By Ritter Dressage
"The precise amount of the rein contact is determined by a variety of factors, not only by the rider’s hand, as some people erroneously seem to think. If the rider wants to recycle the energy of the horse’s hind legs in order to establish a circle of aids, he is forced to accept the weight which the horse puts into his hands, regardless how light or heavy the rein contact is.
The specific amount is determined, among other things, by how much thrust the hind legs develop, and how much they carry at the same time. If the hindquarters push more than they carry, the horse will lean heavily onto the hand. If the hindquarters carry more than they push, the horse sucks back and the rein contact becomes too light.
Closely related to the rein contact is the balance. A balanced horse, i.e. a horse that moves in self carriage, can also be light in hand. By contrast, a horse that is on the forehand will either lean heavily onto the bit, or it will curl up or invert.
A horse that is crooked will take too much contact on one rein and too little on the other. A horse with a high croup and straight hind legs will also tend to take a heavier rein contact.
A horse with a low set, short, thick neck and fleshy poll will also tend to take a heavier rein contact.
Horses with a long, slender, high set neck, on the other hand, will always tend tob e too light in hand and show a tendency to curl up.
The rider’s seat plays a role as well. If the rider tips forward, without sufficient engagement of his core muscles, he pushes the horse’s shoulders into the ground, and the horse onto his hand. However, if he sits up straight and engages his core muscles sufficiently, this will in itself often be enough to make the horse light(er) in hand.
If the rider drives too much by pushing forward with his pelvis, this will also push the horse heavily onto the bit.
If the tempo is too fast or too slow, the horse cannot find ist balance, which will also have repercussions for the rein contact.
A horse that is nervous for some reason will often take too much rein contact as well.
Many riders are concerned with the rein contact being too heavy. But there is also such a thing as not enough rein contact. When the rider can no longer feel the horse’s hind legs in his hands, because the horse is no longer seeking the communication through the rein, then the rein contact is too light. The conversation, the energy circuit, and the circle of aids have ceased.
A rein contact that is a little too heavy is still better than a non-existent rein contact, because in the first case, you can still have a conversation with the horse, whereas in the second case the horse has discontinued the talks."
(Thomas Ritter)
The specific amount is determined, among other things, by how much thrust the hind legs develop, and how much they carry at the same time. If the hindquarters push more than they carry, the horse will lean heavily onto the hand. If the hindquarters carry more than they push, the horse sucks back and the rein contact becomes too light.
Closely related to the rein contact is the balance. A balanced horse, i.e. a horse that moves in self carriage, can also be light in hand. By contrast, a horse that is on the forehand will either lean heavily onto the bit, or it will curl up or invert.
A horse that is crooked will take too much contact on one rein and too little on the other. A horse with a high croup and straight hind legs will also tend to take a heavier rein contact.
A horse with a low set, short, thick neck and fleshy poll will also tend to take a heavier rein contact.
Horses with a long, slender, high set neck, on the other hand, will always tend tob e too light in hand and show a tendency to curl up.
The rider’s seat plays a role as well. If the rider tips forward, without sufficient engagement of his core muscles, he pushes the horse’s shoulders into the ground, and the horse onto his hand. However, if he sits up straight and engages his core muscles sufficiently, this will in itself often be enough to make the horse light(er) in hand.
If the rider drives too much by pushing forward with his pelvis, this will also push the horse heavily onto the bit.
If the tempo is too fast or too slow, the horse cannot find ist balance, which will also have repercussions for the rein contact.
A horse that is nervous for some reason will often take too much rein contact as well.
Many riders are concerned with the rein contact being too heavy. But there is also such a thing as not enough rein contact. When the rider can no longer feel the horse’s hind legs in his hands, because the horse is no longer seeking the communication through the rein, then the rein contact is too light. The conversation, the energy circuit, and the circle of aids have ceased.
A rein contact that is a little too heavy is still better than a non-existent rein contact, because in the first case, you can still have a conversation with the horse, whereas in the second case the horse has discontinued the talks."
(Thomas Ritter)
A positive contact is produced when the horse stretches his neck out to the bit and takes the rider forward. When the postural muscles of the neck become tired, lactic acid builds up, producing pain. The horse will do one of two things. He will either suck back behind the bit and avoid the contact or drop his neck further forward to relieve the muscles by leaning on the bit. If the reins are loose, the nuchal ligament will passively take over the role of carrying the head and neck thus relieving the tired neck muscles.
ReplyDeleteIf the horse shortens his neck and comes behind the bit, you must drive te horse forward so the that increased push from the hindquarters causes him to again reach out to the bit and maintain his frame. Especially in downwards transitions, don’t pull back as you will cause to horse to come behind the bit. Don’t allow him to suck back as you make a downwards transition, but drive forward so the posture is maintained (this allows the hind limbs to step under the body and meet the restraining reins.
When the horse has developed strong postural muscles he can stand with weight balanced easily between all four legs. A horse with a weak back often positions a front limb forwards to make balance easier (like a tripod) especially when a back leg is lifted. Or if front leg lifted, he will take a backwards step to aid balance.