Training a Horse to be Light & Supple
Like 3 Dislike 0 Published on 29 Aug 2014
To learn more about getting a horse light and supple , go to: http://online.HorseTrainingVideos.com/lope-slow-control/
This video demonstrates just how important lightness and suppleness is... if you want an exceptionally well-trained horse. Pay close attention to the number of times I ask this horse to stop. Watch closely and see if you can detect HOW I asked him to stop. Type your answer in the "COMMENTS" section below.
One of the secrets to having a well trained, responsive horse, is to make sure your horse is light, supple and giving to your hands and legs.
This is important for any horse... reining horses, cutting horses, ranch sorting, reined cow horses and even trail riding.
Let me explain.
Suppleness is when you ask a horse to give his head to one side or the other and he willingly gives to your hand by following the bit. There is no resistance... lateral flexion.
It also means that you can bend and position any part of the horse’s body to perform any desired maneuver. It’s sometimes called form to function.
In fact, lightness and suppleness are the key ingredients to top performance. Without them your horse’s performance will never be better than mediocre.
Suppleness is what allows us to position a horse’s body. And we need to position a horse’s body to teach him to perform with correct “form and style.”
Without proper suppleness and form, there is no way a horse can correctly perform any of the maneuvers expected of a western-style horse.
If you want your horse to perform good stops, turns, lead changes etc. then having him supple is a must.
A horse must also be light. He needs to willingly let us position his body quickly and without a struggle. Also, a horse will never perform as freely or as athletically as he is capable until he is light.
Lateral flexion. Vertical flexion. Flex at the poll.
Larry Trocha
http://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/supple.htm