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What does your horse want you to know or remember?
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Hi Natalie, I was hoping you would clarify what self carriage truly means in the dressage horse and how it’s sustained? When I think I’ve succeeded, I find the horse is actually behind the bit. While warming up I often feel the weight of the horse in my hands, as if my arms are side reins, making the half halt ineffective. I struggle to find the right balance throughout the ride and once I do, it’s often lost in transitions, bringing me back to square one to find it again in a new movement. Thank you, Melissa
Good job Natalie! can we share some of your content with our readers?
Well Melissa, that is something we as riders strive for throughout our riding careers. The easiest way is to buy a horse that goes that way from nature. However, keeping it there is another story. Self- carriage is when a horse travels in a good balance without using your hands as a fifth leg. In the early stages of a horse’s training those moments are brief and most times fleeting. As the horse gets stronger and further along in correct training those moments become longer and longer. Actually, that is what makes an upper level horse, not the tricks.
The horse must go forward from your legs, not from letting go of the reins. The horse must slow down and come back when you touch it’s mouth. The sophistication comes later. The horse must WAIT for you. I wrote “The importance of Waiting” for Dressage Today. You might find it online in the archives. Then the horse learns the 1/2 halts. They aren’t born with them. With 1/2 halts, transitions and exercises you continue on the road to achieving self carriage. Balance the horse more and MORE OFTEN. This way over time, the weight will shift more to the hindquarters and off your hands. There will always be times when you need to help the horse. The right, wrong thing.
Once the horse’s back comes up and the hind legs under, then the seat can come into play. Too much seat and back, especially the wrong way is why horses CANNOT bring their backs up. Later then you figure out the ratio between legs, seat and hands to keep that optimum balance. This will change as the training continues and the horse’s state of mind. Remember the horse’s conformation plays a big part in this too.
I will continue with this over time on my blog. Happy riding.
Hi Natalie,
I love your explanations. Your answers generate more questions. You wrote: “Self- carriage is when a horse travels in a good balance without using your hands as a fifth leg.” Please discuss how riders achieve and maintain an elastic connection while keeping the horse in self carriage. Thank you. – Michele
One of the most important things to remember is that a rider needs an independent seat without using the reins for support. Hands need to be independent of the seat and horse in order to influence the horse positively. Yes, when first learning at home, the horse may go a little slower so the rider can get his/her balance. However one Must remember that ultimately the rider must learn to sit to the horse’s normal gaits.
The horse should go forward from a light leg and not pull with his front end. The hand needs to be elastic and stable without pulling back. Keeping the elbows bent softens the arms. If the elbows are near the hips you can tell if the contact stays the same. The horse should not pull your arms forward, just as one should not pull backwards or downwards on the horse’s mouth.
Correct repetition and patience is very important. Suppling with the fingers is good, not a death grip. I always say try to think of having a handful of marbles in your hand and roll them around without opening your hands. Most horse go well when properly lunged. The contact is consistent and the horse learns to go to it. When the horse pulls the sidereins don’t let go and when the horse brings the nose in they don’t pull. I don’t like elastic sidereins unless they have a loop that limits the stretch, because it teaches and/or allows a horse to lean on them.
When a rider gets on they must reproduce that same type of steadiness in the contact without rigidity. Circles and exercises are what help teach a horse to stay balance. A horse can’t pull as much or take over on a circle compared to a straight line. Leg yields are helpful when done correctly. If a horse leans down on the left rein you leg yield him to the right and onto the right rein. This only works if the horse moves OFF the left leg with a straight neck and slight position (flexion) to the left. You don’t bend the neck and push the shoulders over with the inside hand over the withers. You control the outside shoulder. That way you get crossing, not drifting. After leg yielding comes shoulder in that lightens the forehand. But with this you need collection. More later.
I’m not quite sure of the question. On my profile page, if you go to info or not, click on natalielamping.com/blog/ask-natalie/ you or anyone else can read what I write. You don’t need to be on FB to read or ask questions. This is a question You can ask on FB. I hope this answers your question.
Mostly word of mouth and when I write something new I post it on FB.
No, but someday, I’d like to put this all together into a book.
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