11/05/2026
LITTLE TRAINING TIP NO 24.
- STOP HOLDING YOUR HORSE BACK
Finding your horse's natural rhythm is important if you want healthy gymnastic training. Often we hold our horses back aiming to make them 'round' instead of letting them go to express their natural movement to become 'round' through their own good balance and posture.
~ When there is a lot of energy - make use of it (ride forward)
~ When there is too much energy - shape it. (eg. make a circle, use counter bend or shoulder-in to slow the legs )
~ When there is too little energy - forward is the priority. (go straight ahead, take a light seat, give the leg lesson, go bush!)
A free forward trot in a light seat, and with neck extension, (to lengthen stride and seek contact) will cure many 'ailments'.
From this posture you can raise the base of the neck to ask for higher balance or cadence and collection. Transitions within the gaits help refresh and motivate your horse.
Horses were designed to go freely forward, and can get frustrated when they are physically restrained and not allowed to express their natural paces. Forward Impulsion enables collection. But keep it clear for your horse - legs without hands and hands without legs.
As Philippe Karl often says: "Let him do”. Open your fingers, soften your arms, and really go. If you are to convince your horse, you too must be convinced that you really want to go! Too many riders are confusing and dulling their horses, lacking confidence to ease off the reins, holding them back with contradictory aids.
> Impulsion = reactivity to light leg aids
> Without impulsion there can be no equitation.
> You cannot collect what is not first energised.
> You cannot elevate what is not first long.
And for efficient impulsion, the horse’s poll the highest point, and the nose... in front of the vertical, in all positions of the neck.
Collection is the result of a collection of whole body movements, in balance, in lightness, in self-carriage. It has nothing to do with tucking in, pulling in, holding in or restraining the horse’s head. Further, if your horse is blessed with good gaits - don’t stifle them… use them!
Inspiration & illustration : Philippe Karl 🙂
