04/09/2026
PLEASE don’t ask your horse to do something under saddle if you haven’t taught it to them on the ground first.
Yes another video of lunging but this can relate to long reining & other methods too. I want to explain what I’m looking at or trying to achieve.
You can teach your horse anything from the ground.
Flatwork, poles, jumping, even introducing them to ditches etc. It’s fantastic to help them learn from their own mistakes without a rider helping or hindering them. Letting them learn & figure things out. You can’t expect a horse to help you out if you haven’t given them the space & education to learn what to do. Also these methods aren’t just for babies, you can re visit these at any stage of a horse’s life for variety, re training or confidence building. I’m currently doing some lunge work with Joey & being very disciplined on how he conducts his transitions, when I start ridden schooling again I don’t want him too sharp - so I’m reminding him that transitions are soft & unhurried.
Watch how he’s building trust in the contact of the side reins, they aren’t too tight, I’m encouraging him to seek the contact. He has a naturally high head carriage & uphill posture anyway - so I always encourage him to lower - I can pick him back up at anytime, but I want him lifting his core & pushing from behind as his go-to. Swinging his hips.
If he’s tense I won’t ask for a transition until I notice this posture or contact soften.
Timing is importance, so is communication & praise, and consistency from you as his trainer. Let it slip & he won’t be diligent. What you tolerate - he is learning to do. A crabby trot, a sloppy transition is what you’ll reap !!
