HALF A TON OF HORSE PLEASE, AND MAKE IT LEAN.
By Ken Perrin of the Sale or Return BIT BANK.

Many requests I receive at the bit bank are for bits that will stop horses horses 'leaning' on the hands or to stop them being 'heavy on the forehand'. Well, leaning and heavy are really intertwined. The reason is probably not the bit, but the way in which the horse is schooled. I say this because EVERY enquiry I receive about this has the horse schooled in a certain way.

That is, the horse is schooled 'LONG & LOW' because it stretches their backs and gives them a good 'outline' Let's look at what we are trying to achieve with a horse. We all strive to get it working as light on the forehand as possible, driving from its back legs, with it's hocks engaged, back swinging, to propel it, and you, forward into a rein contact.

A horse has approx 66% of its weight on its front legs. A lot of this weight is attributable to its massive head and neck that protrudes out forward of the front legs. The further out the head, the more weight it has trying to tip it forward. Think of how many times your jumping instructor has told you not to look down at the jump because that is where you will end up! Yet, we apply this to ourselves and then let the horse do exactly what we are told NOT to do, by working it 'long and low'.

By working them long and low on a long rein in the effort to 'stretch', its back, all that is achieved is that its head is aiming for the ground in front of it. Yes it may be stretched through the back, but its hind quarters will not be engaged. This will not build up the hind quarters or the back, so the horse will be trying to drive itself forward with a lot of weight, and its centre of balance at the front, thus 'leaning' and 'heavy on the forehand' I mentioned earlier that it moves forward into a rein contact.

It is very difficult to get a horse accepting a rein contact when it is continually allowed to lower its head and neck to stretch itself. It looks nice, but it really is not effective in building up the correct muscles. When asked for a contact, these horses sometimes object. The reason is that working long and low makes a light contact in this position the 'norm'. However, the horse is never going to work properly to build up its hind quarters and its back.

We may be able to get transitions up and down fairly well, halt to walk, walk to trot etc, but what happens when we ask it to miss a gait, say halt to trot or walk to canter. It has to drag itself forward, normally poking its nose at the same time. Also consider what will happen when you ask for collection. You need leg on, but if the horse is working on a long rein, you will never achieve collection as all the energy is going to go out the front.

It will then never be able to get light on the forehand as it is being taught the opposite. A term comes to mind that has been taught to me over and over again - 'MORE IMPULSION, SAME SPEED'. Impossible with a horse that knows it can just run through the rein contact. Udo Berger, the great German Vet and dressage rider wrote about ' the bow in front of the hands'. In this, he referred to a horse working in an outline where the neck is curved, with the Poll the highest point, the face vertical and the horse 'up in your hands'. In this manner, the horse is being sent forward into a rein contact, its hind quarters are further under it, making it lighter on the forehand and less likely to lean.

It's back is swinging and the horse, freed up from its weight on its front legs, is light to the hands and the riders aids. I listen to many people who say relax. Well I can understand this to a certain extent. However, we have to look at this phrase in perspective. If you look at a top class rider on a well schooled horse that immediately gives an impression of beauty, take a closer look at them. The rider will be sat upright, tall and proud, head aiming for the sky and legs aiming for the ground. The horse will be up in the bridle, ears pricked, bouncing off a light leg and moving seemingly effortlessly.

They both look proud. Yes they are relaxed, because they are both having to put a minimal amount of effort into their movements. A horse that is working long and low may be relaxed, but it certainly won't look proud - nor will it be working properly. Nor will the rider, as he, or she, is constantly leaning forward trying to get this big weight off the ground - putting more weight on it.

Haven't we all struggled in a trot to canter transition, where we have had to give it a really heavy leg aid to get it moving. We automatically curl forward, the horse struggles and then we have to correct ourselves by sitting up again. Working long and low is OK at the END of a session. This allows the horse, with worked but supple muscles, to stretch the walk out, unrestricted by cold and weak muscles at the start, or through the session.

If you look at a top athlete, he will warm up, exercise himself, complete his training session - THEN warm himself down with even more stretching exercises. Remember, our horses are only athletes. So, if you are experiencing problems with 'leaning', or a horse that is 'heavy on the forehand' please consider that the manner in which it is being schooled may be the reason. Ken Perrin For any enquiries about this article, or for help and advice on bitting and ordering bits, please contact me on (01933) 277515.