CNY Horse Training

08/07/2026

08/02/2026

08/01/2026

🤔 single joints - are they as bad as we think?
So historically single joints have been branded as nasty bits but why?

We have been told they have 'nutcracker action' which we've been told means palate pressure and pinching.
New research has discovered that the single joint doesn't actually cause palate pressure as the bit rotates downwards under rein pressure and backwards rather than upwards into the palate.

But we still get an element of pinch - squeezing of the tongue and lower jaw.
This term nutcracker should in fact be applied to any jointed bit, single or double jointed as they both squeeze the jaw by default.

We assessed 4 different types of single jointed bits.
1st we tried a thick straight cannoned single joint and observed that it created a V shape around the tongue and depending where it is situated in the mouth, would squeeze the grass muscle.

2nd we tried a thinner straight cannon and observed the same as 1 but with it being narrower it showed more pressure than the thicker, makes sense - smaller surface area.

3rd is the Demi anky and saw that the joint scooped around the tongue giving a more rounded U shape but still quite narrow along the cannons.

4th was the Curved shape of a more anatomically shaped single joint. This is designed to create a wider U shape in the mouth to reduce the amount of squeeze. Though no matter where I placed the reins or how much pressure I applied to the reins I could only make a W shape. This actually caused the link to rotate into the tongue. Maybe this was due to the lack if lip support on the model but I found it an interesting find.
- further research needed with a live model to see what happens with the joint in a real horse's mouth.

Thought it was an interesting case study.

07/29/2026

Collection Begins at the Shoulder, Not the Hind Leg
Many riders spend years trying to create more engagement from behind.
Yet the horse never truly collects.
Why?
Because collection isn't created by pushing the hind legs harder.
It is created by giving the hind legs somewhere to go.
If the shoulders continue to run forward unchecked, every ounce of impulsion simply travels out the front door. The horse gets bigger, faster, and heavier—not lighter.
The first responsibility of the rider is to organize the forehand.
Only when the shoulders can be balanced and redirected can the hindquarters begin to accept greater weight.
This is why exercises like shoulder-in, travers, renvers, and well-ridden circles are so valuable. They aren't tricks.
They are gymnastic exercises that teach the horse to organize its body around the rider's aids.
Collection is not an increase in effort.
It is an increase in balance.

07/26/2026

07/21/2026

Trailering

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲... 𝗗𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝘂𝗻"

When working with an anxious or inexperienced horse, many riders try taking them on super short trips... just down the road or to the end of the driveway and back.
It feels like a safe, easy step. But for the horse, it often backfires.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀...

A short drive only gives your horse enough time to get anxious, brace against the motion, and feel off-balance. If you pull over and unload them the moment they reach peak worry, you inadvertently end up unloading a horse that is still tense and unsettled.

You miss the most critical part of the learning cycle... the release of tension.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗻...

To build real, lasting confidence inside a moving trailer, a horse needs time to work through their emotions and find their balance.

First, they have to orient themselves to the motion. Then, they need space to adjust their weight, shift their posture, and figure out how to stay secure. Only after those physical adjustments happen can the mind finally settle.

A smooth 30 to 45 minute drive gives their body and nervous system the room they need to complete that process. They go from bracing against the road to lowering their head, taking a deep breath, and realizing they are safe.

By the time you pull over, you are not unloading a horse at the peak of their worry. You are unloading a horse that just figured out how to relax and find their balance.

Next time you practice haul training, skip the trip around the block. Pick a quiet, smooth stretch of road, take your time, and let the rhythm of the drive become their teacher.

🐴 How does your horse handle the actual ride once the ramp goes up (or the door closes, if your trailer doesn't have a ramp)? Do they take a minute to find their feet, or are they steady haulers?

Drop a comment below! 👇

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Our focus this month in the 𝘼𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 is "Confident Trailer Loading." Be sure to look back over our recent posts and stay tuned for more on this subject all month long.