biggest first (dominance through forward movement); other times it is best to find the small issue limiting the ef- ficiency of the equine machine (a stiffness or delay in a leg lift from excessive loading of a leg).
GUIDELINES FOR RESOLVING THE MOST OBVIOUS RESISTANCES The education of the horse to the aids requires the trainer’s utmost attention, as even the smallest resistances inhibit the training process. The following principles explain why and how the horse is resisting the aids, and what needs to be done to educate him. Understand the sequence followed by the horse’s
neuromuscular system in response to a repetitive physical stimulus (pressure of some sort). When touched by a pain- less stimulus, the horse (i.e. the muscle touched), will react according to neurologic rules: 1) oppose it; 2) habituate, ig- nore it; 3) relax; 4) respond without resistance; 5) retain the new memory after multiple, no-pressure repetitions. Only address one question at a time and make it the smallest possible concept easily understandable by the horse. For the halt: first stop on the hand and voice, then stop on the hand only, then stop straight, etc. Separate the aids at first to facilitate learning, making
sure that each one is understood separately and obeyed clearly without another helping out: yield to one leg or bend on one rein, etc. If the aids are not taught individual- ly, problems arise: one rein may mask the lack of response of the other; hand actions may mask a loss of balance cre- ated by too much leg; legs may mask the loss of impulsion associated with too much hand, etc. Once well understood, each aid can be combined with another. For instance: con- stant pressure of the legs while using the hand, or constant contact while using the legs, just do not increase them both at the same time. “Prepare, Ask, Let do” by first setting up the horse in
the best conditions of receptivity, physically and mentally. Balance him through uprightness (not leaning to one side), obtain the flexibility of the part you need, be it the jaw or the neck by direct flexions, the back by lateral flexion, a hind leg by a turn around the forehand, a shoulder by a turn around the quarters, etc. Use Operant Conditioning principles to help the horse understand mentally what he is asked to do physical- ly. The trainer must become proficient at using the compo- nents of this learning theory, judiciously adapting them to the unique form of the human-horse relationship: how to administer instantaneous, dispassionate corrections (that can be verbal as long as they are “credible”); how to im- pose clear limits to the behavior with imperative force (just like a wall limit space); how to give an immediate verbal
recognition to identify, then reinforce the right response. Always lower the intensity of the aids and yield them on the first tenuous sign of comprehension, as the horse learns during the release. Tom Dorrance expressed this fun- damental principle: “Reward the Smallest Try.” When the horse understands, General L’Hotte describes he will pro- gressively “act as of his own accord” and “enjoy performing the movement…in liberty on parole.” Always teach the horse the opposite lesson to define
the exercise’s parameters, so he does not take advantage of that demand to respond excessively. For example, if the horse learns to go forward, he needs to immediately learn to stop. If the horse learns to go sideways from the action of one leg, he needs to learn to go straight again from the opposite leg. Observe the movement of the horse: which leg is too
slow or too quick at picking up and which hind leg steps under less than the other or front leg is short in a given gait. Work in hand to improve the timing of the legs by using rhythmical tapping on the particular leg that need quickening or steady pressure to slow down the one that moves too fast. Observe the condition of his muscles: tight, soft or
trembling after the work? Acupressure, myofascial release and Endotapping are all techniques that can help resolve those issues. Observe his behavior: relaxing by chewing and lick-
ing, or acting angry or scared? Always try to start or at least finish every exercise with a relaxed horse showing some moderate salivation and quiet swallowing.
The purpose of dressage is to educate the horse to per-
form with ease, understanding and pleasure in a balance that facilitates both performance and long term sound- ness. To reach that goal, the trainer must work methodi- cally and with tact to reduce resistances however possible. The search for lightness to the aids, symmetry of timing and movement, looseness of the joints, soft play of all ag- onist-antagonist muscle pairs is an endless pursuit but ul- timately a very beneficial experience—for horse and rider alike, and must not be neglected.
JP Giacomini has trained close to 20 Grand Prix horses and worked on thousands of remedial horses, both in Europe and the U.S. He studied under of Nuno Oliveira and later at the National Portuguese Stud of Alter Real. He has produced international winners in all three disciplines and invented a training method called “Endotapping.” JP trains the Iberian Sport Horses he breeds at Baroque Farms USA in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. JP can be reached at
jpgiacomini@gmail.com.
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