Lesson 10 Lateral Flexion
Learning about one rein for control: this is the neutral, control rein position.
One rein for Control, two reins for communication.
If you can bend a horse’s head and neck to one side, you can control the horse. Pulling on two reins empowers a horse and if he doesn’t want to stop you’ll actually give him more power to run off with you.
Lateral flexion is achieved by a neutral, lateral bend of the horse’s neck.
One of Pat Parelli’s signatures is teaching people to ride with on rein. He found that if there were still two reins there, that they would think they were doing one rein but in fact be pulling on two! The best bet therefore was to take that other rein away. One rein is much safer and gives you much more control!
To help you break the habit of pulling on two reins, learn to ride with just one rein. Its actually 10 times safer!
For this lesson, have you horse saddled and take him into a small area, a round corral or a small yard. Use you halter and 12ft lead.
Important note:
Please use the Parelli halter and lead for all the riding exercises as stipulated. Do not use a leather halter, a webbed halter, or any other halter. These are not designed for riding horses. If you do not have Parelli equipment yet, please use a plain, snaffle bit. Also the 12ft lead rope is smooth so it doesn’t irritate your hands with the technique we are showing you.
It’s Important to use the Parelli halter and lead for these riding exercises. The wrong tool that is ineffective could actually help a horse resist your control.
1.Prepare your horse with the Games. Do not even think of getting on until he is paying attention to you, has finished jumping and hooting around and does what you ask without resistance. Only then is the horse properly prepared to accept you on his back.
2. Teach your horse lateral flexion from the ground. Stand at the saddle facing your horse. Using your rope, draw him to you using the hand over hand technique allowing the rope to slip. Its like combing the rope rather than a fixed pull. Do this until the horse starts to turn his head to you then stop. Allow him to lick his lips and then start again. Pretty soon, your horse will turn his head to you without concern.
Prepare you horse with the 7 Games until he is left brain and paying attention to you. Teach lateral flexion from the ground first.
3. Next see if you can throw the rope to the other side, over his head. Do it back and forth until it doesn’t bother him.
Teach lateral flexion from the ground first.
4. Repeat for the other side. Don’t worry that one side is more difficult than the other but take the time to get both sides feeling even.
Still on the ground, practice throwing the rope over his head, back and forth. Once all is confident you can safely mount.
5. Once your horse can do this willingly, it’s time to get on.
6. Mount your horse using the mounting drill from lesson 9.
Lateral flexion from the horse’s back is achieved by bringing your hand to the front of your thigh, not behind it.
7. Now try the lateral flexion from the horse’s back. Start combing the rope with your hands toward the front of your thigh, just above your knee. Bring it in gradually shorter until the horse brings his head around. Don’t hold his head there any longer than he is willing to leave it there. Allow him to straighten, to lick his lips and begin again. This is called approach and retreat. Repeat several times until the horse has no hesitation. All the while, your focus should be on his lips.
Use the psychology of approach and retreat to teach your horse to be confident in lateral flexion.
8. Throw the rope over his head and do the same lateral flexion from the other side. In doing this, practice for an independent seat. Its natural for our legs and “Cheeks” to tighten when we throw the rope. Learn to do this without it affecting your seat and legs, teach your arms to move independently. You might want to practice this on a fence first!
Throw the rope over the horse’s head from side to side, from his back. The secret is to keep your seat and legs relaxed.
Success Tips
- Take your time, don’t hurry the horse
- You are teaching him to, don’t resort to force
- Keep your hands slipping on the rope, don’t get into an arm wrestle!
- If its not working on the horse’s back, go back to the ground and get it better there.
- Bring your hand position to the front of your thigh
- Using this one rein, neutral, lateral rein position in a “oh no!” situation to regain control
Think about teaching your horse to smell your foot. If it’s not working on the horses back, go back to the ground.
Troubleshooting
Your horse turns his head the other way
Don’t worry. Keep asking for the bend and as soon as he tries an inch in that direction, release! it will come quicker the next time. If you fight the horse for his head you could get hurt, they can trow themselves over in a panic. This is not about forcing the horse, it’s teaching him to bend. This is also why we teach you to keep your hands slipping and not to grab a hold a pull.
Dont try to force your horse. Teach him. this means reward the slightest try and be prepared to release when necessary.
Consider the horse’s point of view: he know that if he bends his neck around he can’t run away. No wonder he’s skeptical! Understand this and teach him that its safe. He’ll grow emotionally calmer.
A horse that is reluctant to bend is often afraid. this position renders him flightless.
Your horse can’t stand still when you do this
That’s OK. Remember its just his insecurity. Allow his feet to move and just isolate that you want to bend his neck. Pretty soon he’ll be able to do that without moving his feet, just don’t be impatient or try to stop it. Another thing to check is that your legs and seat are not squeezing him at the same time without you noticing it. Try to sit like a sack of potatoes (hard for equitation experts!) so your “life” is absolutely off and you are not inadvertently pushing on the accelerator.
Persist with your horse until he can stand still when you bend him. Make sure your seat isn’t inadvertently telling him to go.
Your horse won’t keep his head there, keeps jerking it back
That’s Ok too! Allow the rope to slip easily through your hands and don’t restrict his “escape” that will only panic him. Again consider how vulnerable a position this is for your horse, just reassure him and gently, patiently start again. You might consider getting it better from the ground.
If your horse panics, release. Above all stay relaxed so you can reassure your horse there’s no need to worry.
Asking your horse to bend his neck in lateral flexion is like checking the brakes before you ride.
