10/12/2025
I always start my ride with a nice forward down stretched neck.
I often hear: “But isn’t that putting the horse on the forehand?”
And the honest answer is… it depends.
There’s a world of difference between a horse falling forward and a horse stretching forward.
👉 When a horse falls forward, the balance collapses onto the front legs. You feel heaviness in the reins, rushing, tripping, tension in the back, and a general feeling of “carrying the weight of your horse.”
👉 But when a horse stretches forward and down while staying horizontally balanced, something completely different happens:
The hind legs step under your seat, the angles of the hind legs start working like springs, the back swings, and riding becomes soft, light and incredibly comfortable.
This picture shows the transformation beautifully.
On the left, you see the imbalance — me riding Seni with just a neckrope in his ‘natural’ movement, carrying too much weight on the front legs.
On the right, you see what happens when I guide him to finds a forward-down stretch without falling forward. A balanced posture. A lifted back. Now I can ride the hind legs instead of the forehand.
This is why I always start with stretching.
It’s the foundation of strength, self-carriage and healthy movement.
And… it’s something you can teach far more clearly on the ground before you ever ask for it in the saddle.
If you want to learn how to help your horse stretch, lift the back, and find true horizontal balance, I’m hosting a free masterclass:
Improve Balance in Groundwork
So your horse can stretch without collapsing, and carry you with ease.
https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/BalancedHorse26
You’re warmly invited 💛
