The Education of Toti
around the earth have to re-ignite engines to get out of their passive orbit. True symmetry is not a perfect alignment of the spine
in the straight line, it is rather the ability to execute the same exercises both ways in response to aids of the same (lowest) intensity. Nuno Oliveira used to say that a straight horse gives an equal feel on both hands and is as close to each of the rider’s legs, while performing small voltes on each hand, of the same size, in the same cadence, in all three gaits and on equal aids. That implies supple- ness and mostly uprightness, which is the source of self- carriage. Consistent lateral work, in increasingly complex sequences, performed during the entire life of the horse and progressively obtained with less and less aids, is the key to true progress.
Long Line Equipment In training, all techniques must be practical. The right equipment is fundamental because the slightest change in the tools used affects the mechanics of the interaction of trainer and horse. Naturally, when the horse is trained, any equipment that is not hurtful will do, as long as the horse has learned to understand it and comply with its actions. Concerning long lining (and even riding), I believe it is always easier for the young horses to deal with a slid- ing contact than a fixed one because it gives them a more consistent feel and a greater choice of positions to accom- modate their not-as-yet-developed posture. When we introduce long lining, I use two extensions
to the long lines, made of thin cord, eight foot long or so, which slide easily through the bit and the surcingle rings. They attach to the surcingle at whichever height best suits each horse’s degree of postural development. Individuality
aside, the lower the snap position on the surcingle, the lower the horse is going to carry his head and vice versa. I also use a little attachment to the surcingle instead of passing the lines directly through a fixed ring. It is a five inch string loop that attaches to the surcingle ring at one end and has a wide ring at the other through which the long line cord runs. This gives a five inch radius to all my actions and this “play” makes the direction of my rein actions a lot clearer to the horse. It also makes the work less demanding for him and creates a more easily accepted contact. Having the reins directly through the surcingle rings is of the same degree of difficulty for the young horse as being ridden with the reins in one hand for a trained horse. The young horse needs separated hands that take the
confusion out of rein aids. I also use long lines of two different colors (and even of a slightly different texture in the hand), so the trainer always knows which one is which, without having to look at his hands and lose valuable time in correcting the work. When the horse canters on a big circle, reins tend to get tangled by the simple effect of the horse’s rolling motion. It is very helpful to know which line is left and which one is right.
Lateral Work on the Long Lines Long lining work has many great advantages. It allows the trainer to carry on the work done in-hand (on the “short rein”, mostly at the walk) to the trot and canter. Long lines are also extremely useful for developing the rider’s feel for the reins. Because horse and trainer are moving at different speeds and on different lines, the trainer must become very aware of the horse’s movement and absorb a lot through his/her feet, shoulders, elbows, wrists and
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BRIDLE AND BITTING FOR YOUNG HORSES. Toti is wearing a Portuguese bridle in which the noseband passes through the cheek pieces’ bit attachments. Additionally, he wears a padded stud chain that is reasonably snug around the nose and also passes through the same loops of the cheek pieces. We use carabiners that clip both on the bit and the chain, so the horse feels the aids on both nose and mouth at the same time through the noseband, the padded chain and the bit. This greatly reduces potential tongue problems from ever developing in early train- ing. The long lines are attached to the surcingle at whatever height suits each horse in order to achieve correct head position. ATTACHMENT TO THE SURCINGLE. Cedar is opening the line to the right to show how it passes through a ring attached to the surcingle by a six-inch string. This gives her a much greater range of possible hand positions. It allows Toti to receive much clearer signals through the lines (up, down, left and right, vibrations, etc.) than if the lines were restricted by passing through a fixed ring. This also shows how the padded chain passes over the noseband in order to avoid slipping down over the sensitive nose cartilage. COUNTER SHOULDER-IN LEFT, head to the wall. Cedar is following Toti, who is opening his right shoulder and about to cross his left hind leg. The inside rein asks for the lateral step and the outside rein contains the angle.
48 January/February 2016 Indoor photos by Kim Taylor (except Photo 1 above)
Cedar Potts
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