What does it mean to have a forward moving horse?
A forward going horse is one with natural energy, who marches out under saddle, whose natural inclination is to go places, with enthusiasm and positiveness. They tend to be less suitable for novice riders. A backwards thinking horse is the opposite – doesn’t want to work, use energy or help the rider.
What does it mean when a horse is pulling?
Horses can be pulled up for numerous reasons including tiredness, injury, risk of sustaining an injury and breathing difficulties. Making a bad mistake at a hurdle or fence often results in jockeys pulling up a horse in order to ensure that it doesn’t do itself any damage at the next obstacle.
What does it mean when a horse is on the forehand?
When a horse is said to be, ‘on the forehand’ it means that the overall impression to the onlooker is that the majority of the weight is being carried on the horse’s shoulders and front half.
How do you know if a horse is on the forehand?
You can normally tell if your horse is on the forehand because he’ll lean on your hands in an attempt to balance himself, meaning he feels heavy in front.
How do you tell if a horse is a good mover?
A horse that has balanced conformation–with neck, back and hip of equal length–will generally be a good mover and that translates into good performance. A horse that exhibits correct conformation should be a natural athlete.
What are the signs of a horse being balanced?
The withers are lifted, giving the shoulders lots of freedom to flow and show expressive movement. The neck is naturally carried in a beautiful, round and supple shape, and the poll easily accepts the contact. The balance is so exact that you could imagine the horse being able to work on a gymnast’s balance beam.
How do you know if your horse is unbalanced?
You feel discombobulated and all over the place. Your horse’s nose is up in the air looking like a camel, as you try to half halt and bring your horse, back to a sensible trot. Or even down to a walk so you can both regain your composure. Horses that run into the canter are unbalanced.
How do you fix an unbalanced horse?
Use lots of transitions, get a nice balanced trot and ask for the canter, canter a few strides then come back down to the trot, get her balanced and ask for a few strides of canter again.
How do I get my horse to trot?
Cue your horse to trot by squeezing your legs or giving it a gentle kick. Allow your horse to get comfortable with you at a lively walk. Shorten the reins by 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm), then squeeze your legs to signal it to trot. If necessary, say “Trot!” or give it a light kick to send it forward.