 On
May 17, members of NCAApHC
were invited to a free clinic given by Glenn Reed, long time non
pro reining exhibitor.
The
methods Reed uses to teach his horses to do reining maneuvers can
benefit all horses, no matter what your chosen discipline. By getting
you and your horse good at these moves, you will have an enjoyable,
well trained horse to ride.
The
goal in all training is to get your horse to respond to progressively
lighter cues. He must also do what he is asked until you tell him
to do something else.
Always
remember...
Ask,
tell, demand. Ask first, then tell your horse, then demand if he
has not responded. Once your horse responds to your cue, eventually
he should learn that it's easier on him to respond to the lighter
cue. You will undo all attempts to get your horse 'light' if you
continue to ask him at the demand level once he is responding to
lighter cues.
Start
out with light pressure, giving your horse the chance to respond
before increasing pressure. Once there is even the slightest hint
that he is trying to respond, release. The release is his reward.
The goal is to get your horse to respond to the lightest cue.
Every
time you are on your horse, you make the decisions. Never allow
your horse to do or go wherever or whenever he chooses. Always remember
that "whoa" means stop. It does not mean slow down or
just pause. It means stop all four feet and not move until told
to.
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Flex
- Reach
down a rein, then slowly pull your horse's head to the
side.
- Rest
your hand on your thigh as an anchor.
- When
your horse puts slack in the rein, immediately let go.
- Repeat
on other side.
This
teaches your horse to be very light in the mouth. It is also
a good thing to do when you want to get your horse's mind
on you. |
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When starting to teach your horse to flex, he may move off
to follow his head. That's ok. If you are not giving leg cues,
he will soon learn that his feet should stay still. Work up
to flexing your horse's head side to side while moving. This
is the beginning of isolating and controlling each part of
your horse's body. |
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Give
Behind
- Hold
reins steady to discourage forward motion.
- Put
right heel slightly behind girth and apply steady pressure.
- Stop
giving pressure as soon as the horse moves his back end
away from your heel.
- Repeat
on other side.
One
or two steps at first is good. Wait a second before trying
again. Work up to a full circle. |
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Give
in Front
- Hold
reins steady to discourage forward motion.
- Put
right heel more forward than you did for behind give,
and apply pressure.
- Stop
giving pressure as soon as your horse steps over in front.
- Repeat
on other side.
|
 |
Back
Up
- Hold
reins steady.
- Push
your heels down and feet forward in the stirrups.
- Increase
pressure on reins until your horse moves back.
- Ease
the pressure on the reins as soon as your horse starts
to back, but keep heels down and feet forward.
- Return
legs to normal position when you want to stop backing.
|
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Whoa
The
cue for whoa is the same as for back up. Push heels down
and feet forward in stirrups, and increase pressure on the
reins. Continue holding reins and leg position until your
horse backs up if he did not stop immediately. Soon your
horse will stop without needing to apply pressure to the
reins. Because he will learn to expect the back up, he will
plant his rear end. |
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Spin
- Hold
reins in both hands.
- Ask
your horse to walk in a circle, using inside rein pressure,
outside heel.
- Make
your circles get progressively smaller and smaller.
- When
you want the horse to stop forward motion, take slack
out of outside rein and put it against the horse's neck.
This is the beginning of the spin in place.
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