Constant tugging on the reins to keep a horse straight is a common response to a common problem. However, straightness issues often stem from an imbalance in either the horse or the rider. There are several solutions that, when used together, can resolve the problem permanently.
Straightness is often treated as the horse’s problem rather than considering whether the rider may be out of balance. At many of my clinics, I address rider side-to-side balance issues before riders mount their horses. Terrestrial animals utilize side-to-side weight distribution to change direction. Humans shift weight to the inside hip to change direction. Horses do the same; they weigh the inside hip and hind leg to turn in that direction. Consequently, if the rider’s side-to-side weight is uneven, the horse is inclined to turn in the direction of the most weight. This is useful if the rider wants to turn in that direction but problematic otherwise.
If a rider’s side-to-side weight is uneven, it may also prevent the horse from picking up the correct lead. For example, when asking a horse to initiate a left-lead canter, the weight must be off the left foreleg while the outside (right) hind leg must carry more weight. If the rider is heavier on the left side, the horse will struggle to pick up the left lead but will easily pick up the right lead. Additional problems caused by the rider’s uneven side-to-side weight distribution include saddle slippage, unevenly stretched stirrup leathers, and horses dropping one shoulder and being stiff in the other. Uneven side-to-side weight distribution can also cause horses to become lame.
I ask riders to stand with each foot on a bathroom scale and play with balance and imbalance so they can learn to balance evenly. Once the scales show equal weight under each foot, the rider stands with eyes closed for a minute or so. Then, I ask the rider to put five, ten, twenty, or fifty more pounds of pressure on one scale and play with these imbalances with eyes closed. The rider learns how dropping or twisting the hips or shoulders, or turning the head, changes the weight distribution. This helps the rider’s muscle memory learn the feel of the weight as it is being redistributed from side to side.
Other activities that we do to help riders find their balance is standing on one leg, jumping on a Pogo-Stick, walking a plank, and balancing on a Bongo-Board.
However, the most important balancing activity is the target game. Riders walk toward a target with eyes closed; count their strides and open their eyes after every fifth step to make sure they haven’t wandered off course. They discover that a balanced walk takes them directly to the target while an unbalanced walk causes them to veer away from the target toward their heavier side. They also learn to keep their shoulders, hips, and head perpendicular to the target.
Next, the rider plays the target game with his or her horse. As before, the rider walks straight toward the target but, with the horse in hand, at the rider’s side. The horse and rider match feet, count strides, half halt, and come to a full halt every fifth stride until they reach the target. Once the target is reached, the rider says “Nice” and offers a kibble before turning toward another target and repeating the game. This is the first step in teaching the horse-rider team to walk and halt while perfectly balanced together.
Playing the target game while mounted perfects the ability of the horse-rider team to move straight and balanced. The rider must keep both themselves and their horse perpendicular to the target. It is crucial that the rider keeps the horse’s hips, shoulders, neck, and head absolutely straight. The rider can imagine a helium balloon attached at the poll just between the horse’s ears and line up the balloon string with the target. The rider must keep their eyes fixed on the target by looking between the horse’s ears.
The rider should maintain even, gentle contact with the reins to prevent the horse from turning its head. If the horse begins to turn its head, the rider can squeeze the opposite hand to remind the horse to keep its head straight. As in previous versions of the target game, the rider repeatedly counts five strides, performs a half halt, and then halts as the target is reached and the horse is rewarded for its efforts.
Riders will find that targeting improves both straightness and balance.
Occasionally, a horse may be out of balance due to physiological issues, lameness, improper hoof care, or unequal muscle development caused by repetitive training in one direction or by an unbalanced rider. Physical problems must be addressed by a veterinarian or hoof-care expert. However, most of the time, when a balanced rider learns to use the “target” method, the balance of the horse-rider team improves dramatically, and the horse will naturally travel in a straight line. Applying the basic concepts of the target game on the trail, in the dressage court, or over jumps, will often reveal surprising improvements in straightness.
By Chris Forte
Other articles that will help you and your equine partner travel straight and balanced are:
Very good written about the importance of balance. I sent your article to my students to study. I think they will benefit!
Thank you!