Lesson 14 – Guiding your Horse
The direct rein and indirect rein in action.
Once you have proved yourself to be a good passenger, now you can prove to your horse that you are a good guider. The secret lies in setting it up so the horse finds it easy to move in the direction you want him to move.
The most common mistake people make when steering horses is to lean in the direction they want to turn. Unfortunately this is the exact opposite of what you need to do. Try this: lean all your weight over your right foot. Now try to pick it up! It’s dynamically difficult or impossible. In order to turn to the right as you walk, you need to put your weight on your left foot for a moment so you can pick up your right foot and place it in the new direction. Why should you do anything different when riding a horse?
The Direct Rein
This rein is responsible for moving the front end of the horse. the direct rein is effected (at Level 1) with a straight elbow. Think of it like a karate chop that swings out level with your shoulder and to your side, but of course its a very slow movement when you have a rein in your hand!
Try this at the walk, using just your horseman’s halter and 12 ft lead:
- Hold your rein with just you thumb, fan your fingers out. This will allow the rein to slip a little to a comfortable length as you make the direct rein. It also stops you from using force and leaning into the pull.
- Lift your hand and slowly swing it out towards right angles with your body and to four o’clock high.
- Follow the path of your hand with your eyes and belly button so your whole body now is turning toward four o’clock high. You’ll notice that your weight switches to the outside of the horse’s body and by turning your belly button, your outer thigh will push against the horse naturally.
- As soon as your horse starts to follow the feel and turn in that direction, drop the rein and relax a little to show him he’s right.
Note: use the direct rein only once the horse is moving. It is difficult to move the front end from a standstill without setting up the hind end first, and in this case you’ll want to use the indirect rein first to shift the hindquarters, then bring in the direct rein. This will set it up just right for your horse to follow.
Do one side at a time
Walk along doing several turns, zig zagging to the right until your horse follow the feel easily. then throw the rope over to the other side and do the same. Keep switching from right to left and back, practicing until it feels familiar and your horse completely understands.
The indirect rein for positioning zone 4
You already learned the indirect rein controls and moves the hindquarter. Now you can use this to position the hindquarter when guiding the horse. Think of the hindquarters like a rudder. Wherever zone 4 is pointing, the horse will go. Have you ever noticed how a horse can point zone 1 somewhere and yet travel in a completely different direction?! If you gain control of positioning zone 4. you’ll have the horse going exactly where you want. (Also, if you have a horse that resists the direct rein, more use of the indirect rein will be needed in order to redirect the horse’s hindquarters).
- From the halt, pick up an indirect rein and move the hindquarter 180 degrees. Ask the horse to walk forward then gently use the indirect rein to move the hindquarters a little and change directions again. Start to feel how positioning the hindquarters changes direction.
- Now as you are walking forward, pick up a direct rein and lead the front end to change your direction by about 90 degrees.
- Thirdly, reach down do an indirect rein for 360 degree turn, sit up, focus on a new direction and lead the front end to it with a direct rein. Repeat this over and over until it feels smooth like an indirect rein-direct rein ballet! (Do not go faster than a walk)
- Go slow and right. Think about making each move slowly and surely, don’t rush it.
Summary
Once you have proved yourself to be a good passenger you will have the right to guide your horse.
The most common mistake people make when “steering” a horse is to lean in the direction of the turn.
Ride a horse the way you walk.
The Direct Rein is responsible for moving the front end of the horse.
Think of it position like a karate chop out to the side, at 4 o’clock high.
Open your fingers like a fan.
Be slow and graceful.
Focus with your eyes and your belly button, then your rein.
Drop the rein as soon as the horse responds.
The Direct Rein is used when the horse is in motion.
Do one side at a time. Once the horse has learned this, try the other side.
Use one rein when learning this exercise.
The indirect Rein controls and moves the hindquarters.
Think of the hindquarters like a rudder. Wherever it points is where the horse is going.
Use the Indirect Rein at the halt and at the walk.
Learn to feel the hindquarters.
Walk, use a Direct Rein, then an indirect Rein, then walk again and repeat until it comes smooth and feels like you are doing “ballet”!
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