Page 8 midwest horse digest February 09
Disengaging the
Hindquarters:
Your Emergency Brake
By Ken McNabb with Katherine Lindsey Meehan
his hips over by focusing your the saddle.
attention on his hip. If he does Once you are on his back, walk him
not move, increase the pressure forward and pick up on one rein, bending his
by stepping towards him, swing- head to the side and asking him to step under
ing your rope, etc. Be careful with the inside hind foot. If he bends his neck
not to get kicked, and keep a but keeps walking a straight line, bump him
firm grip on the lead rope so if with your inside leg until he steps over with his
your horse does swing his hind hindquarters.
end towards you he will pull you You may have trouble feeling what
out of the way. You are looking for his inside your horse’s feet are doing under you at first. If
hind foot to step across under him, in front of that is the case, have a friend spot for you and
his outside hind foot. When it does, release the tell you exactly when the hind foot crosses
pressure immediately. It is very important that under, so you are sure to release at the correct
the inside hind foot actually crosses in front of time. Soon you will learn what the step feels
Before I
the outside hind. Don’t release if your horse like and know when to release without help.
even get on a
just hops his feet sideways without crossing Once your horse will do this exer-
colt for the first time, I teach him to disengage
over. His front feet should stop all forward cise easily and consistently at the walk, teach
the hindquarters. This exercise is also one I
motion when he crosses over with his hind it at a slow trot, then a faster trot, and finally at
teach older horses with problem behaviors
end. the lope. Keep in mind that at faster speeds
such as running away, rearing, and bucking.
A horse is most powerful when his you are going to tip your horse over if you just
This is a very important foundation exercise
body is in a straight line from nose to tail. By yank his head around, so you will need to slow
and one that can help you stay safe in many
asking your horse to step under himself in this him down by circling and making the circles
difficult situations. The instance where I don’t
way, you are reducing his power by breaking smaller and smaller gradually to reduce his
use this exercise is when I’m riding a broke
that straight line, and at the same time taking speed before you ask him to fully disengage
horse without dangerous behavior problems.
away his ability to brace against you. Make the hindquarters.
Once a horse is broke, you want them to be
sure you release for each step your horse If you are using this as you start a
engaging the hind end all the time, not
takes. colt under saddle for the first time, it gives you
disengaging it. For the ground work part of this
You don’t want more than one step a tool to stop him if something goes wrong,
exercise, you will need a halter and 8’ lead
in a row, because the purpose of this exercise and also a way to help him understand a cue
rope. For the riding part, you will need your
is to get your horse stopped. If your horse for forward motion. If you just start kicking a
bridle and saddle.
starts taking lots of steps, just hold the lead horse that has never been ridden before, he
Begin teaching this exercise from
rope or rein until his feet stop, them release will not know what you want and will probably
the ground with either a halter and lead rope or
him. When your horse will disengage the get scared. Instead, bump him very lightly with
your bridle. Stand to one side of your horse
hindquarters easily and quickly on both sides your legs and ask him to disengage the
just behind the girth line, and ask him to move
on the ground, you are ready to teach it from hindquarters. Do this first to one side, and then
the other. You are teaching him that pressure
from your legs means for him to move his feet.
Once he understands that, you will be able to
teach him to move forward off your leg.
If you are riding an older horse with
behavior problems and get in a situation where
you think your horse is going to buck, rear, or
run away, you can bend his nose right around
to your knee and kick with the inside leg to get
him to disengage the hindquarters. Having a
tool to get him stopped in any situation gives
you a chance to catch your balance, get his
mind back on you, or get off and do some work
on the ground if you think you are about to get
in a wreck.
Enjoy your horses, stay safe, and
until next time, may God bless the trails you
ride.
For more information on Ken
McNabb’s programs call us at 307-645-3149
or go to www.kenmcnabb.com.
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