The Queen of Gaits
The Walk
Establishing Proper Contact
The vital precondition to work in walk is proper contact, which is only possible if the horse is classically ridden from back to front.
To get such contact, one can at the very beginning ask for it while working in-hand. Then, at halt, teach the horse to yield correctly. But because there is no impulsion to channel in halt, the walk is the ideal gait to reestablish energy afterward. The rider channels the energy from behind in balance.
In the walk, the risk for resistances is considerably lower and the chances for establishing a light, soft contact are considerably higher.
When you ask for contact, consider three things:
1. Don’t push with your legs against a standing or even backward-pulling hand, as it is not logical for the horse and results only in a tight, tense neck.
2. You decide the tension of the reins and never the horse.
3. Never crank the noseband; rather, adjust it so the horse can open his mouth at least slightly, allowing him to remain relaxed.
Take the reins at a length with which you can feel your horse’s mouth. Then close your fingers and fix your hand. Wait for your horse to yield with his lower jaw. In the exact moment he yields, you have to give by slightly opening your fingers before you close them again and ask the horse to keep the contact that you want at that time.
Contact has a lot to do with a rider’s tact and feeling and with keeping the horse active enough at all times. If there’s more tension in the reins than activity flowing from behind, you start riding backward. Only when you have found the perfect balance between both in walk should you advance to the more-demanding trot and canter.
Establishing Proper Contact
The vital precondition to work in walk is proper contact, which is only possible if the horse is classically ridden from back to front.
To get such contact, one can at the very beginning ask for it while working in-hand. Then, at halt, teach the horse to yield correctly. But because there is no impulsion to channel in halt, the walk is the ideal gait to reestablish energy afterward. The rider channels the energy from behind in balance.
In the walk, the risk for resistances is considerably lower and the chances for establishing a light, soft contact are considerably higher.
When you ask for contact, consider three things:
1. Don’t push with your legs against a standing or even backward-pulling hand, as it is not logical for the horse and results only in a tight, tense neck.
2. You decide the tension of the reins and never the horse.
3. Never crank the noseband; rather, adjust it so the horse can open his mouth at least slightly, allowing him to remain relaxed.
Take the reins at a length with which you can feel your horse’s mouth. Then close your fingers and fix your hand. Wait for your horse to yield with his lower jaw. In the exact moment he yields, you have to give by slightly opening your fingers before you close them again and ask the horse to keep the contact that you want at that time.
Contact has a lot to do with a rider’s tact and feeling and with keeping the horse active enough at all times. If there’s more tension in the reins than activity flowing from behind, you start riding backward. Only when you have found the perfect balance between both in walk should you advance to the more-demanding trot and canter.
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