My Arab mare gets very upset by trying any sort of counter bend. She very opinionated & although extremely agile, objects to being asked for anything a bit demanding! Being tough just induces a struggle - i have to be encouraging, enticing & softly persuasive! Bit of a challenge! I'll try this exercise, thankyou - its a good onefor training, thank you Josie 🐎🌷🙏
I'd like to know what you exactly do when you want to drive the horse to the counter bend. When you are in normal bend you have your inside leg at the girth and outside leg slightly behind the girth, you have your body weight slightly inside and the inside rein pulled a little bit to have the flexion to the inside. And when you go to the counter circle you must maintain some cues to keep the bend and you must change something to steer him to the opposite direction. Could you please describe this? Maybe you explain this elsewhere. Then tell me where, please.
is this going to help just getting the feeling of the right bend or so the horse knows that its better for him to bend instead of counter bend ?? my horse struggles with one side and I cant fix the counter hend unless we go back to walk after a couple circles he gets it but one wrong aid and he's back to counter bend
Hi Faris, I used this exercise in the early days to help me get the feeling of bend. Now I use it to help the horse to understand the aids for bend and counter bend can also help their balance. Some horses pick it up quicker than others just as some humans pick things up quicker. It's perfectly normal to have to come back walk to re-establish the bend, especially on an unbalanced horse. It is also normal for them to find one side easier than the other as that is the horses natural right or left handedness coming into play. It's the same as the fact that you find things easier to do either or hand and not the other. I hope that clarifies things for you 🙂
I'm really struggling with this question. Is it normal that a non trained 8y/o horse doesn't walk on bit even if we try to get them on bit? I'm starting to give up. It's not my horse but I care for her aswell.
June I never get my horses walking "on the bit" until they are quite established at trot and canter. You can ruin the walk very easily. If the horse is green/untrained leave the walk alone and work on the trot and canter. I don't mean don't walk but when you are in walk only have a very light contact with the bit. I might do a video on this so thank you for the idea 🙂
And also don’t focus on the head and neck. Using bending exercises (ie circles and lateral work) along with half halts will create the posture you are looking for
Thank you and sorry ChanDor but I film most of these on my own using a Pixio robot and the zoom is preset. I can zoom in when I'm editing but then it is often too grainy to see much anyway.
This is such a simple exercise but so beneficial to the horse and the rider. 🙂
awesome info Josie, and a good technique to encourage bending.
Really enjoying and appreciating! your great training tips Josie.
Thanks so much! 🙏
Lovely video Josie. Thank you again and congrats on your new baby. 👍👌❤️
Thank you sooo much 🙏🏻🥰
My Arab mare gets very upset by trying any sort of counter bend. She very opinionated & although extremely agile, objects to being asked for anything a bit demanding! Being tough just induces a struggle - i have to be encouraging, enticing & softly persuasive! Bit of a challenge! I'll try this exercise, thankyou - its a good onefor training, thank you Josie 🐎🌷🙏
I love ur videos! Using these every time I ride now as I’m self taught and don’t have a trainer 😊
You are the person I make these for emma, I'm so glad you find them useful 🙂
I'd like to know what you exactly do when you want to drive the horse to the counter bend. When you are in normal bend you have your inside leg at the girth and outside leg slightly behind the girth, you have your body weight slightly inside and the inside rein pulled a little bit to have the flexion to the inside. And when you go to the counter circle you must maintain some cues to keep the bend and you must change something to steer him to the opposite direction. Could you please describe this? Maybe you explain this elsewhere. Then tell me where, please.
Thanks for your fabulous question 🙏. I will make a video to answer this in my next batch so stay tuned. 🙂
I like your video
I like your video naunette
Thank you Naunette. 🙂
is this going to help just getting the feeling of the right bend or so the horse knows that its better for him to bend instead of counter bend ??
my horse struggles with one side and I cant fix the counter hend unless we go back to walk after a couple circles he gets it but one wrong aid and he's back to counter bend
Hi Faris, I used this exercise in the early days to help me get the feeling of bend. Now I use it to help the horse to understand the aids for bend and counter bend can also help their balance. Some horses pick it up quicker than others just as some humans pick things up quicker. It's perfectly normal to have to come back walk to re-establish the bend, especially on an unbalanced horse. It is also normal for them to find one side easier than the other as that is the horses natural right or left handedness coming into play. It's the same as the fact that you find things easier to do either or hand and not the other. I hope that clarifies things for you 🙂
I'm really struggling with this question.
Is it normal that a non trained 8y/o horse doesn't walk on bit even if we try to get them on bit?
I'm starting to give up. It's not my horse but I care for her aswell.
June I never get my horses walking "on the bit" until they are quite established at trot and canter. You can ruin the walk very easily. If the horse is green/untrained leave the walk alone and work on the trot and canter. I don't mean don't walk but when you are in walk only have a very light contact with the bit. I might do a video on this so thank you for the idea 🙂
And also don’t focus on the head and neck. Using bending exercises (ie circles and lateral work) along with half halts will create the posture you are looking for
@@sammisoccer7 Thankyou! I'm from Belgium so I don't really know what the half halts mean. But she had a video so I will watchh it
Love your videos! PLEASE zoom in on you and horse. We can't see what you're doing
Thank you and sorry ChanDor but I film most of these on my own using a Pixio robot and the zoom is preset. I can zoom in when I'm editing but then it is often too grainy to see much anyway.