This post reached 87,000 people on Facebook and was shared almost 400 times!
Why you should NOT ask for bending from the inside rein.
The above picture was seen and shared many, many times on Facebook when I posted it last year!
The problem with Facebook is that it disappears after a couple of days because there is so much information out there. That's why I decided to write an article about it and keep it available on my website (see blogs for more articles).
Picture 1: False Bending
When asking for a bend (eg on a circle or shoulder-in) with the inside rein, it is often only the head and neck of the horse that are responding. The neck is the most flexible part of the spine. The horse can easily bend laterally, especially at the base of the neck, but there is no bending in the rest of the body of the horse. This results in 'false bending' and energy leaking away over the outside shoulder. When the spine is not aligned, the 'schwung' of the horse is disrupted.
Horses that are ridden in this way are known as 'leg movers' because they can not use their backs in the correct way. You do not see a nice swing going through the body and the front legs and hind legs of the horse do not seem to move in alignment. This is not a healthy movement and, over time, this can lead to injuries.
Picture 2: True Bending
True bending is when the bend is asked from the 'inside seat/leg aid', which can be done either from the ground or from the saddle. The extent of the bend is regulated by the outside rein. The horse's body is aligned with the bend, so that the nose and the front legs move in the same direction and the action of the hindlegs follows the direction of the horse's body. That way, the energy generated by the hind legs is transmitted over the back (through the spine) to the front of the horse.
Horses that move in this way are called 'back movers'. You see a nice swing in their whole body and they move with elasticity. This is a healthy movement for horses (and easy to sit for the rider).
Lateral asymmetry
The shape of the spine, from cervical (neck), thoracic, lumbar, sacrum to tail has a preferred bending (some horses have an S shape). My horse Seni has a slight curve to the left. In my spine there is also a slight curve to the left, so our left turn is much easier than the right turn. You need to be aware of your own asymmetry as well. For instance, which turn in your upper body is easier, left or right?
Lateral movements can help your horse with gymnastic exercises to find equal bending to the left and to the right. It also helps you to correct the shoulders or the hind legs of your horse, when you notice that the spine is not in alignment.
The importance of spinal alignment (5 min video)
1) Energy and forward motion
The hind end of the horse is also referred to as the 'engine' of the horse. When the spine is aligned, the generated energy flows from the hind legs over the back into the front end and you will feel it in the reins. The head is the 'balancing end' of the spine, so we should not 'force' the head into a certain position. The position of the head is a result of what is happening in the body.
If there is a blockage in the spine or the neck is bent too much, you don't feel the energy in your hands because the energy will 'leak' away over the outside shoulder (like when there is a leak in a water hose).
When we want our horse to stop, I often see people looking at the hind legs to ask the horse to face them. Sometimes it's done unintentionally by holding the inside rein when we want to stop. I have worked with horses that didn't know how to stop straight anymore! This brings the spine out of alignment and disengages the hind leg. Disengaging the hind legs will keep a young, bucking horse from kicking you, but with an educated horse we want the hind legs to be engaged and the spine to be aligned.
2) Information
From the brain of a horse, the spinal cord runs through the vertebrae to the sacrum. In between the vertebrae, the spinal cord branches into smaller nerves that run to the body and legs of the horse. The nervous system transmits information to and from the brain. The sensory nerves pick up information from the body and sends it to the brain (touch, temperature, flies etc) and the motor nerves send 'instructions' from the brain to the body (tense or relax muscles, move the skin etc).
When the spine is not in alignment, eg roll kür or lateral overbending, the space between the vertebrae on that side will be smaller and the exit can compromise the nerves going in and out. That way, information can not be transmitted in a optimal way.
I have experienced this in my own body. After a fall from my horse, I had a herniated disk in my neck, so the nerves going in and out towards my right arm were compromised. For months I could not use my right arm in a proper way and I still have a numb feeling in two fingers.
3) Freedom of movement
When vertebrae are compressed, there is less freedom to move. That's why the spine needs to be elongated so each vertebra has enough space to move freely. That's why we ask our horse to first find a forward movement before we ask for collection.
In collection, the weight is shifted to the haunches, the horse will lower his hindquarters, which will raise the forehand, and the horse will have more bend/flexion in all joints of the legs. The spine is aligned and lengthened to its maximum.
Spinal alignment on a circle
'Bending around' aid
When you walk with your horse on a circle and your horse looks away or is distracted, just try this next time. Instead of pulling on the rope or rein, see what happens when you touch or 'tickle' the girth area (where your leg would be if you were riding).
What happens to you when someone tickles you in your ribs on the side? You will contract those muscles and your body will bend in a curve around the hand that tickles you, right?
When your horse understands that a soft touch on the ribs is an invitation to bend around your hand, it will help you later in riding to ask for bend with your inside leg/seat.
Picture: Clinic in New Zealand 2018
Most people have learned how to ride, but they have never learned how to educate a horse from the ground. I believe that it is possible for every rider (and every horse) to learn lateral movements when it is explained in an easy way. Would you like to learn how to teach your horse shoulder in, haunches in, renvers, half pass and pirouette? This will help your horse build strength and flexibility to prepare for collection so that your horse can carry him/herself AND you in a healthy way.
That's why I have created the Lateral Movements Simplified course. It's a 6-month journey where you will learn how to explain all lateral movements to your horse on the ground (but it will help you and your horse in riding as well. The course starts only twice a year, on January 1st and on July 1st.
Click the green button to find all the information:
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Vorden, the Netherlands
info@lucieklaassen.com
(31) 641 206 107
My dream/mission
I want to make a soulful and inspirational contribution to the horse world where welfare, connection and communication between human and horse are the basis of everything we do with our horse.
My Philosophy
I believe everyone can learn how to connect to your authentic self to become the human your horse WANTS to be with. Understand and feel the depth of the breath, listen to the wisdom of your body and connect from the heart. From that place help your horse become stronger, more balanced, flexible and collected so that you can enjoy a happy and healthy life together!
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