09/03/2025
Stretching forward-down is probably one of the easiest and yet most useful exercises in horse training. The little exercise produces great results.
A good way to discover the feel of the horse's willingness is to practice this sequence at a halt. Learning to feel for the nod, or giving at the poll, is vital for knowing when the horse is submissive and ready to stretch down-and-out, or even just willingly come to the bit and accept being on the aids.
Establish a halt with the horse on the aids seat, legs, and hands. The hands remain closed, telling the horse to stand still. The legs hold the horse into the bit and are ready to ask the horse to move forward when necessary. Of course, this does not mean that the hands are pulling or constantly squeezing.
When the nod comes, it is minuscule, the horse will drop its nose about an inch or less toward the chest.
John Lyon's teaches this, and he calls it when the horse nods either, "a baby give, a good give or a great give." Certainly, we want the "great give," but often we get a series of "baby or good gives!" After the nod, give slightly with the reins by moving the elastic elbows forward.
As the horse begins to seek contact again, ask it again to soften at the poll by resisting slightly until the neck gradually lowers and the nose stretches forward pointing down-and-out. Consequently, the horse will begin to chew the bit out of your hands.
Not as easy as it sounds, as most riders get caught up in the asking and forget to allow.
Riding requires tact and feel, because oddly at the same time as we are talking to the horse with our aids, we have to be listening simultaneously.
Simultaneously
After achieving Chewing the Reins out of your Hands at a halt, practicing these subtle tactics at a walk will be more effective, since there will be slightly more impulsion, provided the horse walks freely forward. However, the trot is the foundation gait upon which to base the real work of down-and-out. The rhythmic impulsions established in the pulsating diagonal stride of the trot creates an elasticized naturally activated back which then results in the stretching forward and down. Nevertheless, one must first learn the sequence described above of what to feel and how to ask before beginning this work at a trot.
Practicing at the halt helps to refine the rider's asking and listening aids.
Even so, the goal will still be difficult to achieve.
At first, some horses, as they begin to stretch forward and down, will lose momentum as muscles of the back become tensed from the unaccustomed forward stretching. The movement created from the trot, however, will help to loosen the tight muscles.
If the gait slows, be patient with the horse and keep trotting, though do not force the gait if discomfort persists. Let the muscles relax before pursuing the down-and-out at a trot once again.
Once down-and-out has been achieved in the horse's muscle, stretching the horse should be practiced constantly in order to maintain the elasticity in the muscles as initial training for young horses; as retraining for stiff, older horses; and for maintaining elasticity in advanced level horses.
Down-and-out is best practiced as warm-up to loosen the back and in between sessions of "on the bit.*
Of course, riding a horse while stretching he should still be "on the aids just with a longer rein," but that is a whole other article. Ending a riding session with down-and-out is a relaxing way to return the horse to the stable.
While mastering stretching the horse down-and-out is not easy, the rewards are most pleasurable, it should be what every rider seeks is the chance to have his seat massaged by the horse's elastically swinging back underneath him while being carried lightly with the upward swing and spring of the horse's back arcing under the seat through corners, across diagonals and into transitions.
A correctly ridden down and out still has the horse on contact, the horse is still in a frame just with a longer rein.
