12/03/2024
This is so so important, they must have the idea to go FORWARDS! It helps so much with balance and avoids the feeling of being “stuck” and “backwards” with all the problems that come with that. 🐎💨
Teach your young horses ‘forwards’ when you’re starting them!
I’m seeing more and more horses that have never been shown it’s OK to really go. People are starting their horses carefully, desensitising them, long lining them quietly and doing everything gently but missing one vital piece - sending them forwards.
People are (quite rightly) worried about lunging their horses too much due to joint strain but it IS a vital component of starting a horse. It shouldn’t be done on endless tiny circles, the handler can move too! Run up and down a big arena with the horse moving freely forwards down the long side. Obviously don’t lunge them every day, do all the other important stuff too but they do need to learn it’s OK to go. Feeling the joy of moving with the wind in their manes firstly just wearing a lunge cavesson, then with a saddle and eventually with a rider on. For this part you need a rider who also loves to feel the wind in their mane! One who is happy to give the reins and allow the ground person to really send the horse forwards. Without this part of their education we’re ending up with horses who’ve never really learnt they can go. Then if and when we do ask them to go we are much more at risk of having an explosion.
