Demystifying Classical Training - Chapter 6 EXTRACT of: The Main Beam – the Horse’s Back

Demystifying Classical Training - Chapter 6

EXTRACT of: The Main Beam – the Horse’s Back

The back is the bridge between the front and rear of the horse. It is the area between the croup and the withers. Much of this area is hidden by the saddle. When the rider understands the importance of the horse using his back she will then appreciate the relevance of all the training. Learning to recognize when the horse is, or is not, using his back is a huge step forward for many riders.  Working on the rider’s position is often needed so that the horse can use his back. The long term soundness and health of the horse are particularly dependent on the correct use of his back.

The aim of progressive training is that the horse will happily use his back to the best of his ability all the time he is worked.

When you ride some horses it feels as if there is a front end and a back end with no connection in the middle. This is extreme, but many horses have some lack of connection, including some very strong-looking horses. Avant Garde (Spanish), the horse who gave me my first and greatest lessons about horses and their backs, was a case in point. He was a lovely, big, willing horse.  The fact that he did not use his back at all in the beginning was not obvious to me in my ignorance.  I did recognize that he had problems but I didn’t understand why he had them.  I saw that he had an overdeveloped under neck muscle and his natural canter had poor rhythm. It was a huge lesson for me in humility, patience and technique to identify that he was not using his back and then learn how to activate it and make it strong. He was a great character which certainly helped in our early days together.  Chapter 6 – photo 1

            Most horse performance problems arise because the horse is not using his back.

The horse needs to lift his back and ‘give’ through the rib cage in response to the rider’s leg/spur (not just bend the neck in response to the rider’s rein). This action ‘unlocks’ his back.

There is also a distinct related effect that follows when the horse starts to use his back. He carries the rider more easily and softly which, in turn, allows the rider to ride better – which in turn allows the horse to use his body more efficiently.  This becomes evident for most riders once the horse softens in the lateral work.

How to Identify Whether the Horse is Using his Back

 Negative Signs

First, the negatives, which show that he is not using his back.

Check his muscular development when viewed without a saddle. Does your horse:

v  Have developed muscle under his neck?

v  Have a ewe neck?

v  Have a hollow back?

v  Have poor muscle definition in the loin area?

v  Look a tad pregnant (grass belly)?

v  Have a wide lower belly when viewed from the front?

v  Have a dip in the neck immediately in front of the withers?

Some of the above can be associated with the horse’s natural conformation. This will mean a bit more work on your part than working with a horse who doesn’t have these challenges in his build.  Likewise a young horse or green horse. If you have been training your horse for any length of time and he still displays these characteristics, then you will know that he is not using his back.  True ’ewe neck’ and other skeletal issues are challenges, but correct work develops posture and movement in any horse, makes them beautiful and increases their likelihood of long term soundness.

When he is moving, does he:

v  Rein-back reluctantly, crookedly and/or with his head up?

v  Try to stop to pass manure?

v  Open his mouth while working?

v  Put his tongue out to the side?

v  Put his tongue over the bit?

v  Give poor transitions?

v  Feel heavy in the hand?

v  Have trouble engaging the hindquarters (a very overworked statement but if it is your feeling then use it in your self-assessment)?

v  Fall in on the circle?

v  Walk hurriedly?

v  Hollow immediately when you move forward in a transition?

v  Walk in a rhythm that is not a true four-beat?

v  Trot in a hollow fashion that is hard to sit?

v  Show no medium or extended trot?

v  Rush in canter?

v  Move in a four-beat canter?

v  Have difficulty with pirouettes?

v  Have difficulty with turns on forehand?

v  Have difficulty with other lateral work?

v  Have trouble with square halts?

Move wide behind (particularly in trot)?