed to teaching him to flex laterally and then to yield his hindqtrs over 1 step.
This is how you incorporate the yielding with the flexing. Or the next training step from the last training step. Once Trigger was quite familiar with flexing (almost to the point of boredom or too much anticipation), I was ready to move on to teaching him to yield his hindqtrs.

As I continued to work with Trigger on the ground (when I tacked and untacked him), I would continue to ask him to become familiar with lateral flexion and yielding (and then backup.... more on that on another article :). I did that with every ride so it became ingrained. I discontinued this when Trigger would anticipate and flex laterally the moment I picked up on the reins! Smart horse..... That's what you want.... Teamwork!

Yield Hindqtrs While Being Longed
When Trigger was ready to go outside and be worked within the riding area, I would check his longeing skills. He had been longed before. My longeing does not involve making the horse go fast until you tire the horse out. I ask the horse to listen to me and do or learn difference skills.

So I would then ask him to stop and flex him laterally. I would keep working on this until he became familiar with it while longeing. Longeing adds speed and movement into the equation.
I then asked him to stop, flex laterally and then yield his hindqtrs a step or 2.
Yield Hindqtrs Mounted @ Standstill
Once I was satisifed that Trigger knew how to flex laterally, flex laterally to stop, & yield hindqtrs a step or 2, I then repeated all the steps while mounted at a standstill.
When I first mount up on a horse, I always do a partial mount up..... always!.... for one thing... being a safety feature. (Besides wearing my helmet). (see article here on partial mount up). It allows me to do a preride check to make sure the horse is ready and I'm ready to ride. I try to eliminate any surprises.
I hadn't ridden Trigger before and I didn't know if he has any ISSUES with mounting or riding..... so I wanted to check to make sure it was ok. He showed no signs of having any problems with me getting on his back.
He is a nice horse and so there wouldn't be any issues but it's always a good idea to check. Even on your favorite horse, who may not be feeling well or something may spook them just at that time. (Who knows.... maybe I'm getting cautious at my wise age..... :)
I would then repeat the flexing and yielding hindqtrs while mounted. At this point it may sound boring to the reader that we are flexing and yielding, flexing and yielding, flexing and yielding... They do say training is boring sometimes.... perhaps this is where it comes from.... the repetition. I don't find it boring at all. I find it quite fascinating.
I'm just progressing now out in the small riding area. The round pen was not available as it was impassible with snow. (The round pen fence acted as a snow fence trapping snow). I was, however, quite able to work Trigger using the area around the round pen.

Yield Hindqtrs While Walking Around the Outside of the Round Pen (body control/performance hrose development)
I was looking for a way to teach Trigger to yield hindquarters while walking and this worked out just fine for me! I would ask Trigger to face the round pen fence from the outside and go around the outside of the round pen while yielding.

Worked great! He found it amusing. And I did too!

This is where we are at the moment with Trigger's sidepassing. I will write more as we progress.

In the next few articles I will talk about teaching a horse to backup and by request of a student.... the use of spurs.

Until next time....

Questions and comments are always welcome.
If you want any help or advice with this, please contact me.
Putting my spin on Leg Yielding, Body Control or Western Performance Horse Development!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Sidepassing - Part 6

Sidepassing using the round pen fence is the next step to making it easy to further the teaching of sidepassing to your horse. This is the true or traditional sidepassing (with the aid of a fence). This is a main component of body control foundation or western performance horse development.

Once Yield Hindqtrs has been well understood, (see previous articles in this series) sidepassing is merely the horse being able to sidestep straight and perpendicular to the fence rather than just the hip as in yielding the hindqtrs. (The horse isn't asked to walk on either as in the previous article).

Sidepass Using Fence
The horse is asked to walk parallel along the fence, and then to sidepass (using the fence as a guide). In other words, the horse is asked to move their entire body (cueing the horse at the ribcage & hip, ribcage & hip, ribcage & hip) straight sideways while facing the fence.
When the horse has successfully sidepassed a step or 2, the horse is asked to stop perpendicular to the fence as a reward.

It's a great reward for them to be able to stand there facing the fence and rest. They will know that this means they have done the right thing. "It's the release of pressure that teaches them what you want. They will crave that reward and look for it time and time again."

Straightness is Key
Straightness is very much emphasized here in this exercise. It teaches a horse to be straight in all that they do. As Jack Brainard would say: "Straightness is everything".
So if you want to work on straightness, this is a good exercise to do.
Sidepass Without a Fence & Sidepassing in an Arena
Once the horse has progressed to sidepassing gradually farther and farther away from the fence, the horse can actually be weaned off the fence completely.
So after some time and several different incremental exercises later, the horse can effortlessly perform the sidepass without any fences. It's just a matter of time and practise.

Sidepassing everywhere, is a good habit to get into.

Sidepass on the Run....
Say.... some months have passed now and you and your horse are experts at sidepassing all over the place and you're looking for a challenge.
Well...

Now you can add more speed to your sidestepping.... Time for the advanced dance steps!

Now is the time to start sidepassing at the jog, trot & lope. I would recommend going back to the round pen or a small enclosed area and then gradually progress your way up to a big outdoor area.
Please be patient as the horse needs time to develop the strong muscles necessary to do this at speed.

For more information on sidepassing, see Horse&Rider, Mar.09, Clinton Anderson Do-It-Yourself Training article, "Simple Sidepass" pg. 37

And again, Bob Avila's video on Sidepassing.

Update: See Horse&Rider, July 2010 article titled Western Dressage by Al Dunning & Lynn Palm pg.64.

I will give an update on Trigger in my next article.

Questions and comments are welcome.
If you need help with any of this, please contact me.

Putting my spin on Sidepassing, Body Control and Western Performance Horse Development!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Sidepass While Walking - Part 5

We made it! ..... or rather.... You made it! .... You & your horse are here.... See how quickly you can get your horse to the point of sidepassing....

And that's the biggest part of body control or western performance horse development! It's an essential skill for every rider!

You'll be amazed at how quickly a horse learns how to sidepass (& yield hindqtrs) since the steps are easy and simple to follow.

For horse.... For trainer.... For rider..... Gotta love it!
(photo above showing YouTube video of Bob Avila explaining sidepassing)

Here is a list of the first 4 pre-sidepass exercises leading up to sidepassing:
1. Yield Hindqtrs while being handled .
2. Yield Hindqtrs (&Backup) - Groundwork.
3. Yield Hindqtrs, mounted at standstill.
4. Yield Hindqtrs While Walking.

Sidepass While Walking (Body control/Western Performance Horse Development)
The only difference between sidepassing while walking and yield hindqtrs while walking, is that the horse has to become perpendicular or 90 degrees to the fence before walking on. The horse has to have their body straight and all 4 legs moving sideways. (Yielding hindqtrs really dealt with the hip and not so much the ribcage when moving along the fence).So.... to Sidepass while walking....In round pen, mounted& flexed, neck reins in bridge position, one in each hand:
1. After warm up, walk briskly several strides along round pen fence. Tip nose towards fence as you…
2. Do a Yield Hindqtrs While Walking. (See previous article.) While still walking.....
3. To Sidepass while Walking: Bring your outside leg forward to girth & press ribcage to move ribcage straight over 1 step. (Sidepass!) Release legs & walk on. Reward horse. Keep walking!
5. Walk out briskly ½ circle & repeat. Keep horse moving!
6. Once horse can do several sidepasses at one time, flex horse to stop perpendicular to fence, praise & rest horse for reward.
7. Once familiar in one direction, always go in other direction.

Goal: For horse to yield hindqtrs &to do a sidepass while walking smoothly & with cadence.

Notes:
1. Tipping nose stops horse from scooting forward.
2. Do not let horse stop or get stuck. Use your legs either at hip or ribcage. Alternate your leg.
3. Front & back legs will cross over with practice.
4. Work on weak side more to even out sides.
5. Teaches horse to move off your leg really well for all maneuvers.

Advanced Work:
1. Work to increase length of sidepass.
2. Increase distance away from wall.
3. Use riding crop or spurs to improve responsiveness.
4. Do exercise at walk, jog, trot & lope.
5. Do sidepass without yielding hindqtrs first (next article).

6. Add a backup. (See article here.)

Other Notes:
1. For more information on yielding hindquarters, see Horse&Rider, Feb.09, Clinton Anderson Do-It-Yourself Training article, "Back-End Over"

2. For more information on sidepassing, see Horse&Rider, Mar.09, Clinton Anderson Do-It-Yourself Training article, "Simple Sidepass" pg. 37

3. Update: Horse&Rider article titled Western Dressage by Al Dunning, July 2010 pg.64. What I would call western dressge for performance.

Questions and Comments are always welcome.

If you need help with any of this, please contact me.

Putting my spin on Sidepassing!

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Yield Hindquarters While Walking - Part 4

To recap....
From exercises 1 & 2 - a horse is able to yield the hindquarters and start to sidepass from the ground. (Remember the dance steps! ....I feel like dancing......:)
From exercise 3 - a horse is able to yield the hindquarters and start to sidepass mounted from a standstill. (It's kinda like doing donuts with your car.... :)Yield Hindqtrs Using Fence While WalkingFurther progress in the yield hindqtrs/sidepass exercises now takes us to my favorite pre-sidepass teaching exercise and that's YIELD HINDQTRS (and start to sidepass) USING FENCE WHILE WALKING.
What Body Control Foundation or Western Performance Horse Development is All AboutI love this exercise! It really teaches the horse the idea to KEEP MOVING while yielding. The fence keeps the horse from blasting out of there (or moving too much the wrong way). The horse needs to understand that sometimes they are required to have their face picked up, collected, move a body part and move forward at the same time. (Not to stop, move body part, and then resume.... no... no... no...:). That's what body control foundation or western dressage is all about!

Impulsion, impulsion, impulsion.

Don't Get Stuck
So much of what we do with horses requires impulsion. So this exercise is great as a review anytime the horse really gets stuck while learning maneuvers such as sidepass or spins; where they can 'stall' or 'freeze up'. If horse gets stuck, I simply do this exercise to get them moving again and return to what I was doing previously.
Any exercises where you have to take a hold of the horse's face will cause them to decrease forward motion (if you don't keep them moving forward) to the point of stalling. Especially collection work.
Remember.... Sidepassing is dancing with all 4 feet (and not just 2 like us humans)... so the horse needs time to get all 4 feet coordinated and become graceful at it! :)

I use this exercise as part of my warm up to also reinforce impulsion. (see my article on impulsion here.)

It's common to ask the horse to move their body around and still go forward. Makes sense right.....
Here are the training steps: (part of lesson 16 from my book)In round pen, mounted& flexed, neck reins in bridge position, one in each hand:
1. After warm up, walk briskly several strides along round pen fence. Tip nose towards fence as you…
2. Yield Hindqtrs While Walking: Press your outside leg into horse’s side to ask horse to yield hindquarters away from fence (as in yield hindqtrs& backup lesson), crossing over hind legs a couple of steps.
3. Release legs & hands, praise horse, walk along 1/4 of round pen and repeat several times until horse understands to yield hindqtrs while walking. Keep horse moving!
4. Repeat until horse understands to yield hindqtrs while moving smoothly. Rest for reward.
5. Once familiar in one direction, always go in other direction.

Goal: For horse to yield hindqtrs while walking with cadence.Notes:
1. Tipping nose stops horse from scooting forward.
2. Do not let horse stop or get stuck. Use your legs either at hip or ribcage. Alternate your leg.
3. Front & back legs will cross over with practice.
4. Work on weak side more to even out sides.
5. Teaches horse to move off your leg really well for all maneuvers.

Advanced Work:
1. Work to increase length of yielding before walking out.
2. Increase distance away from wall.
3. Use riding crop or spurs to improve responsiveness.
4. Do exercise at walk, jog, trot & lope.
5. Do sidepass while walking. (See next article)

Other Notes:

The horse is ready. We're here! Now we can do a sidepass! Yes!

Sidepass next article..... (meet you there! :)

Questions and comments are always welcome!
If you need any help with this, please contact me.

Putting my spin on leg yielding, body control & western performance horse development!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Yield Hindquarters - Part 3 - Mounted @ Standstill

Now the horse can progress into the mounted portion of the yield hindqtrs exercise since the horse is starting to understand how to sidepass from the ground. (See 1st article and 2nd article).

Lesson 10: Yield Hindqtrs (& Backup), Mounted @ standstill in round pen
The first exercise I teach mounted is at the standstill... This is the next logical step to our goal. The goal being to have our horse sidepass mounted while walking, jogging, trotting & loping.

I do this exercise in the round pen for safety. (A small enclosed area is fine too).
Once the horse is saddled, bridled, mounted & flexed.... I get the horse to yield hindqtrs 1 step using these general training steps:

1. Reins in bridge position, one in each hand.
2. Ask horse to flex laterally on left side. While flexed....
3. To Yield Hindqtrs: Press our left leg (& keep pressing) into horse’s side, just behind cinch to get horse to yield hindquarters away 1 step. Immediately release leg for reward.
4. Repeat steps 2&3 until horse understands to yield hindqtrs to leg pressure. Then rest for reward.
5. Always repeat for other side.
6. Repeat until horse understands to yield hindqtrs smoothly from both sides.

Goal: For the horse to flex laterally, yield hindqtrs with cadence while mounted.

Notes:
1. Opposite rein is loose to allow give.
2. Clinton Anderson: “Be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary.”
3. Press leg as hard as you need to yield. Use a spur gently if necessary (don’t ever harpoon).
4. Longe horse bitted up first to get the fresh off.
5. Work on weak side more often to even out sides.
6. This is important to teach horse to move their hip over for leads & lead changes.
7. Yielding hindqtrs is the beginning lesson to teach a horse to sidepass & 2 Track.
8. This is part of my Body Control Colt Starting lessons. Please see colt starting lesson for more information.

Advanced Work: (more on this next article)
1. Horse will yield several steps (ie. Sidepass).
2. Horse will yield hindqtrs at walk, jog, trot & lope. This will take months. Please be patient.
3. Horse will yield hindqtrs while walking along fence (ie. Sidepass at fence).

Other Notes:
1. A backup is also taught at the end of this lesson. See article here.
2. For more information on lateral flexion while mounted, please see my article. Also Horse&Rider, Jan.09, Clinton Anderson Do-It-Yourself Training article, "Flex Time"
3. For more information on yielding hindquarters, see Horse&Rider, Feb.09, Clinton Anderson Do-It-Yourself Training article, "Back-End Over"

Question and comments are always welcome.
If you need any help with this, please contact me.
Putting my spin on mounted groundwork.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Yield Hindquarters - Part 2 - More Groundwork

Continuing on the pre-sidepass/sidepass series of exercises... specifically groundwork... (link to 1st article here)...

Through Groundwork, the horse now knows how to move their hip and ribcage over from pressure on their sides (where the spur will go). Practising this has taught the horse to move over several steps and then eventually over several feet with success.

It's like dancing! You could actually teach your horse to sidestep around in circles a.k.a. turn on the forehand. Yielding the hindqtrs can make all kinds of different shapes. It's fun... really. I teach all my young horses to do this!

Teaching the horse to move several feet sideways is starting to teach the horse to sidepass from the ground. I get all my horses to sidepass over common items you find while handling them day to day.

I love groundwork! This is body control or western performance horse development from the ground!

ok. Now that the horse is starting to understand how to sidepass from the ground, let's do this mounted. That's our eventual goal.... to get the horse to sidepass mounted while walking, jogging, trotting and loping! That's body control or western dressage.

Next article will discuss YIELD HINDQTRS WHILE MOUNTED.

Questions and comments always welcome.
If you need any help with this, please contact me.

Putting my spin on leg yielding, body control and western performance horse development!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Yield Hindquarters - Part 1 - Groundwork

Going back to Trigger's first couple of sessions, today I want to start to talk about the hind end exercises that I did to work on hind end body control. I start those exercises at the same time as the lateral flexion. (I've kept them separate from the front end exercises for clarity but you can see on the index that it's lesson #5-- in the groundwork section --surprised? :).
Body Control or Western Performance Horse Development, as you and I all know by now, is key to having a really solid foundation on a horse. As riders, we want to be able to control (or move) all of the body parts when we need to. Hind end especially.

Being able to move the hip & ribcage over allows us to position the horse's body & legs in order to make it easy for the horse to do as we ask. (Creating a win-win situation.) The horse is better able to maneuver around or is handier. That's what body control foundation training© or western performance horse development is all about!

This goes for any type of riding. A great safety feature too!

In reining, hind end control is needed in maneuvers such as lead & lope departures, circles, rollbacks, flying lead changes, spins & stops. --- Did I forget any?
So you can see where moving the hip & ribcage around is important.

It allows you to control (or direct) the 'drive' or power (impulsion) in a horse. According to Bob Avila: "The rear end always has to be engaged. The rear end has got to be pushing the other 2 parts (front end and middle) to do the job they're going to do. ". This is sometimes called 'riding from back to front'.
Sidepass - The Most Important Exercise in Body Control or Western Performance DressageSidepass is the ultimate! If a rider were to master the sidepass then they are a good way along to understanding body control or western dressage.

It's also quite functional for things like sidepassing or sashaying over to a gate to open it. I use it to move cattle around on the farm. I use it to maneuver around trees and others obsticles while checking fences on the back 400 (acres). Many, many uses.

Bob Avila refers to sidepassing as the biggest part of Body control on a horse. So too in Western Dressage. Here is a link to a YouTube video with Bob explaining sidepassing. (More on sidepassing in the next article.)

Yield Hindqtrs -- to --- Sidepass (The Progression) I have 6 exercises to teach the sidepass: 2 in Groundwork, 2 in the round pen, & 2 while riding at the walk, jog, trot & lope. This article addresses the first two.

1. Groundwork - Yield Hindqtrs while being handled
2. Lesson 5: Groundwork - Yield Hindqtrs (& Backup)
3. Lesson 10: Mounted in round pen @ standstill - Yield Hindqtrs (& Backup)
4. Lesson 16: Mounted in Round Pen - Yield Hindqtrs & Start to Sidepass Using Fence
5. Lesson 27: Riding in arena - Sidepass Using Fence, Sidepass off Fence
6. Lesson 28: Riding in arena - 2 Tracking

Groundwork First - Yield Hindqtrs While Being Handled
While handling the horse, I will get the horse to move their hip away from me 1 step by using the training steps outlined below. The difference in this case, is that the horse is not saddled or bridled. I am just working with the horse while I'm leading it to and from it's pasture. Or whenever I can.
Groundwork Again - Yield Hindqtrs (& Backup)
I continue the sidepass exercises with what I call a pre-sidepass or yielding hind quarters. (Note: The backup is also started at the end of this exercise. More on that later. One thing at a time.... like training a horse...:).

Here are the steps from lesson 5 of my book:In a round pen or small safe area, horse is saddled&bridled, with you standing on one side of horse:
1. Tie opposite rein to saddle horn for safety. Grab end of rein with both hands.
2. Slide hand ½ way down rein & ask horse to flex laterally 90° to horse's side. (as in lesson 3).
3. Press horse’s side with your other hand (where spur would go), & get horse to move hip away from you a step. Immediately release for reward. Rub on horse for reward.
4. Ask horse to flex laterally again (lesson 3).
5. Repeat until horse understands to yield hindquarters & flex laterally. Then rest for reward.
6. Always repeat for other side.
Once horse is familiar with yielding hindqtrs.... I would add the backup steps at this point. That will be addressed in another article.Goal: For there to be no resistance or stiffness when yielding hindqtrs.

Notes:
1. The horse learns from the release of pressure!!
2. Tap horse hard with rein at side if necessary to get horse moving.
3. Don’t except less than current level of success.
4. Work on weak side 2/3 more often to even out sides.
5. This is a review of my Body Control Colt Starting lesson. 6. This is also done during the Longeing for Body Control exercises.

Advanced Work:
1. Horse flexes, anticipates & yields freely several steps over.
2. Horse anticipates by yielding hindqtrs right after the flexing. No need to repeat exercise at this point! Well done!

Other Notes:For more information on lateral flexion, see my article here. Clinton Anderson also has a video on his version here.
I will continue with the other pre-sidepass (yielding) & sidepass exercises in the next few articles.

Questions & comments are always welcome.
If you need any help with this, please contact me.
Putting my spin on Sidepassing, Body Control, & Western Performance Horse Development!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

New Column in TheRider.com

How exciting! I now have a feature column in TheRider Magazine.

Thanks goes out to Barry Finn of The Rider for giving me this great opportunity to write on a subject near & dear to my heart.

Here's a link: TheRider.com

I invite you to celebrate with me. Upward & Onward!

Check it out! February Issue, pg. 11

Putting a spin on writing.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

How Much Pressure Is Appropriate to Train Horses

I was working on my business accounting books today during this snowy winter day while I was listening to The Horse Show With Rick Lamb. It's an internet radio talk show featuring a ton of great shows on horse related topics. I encourage you to check it out especially when you're stuck inside. I just love to keep learning!

Motivation by Body Language via Pressure
Here is the introduction to a Mar 1st, 2008 talk show with Clinton Anderson titled "Avoiding Extremes in Training":
"You know a lot of people have the misconception that if you are extra nice to a horse that's how to get him to do what you want. Hi everybody, Rick Lamb for The Horse Show. I'm sorry but that just isn't true.

Horses respond to kindness of course, like all animals do.

But if you really want to motivate them and get them to treat you as a leader you have to do more than just be nice to them.

And we learn how to do this by looking at how horses treat each other in herds.... More dominate horses motivate other horses to do what they want them to in a certain way with a certain kind of body language and a certain kind of pressure that they use.

And that's what natural horsemanship is all about.

Learning how to take and adapt that kind of body language. That kind of pressure and the application of it to we humans in our interaction with horses.

The key thing a lot of people make a mistake about is they use too little pressure sometimes and they use too much pressure other times. So knowing how much pressure to use & when to use it & when to remove the pressure.
Those are the keys to training horses.

Nobody is better at explaining all of this than my buddy Clinton Anderson....
He's going to be here in just a minute to talk about avoiding extremes in training. "

Here's the link to the actual radio talk show.
3/1/2008 Hour 2: Clinton Anderson (avoiding extremes in training horses)

Thumbs up for learning!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

A Key To Success - Persistence

I was reading my favorite astrology website Aquarius Papers and found the article for today entitled 'A Key To Success'.

How appropriate! The same can be said for our pursuits with horses too.

The main point to take from this is

Persistence and determination.
(photo of my champion buckle that I worked long and hard for years to win. I was so proud of Jackie, my horse and myself that day. Persistence and determination really do pay off.)

Here is a quote from Robert Wilkinson's article:

"Believe it or not, it was originally uttered by no other than President "Silent" Calvin Coolidge, who it seems left a final sentence that is usually omitted from the quote.

Today I offer it for your consideration and hopefully, meditation. Here is a gem of wisdom:
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

And so can it be with horse training and riding and obtaining a better communication with your horse.

Ride, Ride, Ride!

Something to think about......
Reinersue
©KISS Reiners

Foundation Training - why?

My Horse is Just Fine The Way It Is
"Is foundation training really necessary?" ... someone asked me the other day.

Good question I thought.

I had to really think about it 'cause for me, it's 'a given'.

(photo of a customer's long yearling during his 1st few rides)

This person had been riding their horse for years and didn't understand why, especially if it meant spending hard earned dollars these days, would really benefit the owner.

Foundation training is really about establishing communication between you and your horse.

Foundation training is the phase of training after the horse has been started under saddle and before the horse is finished in a speciality.

In the same conversation someone else mentioned that they knew of a barrel horse (and this can be from any sport) that had only a few rides on it before they started to teach the horse the pattern to go around a set of cans.

A lot of people arguably have started horses, bypassed the foundation training and started the horse on their chosen job. It's done all the time. To save time. Or so they think?

Humans are always in a hurry aren't they?

When Something Goes Wrong

There is nothing wrong with this way until..... the horse starts to run into trouble sometime along their training. Or sometime along their riding career.

A little problem starts.

The problem grows bigger.

The problem gets out of hand.

Now there's real trouble.

Now how do you fix it?

With foundation training, the horse would've been fixed when the problem started.

But without foundation training, there is no communication available between horse and rider to fix the problem.

You, as a rider, don't have the tools to fix the problem. So it gets worse.

Why not have a lot of tools in your rider tool kit to fix any problems that come along.

Besides... it's adds great value to your horse (especially if you need to sell it).

Without it..... you will probably have to sell your problem horse for much less then what you paid for it.

And of course, you can send it to a trainer to be fixed. The choice is yours.

As Don Blazer would say:"Go slow if you want a horse to reach it's future potential in a hurry." And "A horse that is started well... will finish well."

Just my thoughts.....

Questions & comments always welcome.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Body Control - A New Name For Foundation Training

A New And Improved Basic Form of Training? Or Just a New Name
Putting basic training on a horse has been around forever. (Though not all horses receive it.) The ability as a rider to be able to move any of the horse's body parts around through cues.

A Rose by any Other Name Would Smell Just as Sweet
Putting A 'handle' on a horse...
.... 'the basics'....
.... basic horse training ......
....foundation training....
and now.... body control.

and now the latest!... Western Performance Horse Development. (Update: July 4/2010)

My Definition of Body Control 
Foundation training is the term used to describe the type of basic training that is put on a horse after the horse has been started under saddle and before the horse is then finished in a speciality.
Body control is a more elaborate and detailed version of this foundation training where the horse is taught to move all their body parts via cues. The training goes into a lot more detail, with a lot more exercises to get a horse really trained in the basics.
Western performance hores development is a term that maybe used for this type of body control foundation training.

According to Bob Avila: "No matter what your training goal, inside or outside the show ring, body control isn't a big thing. It's everything. When you can isolate and control all the individual parts of your horse's body, you have a horse that's really, really broke." --Bob Avila ."

My Training Program Based on Body Control
After training reining horses for 5 years and not progressing like I wanted, I started looking for a way to completely revise my training program. I didn't like some of the parts of my program. I left my coach at that point. I took a step back and went in search for a new coach and program. Since there were no trainers in Ontario that I wanted to go to, I began to search the Internet for other sources of learning.
And I found Bob Avila. I have every Ride With Avila magazine, CD, most DVDs, and book that Bob has ever done. His program has some classical dressage principles and his training program is heavily based on body control or the strong solid foundation of being able to move all the body parts around as you need to.
So I have researched, read, practised and incorporated a lot of Bob's wisdom over the years. My program, since that inital time (12 years as of 2009), has been heavily based on body control.
I strongly encourage you to get Bob Avila's latest body control DVD's. I also recommend the Horse&Rider magazine as they often carry Bob's articles.


Body Control Foundation Reining Training
My foundation training program then.... combines body control exercises and  techniques (body control training ) with an emphasis on reining techniques (exercises to learn basic reining maneuvers).

As you can see, this is my speciality. I have been doing it for so long.

Questions and comments are always welcome.
Putting my spin on Body Control Foundation training or western performance horse development. 
Reinersue
@KISS Reiners

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Trigger Gets Collected

Trigger's Progress
These are the steps that I've completed with Trigger so far on his tune up:

• Groundwork - lateral flexion in a halter & bridle at a standstill

Longeing - lateral flexion in the bridle at the walk, jog, trot

(I normally would do longeing - lateral flexion in the bridle at the lope & bitting up, but I didn't have a proper place to do that and knew that Trigger was ok to proceed. I will go back at some point and complete these steps.)

Mounted - lateral flexion in the bridle at a standstill and then all the gaits

Mounted - vertical flexion at a standstill and then all the gaits (collection) (photo of Trigger starting to collect)

Mounted - started vertical flexion at the lope

Mounted - still going back and doing lots of lateral flexion at the jog & trot & lope, Flexing Drill as Trigger has just started vertical flexion at the lope.

Trigger in just 6 rides has progressed in his body control foundation training (generally called Western Performance Horse Development) by doing lateral flexion at all the gaits and vertical flexion up to the point of starting to understand at the lope. He is still not solid on vertical flexion at any of the gates or what we call collection but he is starting to understand. Collection is a big part of body control or western performance horse development training.

The owner of Trigger has decided to give Trigger a break because of his great progress, so stay tuned where I will pick up on this tune up and share my story in future articles.
I want to thank Cathy for the opportunity to share Trigger's tune up with everyone.

Questions & comments are always welcome.
Putting my spin on body control, western performance horse development and collection.
Reinersue
© Copyright KISS Reiners

Trigger's Next Step

Collection - Part 4 - What Does It Feel Like

It's All in the Feel
Have you ever tried to describe the feeling of 'ah' or wonderment you get when you see an amazing thing ... oh... let's say ... like one of Shawn Flarida's runs at the NRHA futurity and have no words to describe how it made you feel. A performance that completely leaves you speechless. It gives me goose bumps!
I cry every time the 'run for the roses' song is played at the NRHA futurity when the winner is able to circle around the arena to the exhilaration of the crowd. What a rush! How can anyone describe how they feel at that moment?

What I can tell you is that ... to me... when I have collection on my horse or when my horse is doing something correctly.... finally.... well.... it's just feels right. You get a very good feeling in the pit of your stomach that ... 'this is it'.... 'you got it'.

Feel and Timing Through ExperienceAs Clinton Anderson * would say: "It's feel, timing and experience. You gain feel and timing through experience." And that is so true with collection.

Clinton's definition of collection is: "True collection is where the horse gives you its entire body to do with whatever you want." The result of total body control.

Here are some of my thoughts on what collection feels like to me:

• you feel in sync with your horse or part of the horse. The horse doesn't make a move that unsettles you or makes you feel unsure. A collected horse is very steady on their feet. The horse has taken your weight and incorporated it with theirs.
• the collected horse feels smooth; almost like a rocking motion. A very nice, relaxed feeling. A 'strung out' horse (uncollected) is rough to ride. They may stumble or trip. A uncollected horse is 'clumsy' or uncoordinated.
• the collected horse feels balanced and solid like a rock. The horse feels like they can very easily carry you in any athletic move.
• the collected horse is quite able to respond to a request with ease. An uncollected horse lags or has difficulty responding to a request. (They have to readjust themselves or not comply).
• A collected horse feels like you 'could really go places & do things' where as an uncollected horse feels like you are ok going on a simple ride but you wouldn't want to have to count on them for anything else.

You know you have collection when:

• It feels like the horse has gathered themselves up. The horse feels like they have compressed themselves. Like a slinky all together rather then strung out.
• The collected horse will feel like 'a hot knife through butter' in their face when you pick up on the reins. The horse gives with such ease. It feels so easy to do. Effortless.
• The collected horse will break at the poll or put their head perpendicular to the ground; feeling like the horse's head has almost disappeared.
• You can feel the hind legs further underneath the horse because you can feel the horse more powerfully pushing off or reaching with their hind legs. You feel the driving power coming from the engaged hindquarters.
• You feel the rounded horse's back because the horse is actually lifting you up, out of the saddle slightly as the hind legs are reaching underneath themselves. 'The ring of muscles' are engaged. The croup has dropped. The horse's weight has shifted to the hind end. (see Dr. Deb Bennett's article "The Anatomy of Collection" in the September 2005 issue of EQUUS magazine. Dr Deb Bennet says "Collection starts with the tucking of the croup and is complete with the lifting of the base of the neck".
• The horse's stride has slowed down slightly; like they've shifted to a lower, power driving gear.
• You feel like your riding is light, fluid, airy almost magical. Doesn't reading this give you goose bumps!

The next article I will talk about how I'm doing with teaching collection to Trigger.

(photo of Jackie & I at the 2008 International Plowing Match demonstrating spins. Notice how Jackie has rocked back onto her hocks. She has collected herself to get ready to do a set of spins. Her head is too high in this photo.). Thanks to Bonnie Grein for taking this photo.

*Article from TodaysHorse.com
Questions and comments always welcome.
Putting my spin on Collection!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Step-by-Step Progression

Step-by-Step Progressive Training Programs
What I really like about step-by-step progressive training programs is that it's SO easy to go back to a previous step if you're having problems.

Everything is broken down into small easy-to-understand steps. For both the horse and the rider and the student.

It makes it so easy to create a win-win situation. The next step or lesson is the next small step in the learning process. It's not 'a lot to absorb at once.'

A trainer can go back a step and review something the horse is familiar and good at before returning to the new lesson.

A rider can go back a step or 2 and review something if they don't think the horse understood what is asked of them.

And the student can easily go back a step or 2 and review a step they feel they have not perfected yet.

It's great.

Questions and comments are always welcome.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Collection - Part 3 - How to Ask For Collection

How To Ask for Collection
Today our topic continues with finding out how to ask for it of the horse. (It's a long one!)
From the last 2 articles, we now know what it is and why we need it, and now we are ready to learn how to ask for collection.

More of My Story on Collection
When I started to teach collection and ask for collection on my horses, I did so while mounted. That was all the material available that I could find on collection. How to put the horse into a frame while walking, jogging & loping. (This is going back 18 years now -as of 2010. Not like what we have today.)
Squeezing the horse with my legs and asking for a good headset. There was a lot of trial and error, of course, as I didn't know what it was supposed to feel like or really look like when I got it.

After all ...training and riding is mostly about feel. (I will talk more about what it's supposed to feel like in the next article).

After I understood the mechanics of asking for collection and once I got enough experience at it, I understood what it felt like and what it looked like. (Youtube can provide great videos to show you what it looks like. Please refer to my 1st article on collection for videos.)

I wanted to figure out a way to ask for collection or do precollection work from the ground first (to make it easier to understand for the horse & rider. If you remember, my program is a step-by-step progression & heavily based on groundwork)....

In The Beginning..... there is Groundwork
There are 3 key components to asking a horse to collect:

1. To have the horse flex or soften their face, break at the poll in response to rein pressure. (And not to stop or turn or resist by sticking their head up in the air).
2. To have the horse know how to drive their hind end underneath themselves (engaged hindquarters) in response to you squeezing your legs. This is sometimes called riding from back-to-front (please see side bar for article.) The horse rounds their back and reaches further in with their hind legs. (The horse does not think of this as a cue to take off running!)
3. Is to time the above 2 steps together (much like a clutch and gas pedal on a car) to get the horse to get soft in the face, flex at the poll, drive their hind legs underneath themselves, shifting weight to their hind end as they round themselves.

And of course we want the horse to eventually do all this without us asking. After many months or years, the horse will eventually know to collect the moment you pick up on the reins in preparation to ask them for something. Now that's a Cadillac!
Let us, as riders not forget too that horses collect themselves all the time out in the field. When they run and play the game 'a lion is after me.... I better stop, turn and get away fast!' This is not foreign to them. We are just asking for it when we would like it to happen.
Groundwork Exercises to Teach Collection
There are several exercises you can do from the ground to get a horse to understand the 3 key components to asking for collection. I teach these to the horse as well as students so it's easier to understand collection once mounted.
These 3 groundwork exercises are to work on lateral flexion. As Clinton Anderson famously says: "The key to Vertical Flexion is Lateral Flexion. The softer and more flexible we get our horse through lateral flexion (bending) the easier it is to get softness and collection (vertical flexion) of our horse's poll. This in turn gives us greater overall control of our horse's direction, speed and attention." *

1. Flex laterally at a standstill. (see my previous article on lateral flexion). This gets a horse soft in the face and flexing at the poll laterally in response to rein or bit pressure. This is done 1st with a halter and then a bridle at a standstill. This can be done anytime the horse is handled. (Halter & bridle groundwork).
2. Flex laterally while longeing. This is done while longeing at the walk, jog, trot & lope. The horse is encouraged to really move forward in the faster gaits as the horse's face is flexed to the side by the longe line.
3. Bitting Up while longeing. The horse is bitted up so that the horse gets a release of pressure (a self reward) when they flex their head. This is done at the walk, jog, trot and lope. The horse is really driven forward in the faster gaits to understand to still flex at the poll at speed.

Progressive Collection Exercises while mounted
Once the horse understands to give to bit pressure and really move forward while doing so from the longe line, the horse can progress to being mounted. This is the Body Control or Western Performance Horse Development training that I've been talking about.

1. Vertical flexion at a standstill mounted. (lesson 11 in my book). This is the same as lateral flexion as in part 1 above, but with flexing vertically at the poll in response to a pull from both reins. This is where the horse first learns to 'drive into the bit' or flex vertically from the squeeze of both legs. (Horses will want to backup or move or do something when they feel the bit pressure on both sides of their mouth). We do not want them to backup. So we will squeeze our legs to get them to flex at the poll and then we release our hands when they stand still. Larry Trocha calls this his 'bit wall' on his videos.
2. Flex laterally while mounted. This is the same as part 1 on the ground but while mounted. The horse learns to flex laterally at the walk, jog, trot & lope. A lot of leg pressure is used to keep the horse moving and not to slow down. I do this exercise everytime in my warm up!
3. Vertical flexion (mounted) at the walk. This is where the horse is taught to really drive their hind end underneath themselves while moving from the squeezing of our legs. The horse will want to stop or slow down because of the rein pressure but our legs will drive them on. The position of your hands & legs will assist the horse in getting into the right frame and collect.
4. Vertical flexion (mounted) & lateral flexion at the jog & trot. This can be used as a drill in your warm up. To really drive the horse with your legs to drive them forward & to collect. When the horse has trouble collecting on their own with the vertical flexion, you can go back to lateral flexion as a review. The jogging or the troting helps the horse to understand to have lots of forward motion. To really drive forward.
5. Vertical flexion (mounted) at the lope. This is the true collection that we are looking for. Over time, the horse will stay collected for longer and longer distances until they are able to stay collected as long as you need them to. And that my friend... is Body Control.

Collection is vertical flexion while moving.
How to Ask for Collection (once the horse knows how)
Don Blazer has a great article called "A half halt on steriods" which beautifully describes how to as a rider, ask for collection. I highly recommend you read it. I couldn't describe it any better.
Everywhere, everywhere .... collection
Once the horse understands collection, the horse should be asked to collect before doing any rider request. That is why I review collection in my warm up part of my riding.
One more thing....
This is hard work on a horse's muscles; especially their hind end so please be patient and go slowly. It will take several months for a horse to carry a horse and rider beautifully while collected.

Next we'll talk about how it feels...
*Article taken from TodaysHorse.com
Questions & comments are always welcome.
If you need any help with this, please contact me.
Putting my spin on Collection!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Collection - Part 2 - Why We Need It

Continuing My Discovery of Collection
Last article I defined collection. This article will discuss why we need collection on our horses.
(Larry Trocha explains why so well that I've included it here.)
I started to really learn about collection & apply it 18 years ago (as of 2010) when I started to train my own horses for reining. I knew it was important so I searched, read, watched & practiced everything I could about collection.
Some of the great trainers & horsemen that had books & videos that I learned from are:

• Bob Avila: Heros&Friends Video series, Ride With Avila magazines (out of print),
• Jack Brainard: "If I Were to Train A Horse" book, (update July 7/2010: now promoting Western Dressage)
• Tim McQuay training videos: (Note: I can't find this video on the net anywhere. Out of print?)
• Don Blazer: A Half-Halt on Steriods article. Nine secrets of Perfect Horsemanship book
• Larry Trocha: True Collection Video

From Larry Trocha http://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/,

"So, what is "true" collection?
"True collection is a way of riding your horse that teaches him to round his back, lower his croup and travel with his hocks farther under his body. When done correctly, collection also teaches a horse to flex at the poll, relax his lower jaw and become soft, supple and light.
Here are just a few of the benefits of getting your horse collected:

• Your horse's stops will be deeper and and at the same time his mouth will feel softer. His neck and shoulders will also be more relaxed.
• Flying lead changes will be more controlled and precise with far fewer missed hind leads.
• Spins and turn-a-rounds will be more free and smoother too. Usually, a well collected horse will have a better (more level) top-line when spinning.
• Your horse will lope smoother and more balanced because he'll be striding with his hind legs farther under his body. His lope will be more controlled.
• Better head-position while performing any maneuver.

Larry goes on to say: "Once you ride a horse that is truly collected, you will wonder how your training program ever got along without it."
So true! It's all about body control.

You will be amazed at how much better a horse rides when the horse knows to collect themselves while being ridden. "A Cadillac in the making!"

Next collection article.... How to Ask for Collection

(photo credit: Sustainabledressage.com)

Questions & comments always welcome. Happy February!
If you need help with this, please contact me.
Putting my spin on Collection!
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

Why Use Collection or Benefits to Getting Your Horse Collected