Teach Your Gaited Horse To Give To The Bit and Be Soft
By Gaye DeRusso
Many gaited horses are very stiff and resistant. They do not bend well, they lean in on circles, when you put pressure on the bit, they brace, pull against you or just do not respond.
Why? One reason is, no one taught them to give to pressure and to be soft and supple. Second reason is, someone did teach it, but then someone else took that training off. Yes, that's right sometimes they were taught the right way, but then the owner pulls on their mouth and releases when the horse is pulling, instead of giving to the bit and the horse now responds by leaning and pulling on the bit.
What is the importance of softness? It makes for a better riding horse. The horses that are soft and supple are confident and relaxed. They try very hard to do what you ask them. They respond with light commands, it's easy to move their body around and they do it willingly.
A horse that is stiff will tend to be worried and nervous. They will usually fight against what the rider is asking because, they do not understand what is being asked of them. It is not easy to move their body around, and most commands are met with resistance.
To teach your horse to be soft and supple, I start with their head and neck by doing lateral flexion and then vertical flexion. Once the horse understands, I then move on to suppling exercises, which I will post in another article.
It is best to start this exercise on the ground with a lead and halter. The stiffer the halter the easier it will be to teach. Stand on your horse's side, behind where your saddle would be, so you are close to his hindquarters. Put the lead rope over their neck or back, then reach halfway down and pull lightly to turn their head halfway toward you. If they do not respond you will have to pull hard enough, till they respond by turning their head slightly toward you.
Be careful as when you start this, they sometimes will start spinning around till they figure out the answer. Stay in your spot, so they do not step on you but walk with them, still turning their head, so they stay in a circle. It can take a while, do not release the pressure until the horse stands still and gives to the pressure by turning its head further toward you. When they do, give as fast as you can or just drop the rope. Give them a 5-10 second break then ask again. Try to do it, at least 6-10 repetitions on each side. The more days you practice in a row the faster the horse will understand. If they are not understanding or getting better, usually you are releasing too slow when they give, or you are releasing when they are still moving or pulling.
Once they can do it well consistently, then put a bridle on your horse, with a snaffle bit and long reins. Put the reins over the horse's head. Still from the ground, ask the horse to do the lateral flexion, even if they did well with the halter, now they might start to move their feet again, that is ok, they will figure it out. Just wait until they stand still and give laterally, give a 5-10 second break in between reps, and repeat at least 6-10 times on each side.
Once they can do it well from the ground, you can saddle them up and try it under saddle. Remember not to pull too hard, try to pull with the lightest amount to get them to turn their head, you only want to turn their head part way and the horse should do the rest of the turning of his head and giving to the bit pressure. Also, remember to let the opposite rein go, so they can turn their head, or push the opposite rein forward as far as you can.
When they turn their head, anything close to their belly or your stirrup is fine. Some will want to bite your stirrup or foot, if you know your horse is like that, then do not ask it to turn its head as far.
Now that you are trying under saddle, you will alternate the sides, so lateral flexion to the right, 5 second break then lateral flexion to the left. Repeat 6-10 times on each side or until they understand. They may try to walk while you are doing it, let them and just keep their head turned, do not try to stop them from walking. Let them figure out the answer which is to stand still and give their head laterally, that's when you should release.
Remember the quicker you release the quicker the horse will learn. If your release is longer then 3 seconds from when they did the movement, they usually will not connect the dots. Your release is what they learn from, so you must have good timing to get them to understand.
Ok, so now to vertical flexion (putting head down). Once the lateral flexion is good and your horse understands it well, you can try vertical flexion. Pick up slightly on one rein like you are going to do lateral flexion and turn their head a little to one side, then pick up on the other rein and apply even pressure to both reins and wait. Your horse is going to try and guess what the answer is. So, he may back up, throw his head, turn his head to the side, he may throw it down, he may try to walk off. Just keep holding and wait, it may take a while if your lateral flexion was not as good as you thought it was. As soon as his feet are still, and he makes any effort to put the head down, release quickly. That tells him he is on the right road to the answer. Then ask for more each time until he finally gives well, puts his head down with his feet remain still.
It can take many times, just keep it up till he does it well. If he backs up, do not stop him or he will think that is the answer, let him back up and keep holding till his feet are still and he gives to the bit. Once he can do it well with you picking up on one rein then the other then start picking up on both reins at the same time and asking for vertical flexion. Again, repeat until horse can do it well.
When you can do this well at a standstill then try it at a walk. Walk off with a light rein, then in about 10 feet ask your horse to stop, make sure you take your leg off, then hold pressure on both reins and wait till he stops and puts his head down, then release quickly. Wait 20 seconds then walk off and repeat again, this will teach your horse to slow down and put his head down when you put contact on the reins. repeat over and over until when you ask him to stop, he immediately puts head down with the contact of your reins. Once he can do that well, you're ready to move on.
Now you can start trying it at the walk and keep walking, so you will do everything the same except, don't ask for a stop, just ask him to put his head down and keep your leg on him, so he does not stop. Hold pressure till your horse's head goes down and gives, then you release on the rein but keep him walking. Some horses need you to use a lot of leg and others only a little leg to keep them going.
Once you can do this at the walk and keep your horses head down, then you can start doing your lateral exercises, such as circles, patterns, leg yielding, serpentine and practice keeping the horses head down and soft. If they are pulling as you do these exercises, do not pull harder, use more leg to get the horse to give through their body and bend and then the head will follow.
Now you can try gaiting, most horses will do their first gait well with their head down and relaxed but when you go to their intermediate gait, the pacey ones will usually do well and gait better, but some horses will need to bring their head up some, especially if they are on the trotty side. If they are too relaxed and round in their back with their head down, it can make them more trotty. So just be aware that now you can bring your horses head up or down to help you get their gait. In the end we want the horse to be comfortable and relaxed in his gait and each horse will be different in their head carriage on what is comfortable for them. We are usually trying for it to be neutral, not too high but not too low either.
If they put their head too low, just do a quick jerk on one rein up toward the sky and release when they bring their head back to neutral.
It can take some time to teach the horse lateral and vertical flexion, but it is well worth the time. It is one of the first things I teach all the horses that come in for training.
If the horse understands how to react to the bit and pressure, they become more confident and relaxed. And a horse that is confident and relaxed will do his job willingly. And that my friends is a nice horse to ride.
Bits
Snaffle bit https://amzn.to/3WPY1Qh
Short Shank Bit https://amzn.to/3Z0TbRl
Longer Shank Bit https://amzn.to/3vsMcDq
Longer Shank with Port for more tongue relief https://amzn.to/3vtCVLc
Wonder Bit https://amzn.to/3jGSqgj
Wonder Bit with Twist https://amzn.to/3WTCndn
Bit Guards https://amzn.to/3Cd3EQ4
Curb Chain https://amzn.to/3voPGqy
Correction Bit https://amzn.to/3jEOGfj
Reins with colors to help hand placement https://amzn.to/3VyMlzU
Rubber reins to help grip https://amzn.to/3jBub34
Clip for easy attachment and added weight https://amzn.to/3Q1ited
How to use your hands with gaited horses https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDIfbdCzbdtRr1geDTygOjetBmhpukIWc
Free Training Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018259835184485/
Gaited Books
Easy Gaited Horses By Lee Ziegler https://amzn.to/3vFuk8w
The Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3It0Imf
Gaits of Gold by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3jGXam0
Heavenly Gaits By Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3ieKGBP
Training the Gaited Horse By Gary Lane https://amzn.to/3jPcAVq
DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission if you buy something. This helps support the website. Thank you for the support!
By Gaye DeRusso
Many gaited horses are very stiff and resistant. They do not bend well, they lean in on circles, when you put pressure on the bit, they brace, pull against you or just do not respond.
Why? One reason is, no one taught them to give to pressure and to be soft and supple. Second reason is, someone did teach it, but then someone else took that training off. Yes, that's right sometimes they were taught the right way, but then the owner pulls on their mouth and releases when the horse is pulling, instead of giving to the bit and the horse now responds by leaning and pulling on the bit.
What is the importance of softness? It makes for a better riding horse. The horses that are soft and supple are confident and relaxed. They try very hard to do what you ask them. They respond with light commands, it's easy to move their body around and they do it willingly.
A horse that is stiff will tend to be worried and nervous. They will usually fight against what the rider is asking because, they do not understand what is being asked of them. It is not easy to move their body around, and most commands are met with resistance.
To teach your horse to be soft and supple, I start with their head and neck by doing lateral flexion and then vertical flexion. Once the horse understands, I then move on to suppling exercises, which I will post in another article.
It is best to start this exercise on the ground with a lead and halter. The stiffer the halter the easier it will be to teach. Stand on your horse's side, behind where your saddle would be, so you are close to his hindquarters. Put the lead rope over their neck or back, then reach halfway down and pull lightly to turn their head halfway toward you. If they do not respond you will have to pull hard enough, till they respond by turning their head slightly toward you.
Be careful as when you start this, they sometimes will start spinning around till they figure out the answer. Stay in your spot, so they do not step on you but walk with them, still turning their head, so they stay in a circle. It can take a while, do not release the pressure until the horse stands still and gives to the pressure by turning its head further toward you. When they do, give as fast as you can or just drop the rope. Give them a 5-10 second break then ask again. Try to do it, at least 6-10 repetitions on each side. The more days you practice in a row the faster the horse will understand. If they are not understanding or getting better, usually you are releasing too slow when they give, or you are releasing when they are still moving or pulling.
Once they can do it well consistently, then put a bridle on your horse, with a snaffle bit and long reins. Put the reins over the horse's head. Still from the ground, ask the horse to do the lateral flexion, even if they did well with the halter, now they might start to move their feet again, that is ok, they will figure it out. Just wait until they stand still and give laterally, give a 5-10 second break in between reps, and repeat at least 6-10 times on each side.
Once they can do it well from the ground, you can saddle them up and try it under saddle. Remember not to pull too hard, try to pull with the lightest amount to get them to turn their head, you only want to turn their head part way and the horse should do the rest of the turning of his head and giving to the bit pressure. Also, remember to let the opposite rein go, so they can turn their head, or push the opposite rein forward as far as you can.
When they turn their head, anything close to their belly or your stirrup is fine. Some will want to bite your stirrup or foot, if you know your horse is like that, then do not ask it to turn its head as far.
Now that you are trying under saddle, you will alternate the sides, so lateral flexion to the right, 5 second break then lateral flexion to the left. Repeat 6-10 times on each side or until they understand. They may try to walk while you are doing it, let them and just keep their head turned, do not try to stop them from walking. Let them figure out the answer which is to stand still and give their head laterally, that's when you should release.
Remember the quicker you release the quicker the horse will learn. If your release is longer then 3 seconds from when they did the movement, they usually will not connect the dots. Your release is what they learn from, so you must have good timing to get them to understand.
Ok, so now to vertical flexion (putting head down). Once the lateral flexion is good and your horse understands it well, you can try vertical flexion. Pick up slightly on one rein like you are going to do lateral flexion and turn their head a little to one side, then pick up on the other rein and apply even pressure to both reins and wait. Your horse is going to try and guess what the answer is. So, he may back up, throw his head, turn his head to the side, he may throw it down, he may try to walk off. Just keep holding and wait, it may take a while if your lateral flexion was not as good as you thought it was. As soon as his feet are still, and he makes any effort to put the head down, release quickly. That tells him he is on the right road to the answer. Then ask for more each time until he finally gives well, puts his head down with his feet remain still.
It can take many times, just keep it up till he does it well. If he backs up, do not stop him or he will think that is the answer, let him back up and keep holding till his feet are still and he gives to the bit. Once he can do it well with you picking up on one rein then the other then start picking up on both reins at the same time and asking for vertical flexion. Again, repeat until horse can do it well.
When you can do this well at a standstill then try it at a walk. Walk off with a light rein, then in about 10 feet ask your horse to stop, make sure you take your leg off, then hold pressure on both reins and wait till he stops and puts his head down, then release quickly. Wait 20 seconds then walk off and repeat again, this will teach your horse to slow down and put his head down when you put contact on the reins. repeat over and over until when you ask him to stop, he immediately puts head down with the contact of your reins. Once he can do that well, you're ready to move on.
Now you can start trying it at the walk and keep walking, so you will do everything the same except, don't ask for a stop, just ask him to put his head down and keep your leg on him, so he does not stop. Hold pressure till your horse's head goes down and gives, then you release on the rein but keep him walking. Some horses need you to use a lot of leg and others only a little leg to keep them going.
Once you can do this at the walk and keep your horses head down, then you can start doing your lateral exercises, such as circles, patterns, leg yielding, serpentine and practice keeping the horses head down and soft. If they are pulling as you do these exercises, do not pull harder, use more leg to get the horse to give through their body and bend and then the head will follow.
Now you can try gaiting, most horses will do their first gait well with their head down and relaxed but when you go to their intermediate gait, the pacey ones will usually do well and gait better, but some horses will need to bring their head up some, especially if they are on the trotty side. If they are too relaxed and round in their back with their head down, it can make them more trotty. So just be aware that now you can bring your horses head up or down to help you get their gait. In the end we want the horse to be comfortable and relaxed in his gait and each horse will be different in their head carriage on what is comfortable for them. We are usually trying for it to be neutral, not too high but not too low either.
If they put their head too low, just do a quick jerk on one rein up toward the sky and release when they bring their head back to neutral.
It can take some time to teach the horse lateral and vertical flexion, but it is well worth the time. It is one of the first things I teach all the horses that come in for training.
If the horse understands how to react to the bit and pressure, they become more confident and relaxed. And a horse that is confident and relaxed will do his job willingly. And that my friends is a nice horse to ride.
Bits
Snaffle bit https://amzn.to/3WPY1Qh
Short Shank Bit https://amzn.to/3Z0TbRl
Longer Shank Bit https://amzn.to/3vsMcDq
Longer Shank with Port for more tongue relief https://amzn.to/3vtCVLc
Wonder Bit https://amzn.to/3jGSqgj
Wonder Bit with Twist https://amzn.to/3WTCndn
Bit Guards https://amzn.to/3Cd3EQ4
Curb Chain https://amzn.to/3voPGqy
Correction Bit https://amzn.to/3jEOGfj
Reins with colors to help hand placement https://amzn.to/3VyMlzU
Rubber reins to help grip https://amzn.to/3jBub34
Clip for easy attachment and added weight https://amzn.to/3Q1ited
How to use your hands with gaited horses https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDIfbdCzbdtRr1geDTygOjetBmhpukIWc
Free Training Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018259835184485/
Gaited Books
Easy Gaited Horses By Lee Ziegler https://amzn.to/3vFuk8w
The Gaited Horse Bible by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3It0Imf
Gaits of Gold by Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3jGXam0
Heavenly Gaits By Brenda Imus https://amzn.to/3ieKGBP
Training the Gaited Horse By Gary Lane https://amzn.to/3jPcAVq
DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission if you buy something. This helps support the website. Thank you for the support!