Forward, Forward, Forward

Why forward is the problem and the solution to most things horse

Now let me give you some examples of what I mean. Horse has a tying up/pulling back problem? No it’s a forward problem, horse has a float loading problem? No it’s a forward problem, horse props up in front when you want to move off whist riding? This is not a rearing problem, it is again a forward problem.

Have I got you thinking yet? “what the hell is this woman on about? That doesn't make sense at all ”but it does, let me tell you why…

Now it is important to remember when reading this article that all horses are different and have different issues that need addressing. In this article I am referring to horses that do not understand pressure and release, are getting “stuck” and the problems this causes. This is not the answer to all horses that may show these traits, it is simply my view of what could be a million things, this is one of the most common things that trainers see.

There are horses that are genuinely frightened, have float loading issues, rearing problems but we can take a look at these in greater depth in later articles.

When a foal is first taught to lead it is important that he is taught to follow a feel (come off pressure and move his feet) rather than just follow the human around that is attached to the end of his rope. This is important because all horses learn to respond well to methods of pressure and release.

Horses don’t learn by the pressure the learn by the release.

Now back to the foal, if he is taught correctly how to give to a feel, he will come to the lightest of feel on the rope as this is a much better option for him than going against the pressure by pulling back, planting his feet or trying to run away. He would have tried these things in his earlier lessons with the halter but decided for himself that it is much easier to come forward to relieve it rather than fight against it. So you may now see where lies the common problem of stepping forward.

Horses are very easy animals to get along with provided they understand us, they do not like to create extra commotion or stress for themselves or us but nonetheless it does happen from time to time due to lack of communication and understanding.

Now apply what we have discussed above to a horse that cannot be hard tied because he pulls back. Perhaps this is because he never properly learned to give, he never learned how to come forward off the pressure he is creating himself. Such a simple lesson as a youngster overlooked can turn into a very dangerous situation for the horse if he is tied or gets stuck and has not been taught to give, he will panic and ultimately hurt himself, do irreparable damage to his neck and poll or even kill himself. Teaching your horse to come off pressure could ultimately save his life.

Lets take our minds over to a horse that is difficult to load on the float, he swings side to side rather than walking up into the float. He may get up in there but suddenly run backwards or perhaps when pressure is applied to the lead to encourage him to step forward he pulls backwards or raises his head instead. Again this is an example of a horse with a forward problem not necessarily a float loading problem.

A horse with a forward problem will react the same way when faced with anything new like leading or directing over an obstacle, the horse has not learned to trust in the human or he doesn’t understand what is being asked. Rather he tries to evade the question by pulling away, going from side to side or planting his feet and just leaning on the pressure which causes him more discomfort.

Horses like to be comfortable, as do we. In order to have a happy horse we need to let him use his own mind, he is not a robot for us to use as we please, he is a living creature with a mind of his own. We need to set the horse up so that he can decide for himself what to do, we need to be smart enough and quick enough to close the doors we don’t want them to take and open the one we do. It is our job to as the trainer to be clear and consistent with our cues and also take time and be patient to help the horse to understand that it is a better idea to come forward out of the pressure than cause more discomfort by resisting it.

Now take a horse with forward issues on the ground and look to where things may arise in ridden work. He is unwilling to navigate obstacles or reluctant to jump. Some horses simply decide that they don't want to do something so they stop, they decide they don't want to go forward, and you’re there kicking at him until he cracks it, he may even jump up in protest or start backing up. This can be an uneasy feeling and for good reason.

A horse needs to always been given a way out (an open door to where we are no longer asking/cuing) any aid that we apply or question that we ask our horse needs to have a clear way of release which is the desired result and how the horse will know if he has done something right or not. If we set our horse up correctly when we ask something of him, blocking what we don't want (closing the doors that aren’t right) and giving for what we do (leaving the right door open free of pressure, he will always try and he will eventually find the place that we haven't blocked (the open door).

Each time we ask the same question the correct response will come sooner and sooner. He will try all of the closed doors first, this may take some time, then he stumbles upon the open door and gets the release. It is most important that you let the horse have this time to rest and process before you ask anything more. The next time you ask him the same question he will try less of the closed doors and find the open door sooner, the next few times he will know exactly where the open door is and he found it for himself.

To ask a horse to go forward we ask a question (apply an aid) or apply pressure (the type of pressure depends on the horse and the situation) this can be as light as taking a light feel of the reins or simply willing the horse with your body and energy to move off or you may be kicking at him to get him to move off. Either way you are giving the horse a cue to move off in a forward direction. If he ignores or refuses the cue we apply more pressure. For the light horse he may need some encouragement with a squeeze of the calves, whereas the other may need a tap with the whip or the roll of the spur. In both cases the horse has been presented with extra pressure; now the way of relieving this is to obviously step forward, but what if the horse doesn’t understand moving forward from pressure the same as we looked at with the issues on the ground? This horse that is being ridden doesn't understand the question, he doesn't understand that there is a way out of the bind, he then resorts to things like rearing or running backwards.

I never try to move a new horse, young horse, horse I don’t know directly forward whilst on their back. I always use groundwork to see where the horse is at and help un-stick a few issues before getting on then I will always move the shoulders to step off. If you free the horses feet up by moving the shoulders separately from the hind and vice versa it is much safer way to build communication and understanding before asking to move directly forward.

I hope this has been able to help explain a simpler version of what you may experience or encounter with your horse. Depending on the severity of the problems that arise from this forward issue will depend on how you go about solving them. Everything with the horse is simple if we take away our emotions and just look at the facts, horses are not vindictive, they don't plot at night how they’re going to piss us off tomorrow, they either understand or they don't, they’re trying or they aren’t. It all depends on their mood, mindset and yours as well.

In conclusion I hope that this has given you a different approach to thinking about these problems when they arise. I hope you are able to step back and assess what might be the root of the problem, simplify it, it is important to keep your cool and not get angry or frustrated. Sometimes even the best of horses can get confused or have an off day and it is our job as their handlers/teachers to work on ourselves to give them the most clearest form of communication and understanding.

Sometimes it may be as simple as slowing down the process and not asking for so much, stop expecting and just be happy when our horse tries. Perhaps with this different approach you can focus on the simple things like the horse taking a step forward rather than getting on the float, or over an obstacle.

Often when we remove expectations and are contented with the horse simply listening and trying for us no matter how small it may seem, things change the arguments become less because instead of forcing him your allowing him to use his mind for himself to listen and communicate, by slowing down the process and just getting the forward back you’ll be surprised at how much effort the horse will put into trying rather than evading.

“It is a partnership we are striving for not mastery over them”