One of my greatest delights as a horse owner, trainer and rider is watching my horse finally understand what I am asking him to do and doing it. Such excitement falls over him as he does it, then stops to turn and look at me and say, “Did you see that? Wasn’t that great? Aren’t I the best? And don’t I deserve like five treats for that?” It’s as if a light bulb can literally be seen blinking on until it comes around to its full bright potential.
Recently when I was working with Sudi on ground work, I saw this light bulb come on. But let me give you some history as I’ve been very negligent in my blog posting of recent.
After going over some results and judge’s comments from earlier shows this season and doing some research, I began to realize that Sudi was not working his “topline” muscles correctly towards the idea of beginning collection. He simply doesn’t know how to most effectively use the muscles in his back and neck.
To put it in basic terms, when I looked at his form from the poll (the point between the horse’s ears) to his croup (the highest point on his rump), he was in the shape of an upside down rainbow. This is incorrect; he should be in the shape of a normal rainbow to properly learn impulsion from his back end.
To help his development and to teach him how to begin to carry himself correctly, I invested in some side reins. Side reins are basically adjustable leather pieces that connect to the horse’s bit and then drops down to connect to the girth so as to gradually teach the horse to lower his head as he moves. They are meant to primarily be used lunging at the trot as they could potentially damage the walk by making it too short, and they should never be used more than in 10-15 minute intervals – especially if the horse is green and in no way in shape. (As a side note: side reins can be very harmful to the horse if used incorrectly, but I have had much supervision from various members of our barn, and I have also looked into a lot of articles written on side rein work. So no worries – Sudi Man is doing just fine)
After discovering that the side reins I previously used on my Thoroughbred mare Charity (who passed away three Thanksgivings ago) were much too long to be of any useful effect, I came to only one conclusion: I needed to make a trip to the tack store! (Poor me, I know :-P)
Once there, I sadly had to talk myself out of all the new spring line merchandise and head straight for the side reins. Through my research and understanding that both of my boys are still young and impressionable, I knew I wanted leather ones that had some elastic-give on them. Leather is preferable over nylon because it is more prone to break should an accident occur. And the elastic is a little calming as it has some give in case the horse freaks out about being constrained. To my delight, I found exactly what I was looking for and was able to make the purchase at what I considered a fairly reasonable price.
So, back I trudged to the barn to nab my horse and guinea pig him. To my delight Sudi had absolutely no resistance to his beginning work with the side reins. They were actually acting as indirect reins, and he began chewing his bit lowering his head. Everytime he stretched his neck low, I would be sure to praise him. Unfortunately, “Good Boy” is also horse code for “It’s ok to stop now.” We’re gradually getting over this, but I’m convinced he just uses it as an excuse to stop and beg for treats. :-)
For the first few training sessions I left the side reins as long as possible just so that he could get used to them. Three or four sessions later, and I am now able to shorten them and in particular, shorten the inside one to teach him to bend to the inside of the circle. Sudi has been picking all of this up, and I could not be more pleased. I am even delighted to report that when I rode him this past weekend, he was beginning to transfer his lunge work to his riding work. We are by no means finished with the side reins, but I am terribly pleased with our progress.
So, after about 10 minutes of side rein work, I take them off and allow him to stretch and work his way over some small cavaletti sized jumps. To my utter amazement he has now figured out what jumps are, heads for them himself, picks up a canter, jumps correctly and after landing turns in to me with that “light bulb on” expression.
The first time I saw him do it, I was dumbfounded. I really thought someone had been working my horse in my absence. There was no more stopping,snorting and pawing of the jumps (nor munching on the potted, fake flowers!) And believe me, I have repeated this practice on several occasions to see if it was just a fluke. I’m guessing it’s not though, because all of a sudden he is moving forward and seems to actually like jumping!
I’m not sure what clicked on in his head, but I was in utter delight as I saw how proud of himself he was. And I know he knew it too – He made sure I understood that he deserved some treats when I brought him back in the barn. He was whinnying at everyone that walked by his stall.
I guess that just goes to show how much heart some horses have. Remembering these days gives me the hope to make it through the rougher ones when I sometimes feel I am moving backwards and forward is only a glimmer of a thought. For now the lightbulb is still on, and I plan to use as much of the light it provides as possible. However, it’s still good to remember that fuel for the light very well comes from rewards and days off that include one on one time grooming and grazing him.
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