Get Your Green Horse Moving Forward

Q: I have a 3-year-old filly that has been started under saddle. However, her natural inclination is to move backward, not forward. When she wants to evade a request, she slows down her movement and eventually pops up in the front. Recently she even reared straight up, and once she scooted backward so fast that she sat down. How can I encourage her to be forward-thinking and moving?

A: Running backward and rearing are signs that your horse has no confidence in what she’s being asked to do. A horse exhibiting these behaviors is dangerous to ride and handle, and shows that the current approach to training is taking her in the wrong direction.

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A green horse needs gentle, calm and consistent guidance. She needs to be taught that she can move forward freely even while being supported and directed with light rein contact. This lesson is introduced through lateral flexion on the ground. Then, when she’s asked to carry a rider, it’s a familiar and comfortable request; steady pressure is applied using a leading rein until she yields to the pressure and makes the rein go slack.

When she’s mastered this in both directions, she can be encouraged to step forward on a circle while maintaining the bend in her neck.

These early lessons are the foundation of forward motion. Slowly and methodically building upon them—and changing course or going back to basics the moment your horse shows signs of confusion or resistance—ensures that she has a positive experience and is on the road to being a safe and reliable mount.

Liked this article? Here’s more training advice:
Charging up the Lazy Horse
How to Ride Through a Rear

DALE RUDIN is a CHA-certified riding instructor and clinician with a mindful and balanced approach to horsemanship and riding. www.un-naturalhorsemanship.com

This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

9 years ago

Dale Rudin

Dale Rudin is a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)-certified riding instructor, welfare-centered trainer, rehabilitation specialist, saddle fitter, and certified equine nutritionist. She is a founding member of Force-Free Tennessee, an animal advocacy organization that promotes humane, low-stress training and handling of all animals. Dale's No. 1 goal is to create joyful experiences for horses and the people who love and care for them. She uses compassionate, reinforcement-based training methods that reduce stress and benefit the horse both emotionally and physically, and specializes in restoring health and wellness to horses with mild to severe physical, emotional, and behavioral issues. Dale offers instruction and consultations in person and online. She accepts horses for training and rehab at her farm, Lyric Valley Ranch in Santa Fe, Tenn., which is also the home of Pure Joy Horse Haven, a sanctuary for traumatized and abused horses (purejoyhorsehaven.org).