10/27/2024
A few days ago, I wrote a post about bending a horse in order to achieve true circles (link below). The top image is from that post. There were some confused comments there worth revisiting. I believe that a significant number of readers were unable to grasp how riders should properly "steer" their horses. Many believe that using the reins alone is the proper way to "steer" their horse to make a turn or a circle. This is incorrect.
There are only three common ways anything that must be directed is steered. Below you see three objects that move that require steering, an articulated frontend loader on left, a motorcycle at center and a boat on the right.
The frontend loader is steered by means of aligning the two back wheels of the articulated body with the two front wheels to form an arc. This is accomplished by "bending" the piece of equipment by means of articulation. This is also the correct way to essentially "steer" a horse.
The motorcycle is steered by changing the direction of the front wheel using the handlebars. Cars and trucks are similar. Many riders think that this front end steering method is how to correctly steer a horse, which is wrong. These riders use the reins as they would use the handlebars of a motorcycle to steer the front end. This is incorrect and it results in a horse becoming heavy on the forehand that over time ruins a horse.
The boat with a rudder is steered from the hind by changing the direction of the rudder at the back of the boat. While this is an unusual way to steer or change the direction of a horse, it can be done. For example, a high level polo player is able to change direction of their horse in a rollback by changing the direction of the horse's hind by changing the direction of a "rudder", which is unusual. However, the usual correct way to steer a horse is more like the articulated frontend loader.
Also, several commenters on the prior related post asserted that a horse cannot bend in the middle. While it is true that many of the middle equine vertebrae only flex a few degrees, this is not material to the process of bending a horse. These people mistakenly believe that the measure of the bend in a horse is in the spine, when the true measure is in the tracking or alignment of the hind and fore legs and feet on the ground when tracking. See my tracking post for more details.
www.facebook.com/BobWoodHorsesForLife/posts/pfbid0K1Vp2vMwaLnpc8TVyLQiyxVcwQJtQ9wsZS9ibaXinqcTGLdmPVi1auxytyoTCBUYl
Lastly, in the prior post some commenters objected to my use of the words strength and hold. Their perspective implied or said that this is unnecessary and abusive. I see this mindset as demanding socially correct language, or, in some cases, an excuse for a lack of their physical fitness and strength. Correct riding requires fitness, strength and stamina. All of these words are legitimate and accurate uses of the words in this context.
When a horse has established negative or inefficient movements, we must "show them" better and improved ways to move. This requires momentary applications of strength or force (a word from the science of physics) that is no different than what a body worker might do except it is not done exclusively with the hands. Showing a horse the optimal bending movement is done with the rider's legs and seat, as well as the inside hand. When I rehabilitate a horse's poor movements, I am essentially a bodyworker from the saddle.
*prior related Bending a Circle post -
www.facebook.com/BobWoodHorsesForLife/posts/pfbid0X14F7iGYMwHGhf9YxNsq1via4D4U8NoGFDobHRuTmpWvSwY3qvad9uCo53aQWakel
