Teach Your Gaited Horse To Be Supple
By Gaye DeRusso
To be supple under saddle refers to your horse's ability to bend without stiffness. When you bend your horse, he travels with his body in the arc of a circle, bringing his front end and hind end toward the inside of a circle. Just like the curve of a banana.
This allows the horse to better balance himself around circles, corners and turns. Which in turn allows him to carry a rider in a healthy and functional manner.
Now you might think, since you're a trail rider and not an arena rider, that this is not important. But it is very important. Think of how many turns you inquire on the trail, how many times you go around trees, or go through small openings. If your horse does not bend well, they will lean in on the turns which can cause them to go off the trail and can also cause them to smack your knee into the tree.
So first we must teach the horse how to bend. At a walk, you are going to take your horse into a circle and try to bend them around the circle. When bending the horse move your outside leg (the one on the outside of the circle), a little behind the girth, and keep it on your horse's side. You will use this leg to push the horse off the fence line (rail) and start your circle by applying pressure with your calf. If your horse does not respond then use your heel, but always ask with your calf first. Once the horse turns you will lighten the pressure but keep it in place to prevent the horse from swinging his hind end to the outside of the circle.
Press your inside leg (the one toward the center of your circle) at the girth on your horse's side. If the horse falls in on the circle or slows down use this leg, use your calf first then your heel if no response.
With your reins, keep an even feel, and every time you pull on them, make sure you pull toward your hip. Use the outside rein against the horse's neck when you start the turn and then slightly open it to the outside once you are making your circle (this is called an open rein), this rein will help control how much your horse turns his head and neck, so he doesn't over bend. It also supports the outside of his body.
Use your inside rein, by squeezing and relaxing with your fingers to turn your horse's nose toward the inside of the circle. As you pull this rein you will pull toward your opposite hip (this is called an indirect rein) and turn his head enough that you can see his nose tilt and his inside eye. This rein keeps your horse turning, but by squeezing and relaxing it helps prevent him from just leaning on the rein. Horses like to lean on constant pressure.
Every time you squeeze the inside rein, you want to apply pressure with the calf of your inside leg, to get your horse to bend his body around your leg. If he still leans in instead of bending, apply your heel, or spur at the same time you apply your rein. Every time he bends around your leg, and he stops leaning or pulling on the rein, you will release the pressure on the rein and leg at the same time. So, he understands this is what you want.
In the beginning you may have to apply a lot of pressure on the rein and leg, but in time through repetition, it should get much easier. Every time you release your horse will mostly likely put his head and body straight, you will ask again for him to bend and stay in your circle. Over time he will understand that when you ask him to bend around a circle that he is to stay bent, but it will take many repetitions.
The reason we release the rein and leg is the horse learns from the release not the pressure. So, if we release when he does it correctly, he will try and try again to get the relief of pressure. Also, instead of holding him in this position, he will learn to carry and balance himself, instead of us balancing for him, but it takes time and strength for the horse to do this well. So have patience.
Also make sure as you make your circle you glance at your horse's head but do not stare at it, you want to make sure you look around your circle to help your horse know where to go. You also want to twist your upper body slightly to the inside of the circle, so you balance yourself over your horse. So, if going to the right you would twist so your right shoulder turns just slightly to the right toward your horse's hind end.
When I teach them to bend, I like to make smaller circles first, the size you would make in the corner of an arena or what some call a 10-meter circle. I like to circle in the center of the arena, so I have room and I circle 2-4 times one direction and then the other direction, like a figure 8, so the horse gets a break, and your arms and legs also get a break. If you do this every time you ride, the horse will get very good at it and become more balanced, flexible, relaxed and stronger. You can also do it on the trail when waiting for your friends, to occupy your horse's mind.
Circles will also help the gaited horse reach further with his inside leg under himself. This helps the horse to engage his backend, but it will also help to separate the legs in a pacey horse.
Other Suppling Exercises
Serpentine
One of my favorite exercises. Besides making your horse more supple, it teaches balance and strength. I also use it to slow my horse down when going home or when riding with slower riders. It is also helpful to get down hard hills if you are on a wider steep trail.
To serpentine, I like to make the size I would going down a fire trail, but you can make them larger and only do 3- 5 loops also. When you make a serpentine, you are going to bend your horse one direction, then straighten him then bend the other direction. You will use the same reins and leg cues as you do to bend the horse.
Start by using your outside leg and pushing the horse off the rail, as you press your outside rein against his neck, once he turns then bend to the inside and start to make half of a circle by using your inside rein toward your opposite hip and inside leg at the same time as your rein, remember to squeeze and release this rein. Once you make your half circle, straighten your horse, and then start a half circle the opposite direction.
If it's too confusing in the beginning to coordinate your arms and legs, then just start with right rein and right leg, make your half circle then go straight a couple steps then left rein and left leg and make your half circle to the left. Once you can do that well, then you can add in your other rein and leg to help support and steer your horse.
Leg Yield
This exercise teaches your horse to go sideways and forward at the same time, helps separate legs in the pacey horse, increases balance and strength. Walk down either the center or quarter line (halfway between the center of the arena and the rail) of the arena. Hold your horse straight using both reins and legs. If he cannot make a straight line, then just work on walking a straight line to the end of the arena first, go back on rail and repeat. Once he can walk a straight line you can start your leg yield. You will turn down the center or quarter line. Bend your horse the opposite way that you want to push him.
During leg yield, the horse’s inside legs cross in front of the outside legs while he maintains a slight flexion of the poll away from the direction in which he is travelling
So, if leg yielding off your left leg, to push him to the right, you will bend him to your left. So left rein against his neck and pull slightly toward your right hip. Right rein open to the side away from his neck to guide him the direction you want to go toward the right (so basically both reins will pull lightly to the right), use your left leg behind the girth to push your horse over to the right and your right leg at the girth, but do not touch horse.
You will use your legs alternating them, to help your horse move over with his shoulders and his hindquarters at the same time. So, push with your left leg and have your right leg off. This opens the door so he can move over to the right. Then go straight by taking your left leg off and applying your right leg to block him from moving over anymore. Now straighten his head and neck by bringing your reins back to the center. After you go straight a step then ask him for another step sideways and keep repeating till you get back to the rail.
If the horse speeds up as you ask him to step over, put more pressure on the reins, this will block forward motion and open the door to go sideways to get away from the pressure. If he won't go sideways apply heel pressure and then spur pressure if he still won't move over, release the leg when he does move over.
If horse goes too sideways and not forward, use less rein pressure and make sure to go straight a step or two in between pushing him over. Remember this exercise is to move forward and sideways at the same time.
This is a great exercise to use on the trail. You can move them over when you see a hiker or biker coming. It is so much nicer to push them over then to pull on their mouth to get them to move over. If they get pacey, you can use this to separate their legs. If they get anxious or distracted, you can use this exercise to get them focused again.
You can use this and the above exercises at a slow walk in the beginning, but once they understand and get better, then you can do all these exercises at gait and even at the canter. You do need to be careful with the horses that are on the trotty side, if they are getting more trotty when you gait them at these exercises then just do them at a walk.
All these exercises help to separate their legs when gaiting, and sometimes that can make a horse on the trotty side more trotty. But they are still good exercises to do to make your horse more supple and balanced.
They are extremely helpful for the pacey horse and once you know these exercises, sometimes all you need to do when they get pacey is just some serpentine, leg yield or some circles and they go back into gait.
Remember you are trying to make your horse the best he or she can be. The more supple they are, the easier they are to move their body parts. So, the easier they are to control. The horse will now find it easier to understand what you want because now they understand that leg does not always mean forward, sometimes it means go sideways. They will understand more cues and overall become a more enjoyable horse to ride.
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
To be supple under saddle refers to your horse's ability to bend without stiffness. When you bend your horse, he travels with his body in the arc of a circle, bringing his front end and hind end toward the inside of a circle. Just like the curve of a banana.
This allows the horse to better balance himself around circles, corners and turns. Which in turn allows him to carry a rider in a healthy and functional manner.
Now you might think, since you're a trail rider and not an arena rider, that this is not important. But it is very important. Think of how many turns you inquire on the trail, how many times you go around trees, or go through small openings. If your horse does not bend well, they will lean in on the turns which can cause them to go off the trail and can also cause them to smack your knee into the tree.
So first we must teach the horse how to bend. At a walk, you are going to take your horse into a circle and try to bend them around the circle. When bending the horse move your outside leg (the one on the outside of the circle), a little behind the girth, and keep it on your horse's side. You will use this leg to push the horse off the fence line (rail) and start your circle by applying pressure with your calf. If your horse does not respond then use your heel, but always ask with your calf first. Once the horse turns you will lighten the pressure but keep it in place to prevent the horse from swinging his hind end to the outside of the circle.
Press your inside leg (the one toward the center of your circle) at the girth on your horse's side. If the horse falls in on the circle or slows down use this leg, use your calf first then your heel if no response.
With your reins, keep an even feel, and every time you pull on them, make sure you pull toward your hip. Use the outside rein against the horse's neck when you start the turn and then slightly open it to the outside once you are making your circle (this is called an open rein), this rein will help control how much your horse turns his head and neck, so he doesn't over bend. It also supports the outside of his body.
Use your inside rein, by squeezing and relaxing with your fingers to turn your horse's nose toward the inside of the circle. As you pull this rein you will pull toward your opposite hip (this is called an indirect rein) and turn his head enough that you can see his nose tilt and his inside eye. This rein keeps your horse turning, but by squeezing and relaxing it helps prevent him from just leaning on the rein. Horses like to lean on constant pressure.
Every time you squeeze the inside rein, you want to apply pressure with the calf of your inside leg, to get your horse to bend his body around your leg. If he still leans in instead of bending, apply your heel, or spur at the same time you apply your rein. Every time he bends around your leg, and he stops leaning or pulling on the rein, you will release the pressure on the rein and leg at the same time. So, he understands this is what you want.
In the beginning you may have to apply a lot of pressure on the rein and leg, but in time through repetition, it should get much easier. Every time you release your horse will mostly likely put his head and body straight, you will ask again for him to bend and stay in your circle. Over time he will understand that when you ask him to bend around a circle that he is to stay bent, but it will take many repetitions.
The reason we release the rein and leg is the horse learns from the release not the pressure. So, if we release when he does it correctly, he will try and try again to get the relief of pressure. Also, instead of holding him in this position, he will learn to carry and balance himself, instead of us balancing for him, but it takes time and strength for the horse to do this well. So have patience.
Also make sure as you make your circle you glance at your horse's head but do not stare at it, you want to make sure you look around your circle to help your horse know where to go. You also want to twist your upper body slightly to the inside of the circle, so you balance yourself over your horse. So, if going to the right you would twist so your right shoulder turns just slightly to the right toward your horse's hind end.
When I teach them to bend, I like to make smaller circles first, the size you would make in the corner of an arena or what some call a 10-meter circle. I like to circle in the center of the arena, so I have room and I circle 2-4 times one direction and then the other direction, like a figure 8, so the horse gets a break, and your arms and legs also get a break. If you do this every time you ride, the horse will get very good at it and become more balanced, flexible, relaxed and stronger. You can also do it on the trail when waiting for your friends, to occupy your horse's mind.
Circles will also help the gaited horse reach further with his inside leg under himself. This helps the horse to engage his backend, but it will also help to separate the legs in a pacey horse.
Other Suppling Exercises
Serpentine
One of my favorite exercises. Besides making your horse more supple, it teaches balance and strength. I also use it to slow my horse down when going home or when riding with slower riders. It is also helpful to get down hard hills if you are on a wider steep trail.
To serpentine, I like to make the size I would going down a fire trail, but you can make them larger and only do 3- 5 loops also. When you make a serpentine, you are going to bend your horse one direction, then straighten him then bend the other direction. You will use the same reins and leg cues as you do to bend the horse.
Start by using your outside leg and pushing the horse off the rail, as you press your outside rein against his neck, once he turns then bend to the inside and start to make half of a circle by using your inside rein toward your opposite hip and inside leg at the same time as your rein, remember to squeeze and release this rein. Once you make your half circle, straighten your horse, and then start a half circle the opposite direction.
If it's too confusing in the beginning to coordinate your arms and legs, then just start with right rein and right leg, make your half circle then go straight a couple steps then left rein and left leg and make your half circle to the left. Once you can do that well, then you can add in your other rein and leg to help support and steer your horse.
Leg Yield
This exercise teaches your horse to go sideways and forward at the same time, helps separate legs in the pacey horse, increases balance and strength. Walk down either the center or quarter line (halfway between the center of the arena and the rail) of the arena. Hold your horse straight using both reins and legs. If he cannot make a straight line, then just work on walking a straight line to the end of the arena first, go back on rail and repeat. Once he can walk a straight line you can start your leg yield. You will turn down the center or quarter line. Bend your horse the opposite way that you want to push him.
During leg yield, the horse’s inside legs cross in front of the outside legs while he maintains a slight flexion of the poll away from the direction in which he is travelling
So, if leg yielding off your left leg, to push him to the right, you will bend him to your left. So left rein against his neck and pull slightly toward your right hip. Right rein open to the side away from his neck to guide him the direction you want to go toward the right (so basically both reins will pull lightly to the right), use your left leg behind the girth to push your horse over to the right and your right leg at the girth, but do not touch horse.
You will use your legs alternating them, to help your horse move over with his shoulders and his hindquarters at the same time. So, push with your left leg and have your right leg off. This opens the door so he can move over to the right. Then go straight by taking your left leg off and applying your right leg to block him from moving over anymore. Now straighten his head and neck by bringing your reins back to the center. After you go straight a step then ask him for another step sideways and keep repeating till you get back to the rail.
If the horse speeds up as you ask him to step over, put more pressure on the reins, this will block forward motion and open the door to go sideways to get away from the pressure. If he won't go sideways apply heel pressure and then spur pressure if he still won't move over, release the leg when he does move over.
If horse goes too sideways and not forward, use less rein pressure and make sure to go straight a step or two in between pushing him over. Remember this exercise is to move forward and sideways at the same time.
This is a great exercise to use on the trail. You can move them over when you see a hiker or biker coming. It is so much nicer to push them over then to pull on their mouth to get them to move over. If they get pacey, you can use this to separate their legs. If they get anxious or distracted, you can use this exercise to get them focused again.
You can use this and the above exercises at a slow walk in the beginning, but once they understand and get better, then you can do all these exercises at gait and even at the canter. You do need to be careful with the horses that are on the trotty side, if they are getting more trotty when you gait them at these exercises then just do them at a walk.
All these exercises help to separate their legs when gaiting, and sometimes that can make a horse on the trotty side more trotty. But they are still good exercises to do to make your horse more supple and balanced.
They are extremely helpful for the pacey horse and once you know these exercises, sometimes all you need to do when they get pacey is just some serpentine, leg yield or some circles and they go back into gait.
Remember you are trying to make your horse the best he or she can be. The more supple they are, the easier they are to move their body parts. So, the easier they are to control. The horse will now find it easier to understand what you want because now they understand that leg does not always mean forward, sometimes it means go sideways. They will understand more cues and overall become a more enjoyable horse to ride.
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!