Rubber Necker
My apologies to all for my absence last month. This is officially the beginning of busy season for anyone who works outdoors! Between teaching lessons, training horses, getting the garden up and running and all the regular life stuff there just hasn’t been enough hours in the day to sit at the computer and connect with you guys.
But here we are and finally, real riding weather is here! Our horses are getting legged up and and some are probably seeking out shows, clinics and organized trail rides paperchases and the like to attend. We just attended a Team Penning practice on Memorial Day – good times! No matter what activities you pursue, it’s critical to make sure your horse is flexible and limber. In my experience, teaching a horse to “bend” around turns is absolutely critical for success and advancement. One of my favorite exercises as either a refresh, or introduction to bending is one I call “the rubber-necker”. Of course, bending is more than just flexing the horse’s neck, but it’s a fun analogy.
So, let’s briefly discuss what bending is.
The concept is simple really. The term “bending” just describes the horse curving his entire body around the turn he is making. If someone were in a helicopter looking down on a horse riding a circle, they would see the horse’s spine (from ears to tail) curved gently to match the circle the horse is performing. Though it is a very simple concept it requires focused training to make a consistent way of riding.
When horses are moving freely on their own they sometimes bend and sometimes just throw themselves around. It matters more when riding because the horse must work in a way that handles the weight of a rider. Bending allows the horse to balance himself and handle the weight load smoothly and with strength regardless of what gait he is in, what terrain he is on or what job he is doing.
Why It Matters
Without the ability to bend and balance our horses often are delayed in responding to our cues. They must first decode our request, prepare their body, then actually perform it. This can also get them flustered because they are continually being caught unprepared and must scramble to give us the right answer. When riding in a balanced way horses can simply decode and perform because they are already prepared for most anything we might reasonably ask. Always being prepared also helps them remain calm and capable even when doing intense activities.
How To Begin
My instructions here will be assuming that you have a fenced arena to practice riding in. For those without an arena, this exercise can still be done but you will likely need to modify it. Setting some land markers for yourself can be very helpful.
As you are riding around your arena, begin purposely asking your horse to look where he is going around the corners or short sides of your ring by adding a little extra inside leg and inside rein. This asks the horse to point his nose where he is going and push his belly towards the fence slightly.
When done correctly you will be able to see the back corner of your horse’s inside eye. The horse’s nose in and ribs out results in the curvature of the spine around the turn as I described earlier. This is called and “inside bend”; bending the horse to the inside of the turn. If your horse cuts in check that you are keeping a feel on your outside rein as well. This tells your horse how much he is allowed to bend and turn. With no outside rein contact he may turn more sharply than you intended.
Next Step
Once your horse is comfortable with that around all turns, we will begin adding an “outside bend” on the long sides of your ring. To do this first allow your horse to straighten his body after the last corner you rode. Then begin adding extra outside leg and outside rein. This asks the horse to look slightly at the fence and push his belly away from the fence, even though you actually continue traveling straight. The purpose is to get your horse really moving off your leg. If your horse ends up bumping into the fence you are using too much rein and not enough leg. As I stated earlier, this is not just about the horse’s neck. It is about getting his entire body from ears to tail fully committed to the turn he is making.
Teaching the outside bend while traveling straight is a great way to make sure he is moving his rib cage off of your leg pressure. On inside bends it can be easy for a horse to cheat and we may not notice as easily. If this is difficult just work to get a couple steps of outside bend at a time, then let the horse straighten. As that gets easier you can build the length of time you hold the bend down the long side. It may take multiple rides to build a good bend because it requires the horse to build strength to hold that position for any extended time.
Put It All Together
Finally, as you reach the end of the long side you will allow your horse to straighten his body, before returning to your inside bend for the new short side. Continue going back and forth between inside and outside bends, making sure to go in both directions at both the walk and the trot. Your horse will gain strength, balance and flexibility and you will have the opportunity to gain better timing and feel.
Final Thoughts
I do not recommend doing this exercise at a canter because an outside bend is not conducive to keeping a balanced canter. However, incorporating bending extensively into your regular riding routine can significantly improve the quality of your cantering separately.
No matter if bending is a new subject or just a refresher for you, spend some focus time each ride on bending your horse right, left, inside and outside and just see what a difference it can make in a few short weeks. Bending is the basis from which all advancement is built. The ability to bend influences every aspect of how a horse moves and all lateral work (sideways motions) begin in a bend of some sort. If you are looking for that key that unlocks your next level, start here! I guarantee it will NOT be a waste of your time.
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