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Don't forget as well the elastic feel you must
have in your hands, so the horse feels the live feel of gentle give and take of
ask and reward. Force never works to make a horse round and soft and
willing to work, only makes them LOOK right without BEING right.
If you really look at a horse that is being forced,
you will notice that the back (just behind the saddle) is not up and round,
although the neck will be flexed. Roundness comes from seat and legs (not
the neck) asking constantly to move forward, and lowering, the
haunches, at the same time asking with very quiet and vibrating hands
to be soft and to yeald the jaw and lift the shoulders. You will
knowtice the gait soften and have more lift and bounce.
A thinking, happy horse will be gently chewing the
bit and salivating. He will look like he is having fun even though he may
be working very hard.
You can actually work a horse in a light short
shank hackamore just as easily as a snaffle bit, only it is not
allowed in shows, it is a good way to start if the horse is unhappy in a
bit. You give and take the same way and it actually feels the same in your
hands. This can even be done on trail and gives them something to
think about as you warm them up before a long ride. (be it training or
competition)
Vicki
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