A vast bundle of nerves lies at the base of the horse’s neck. When it’s stimulated in a way that activates the nearby muscles, the horse lifts his weight up and travels with lightness. We refer to this as lifting the base of his neck. A horse that lifts the base of his neck while trotting and cantering feels smooth and cushioned to ride. Learn how to canter your horse with a neck rope.Photo: Donna Stidolph
On the other hand, when he is falling forward with his balance and pushing the base of his neck down, he will travel with rough, hurried strides, especially in the canter, which can feel like careening. For a better canter, you want to teach him to lift the base of his neck.
This is where an exquisitely timed half-halt helps. Without perfect timing, though, or when the half-halt is not working for various reasons, a neck rope offers a valuable assist. Learning how to canter with a neck rope can be very beneficial. In fact, you might be surprised at the difference it can make in the quality of your canter. For this exercise, you can use nearly any thick rope available at your barn that is comfortable in your hands.Photo: Donna Stidolph
This article originally appeared in the October 2018 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
Jec A. Ballou is the author of 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses: Resolving Postural Problems, Improving Movement Patterns, and Preventing Injury.
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