JUNE 2021 THE RIDER /31


aid by “turning the key” with the outside rein neck/indirect rein so it touches the entire neck. Avoid crossing the rein over the neck when applying this aid. Use a pulsating pressure with the hand turning the key according the gait you are in.


Palm Partnership Training™ Building A Partnership With Your Horse


Aids Communication: How Do Bending and Turning Aids Work?


By Lynn Palm. The goal for both the


bending and turning aids is to control the horse’s body position and balance. While working


through this


newsletter series and at re- cent horse expos, I have got- ten many requests


to


describe in detail the role of these aids. This issue is so important; I want to review the nuts and bolts of how the bending and turning aids work.


Let me start by explain-


ing how the bending aids work to control the horse’s body. Besides being used for speed control, the leg aids (along with the seat) control 2/3rd of the horse— from wither to dock. The right leg aids are the right calf muscle and lower part of the right leg. They con- trol the right side of the bar- rel, right hip, and right hind leg. The left leg aids control left side of the barrel, left hip, and left hind leg. The rein aids control the remaining l/3 of the horse from poll to wither. The right rein controls right side of the horse’s head and neck, right shoulder and right front leg. The left rein con- trols the corresponding parts on the opposite side of the horse’s body. We call the inside leg the “bend-


ing aid”. On a curve, the rider ap- plies inside leg aid pressure slightly behind the girth and the horse. The horse, through his learning and in- stinct, moves away from the pressure of the aid. This “curves” the barrel by compressing the muscles on that side as the spine curves in the direc- tion of the turn giving what we call “bend”. When the rein aids are ap- plied, the horse gives to the rein pres- sure and flexes his head inward. His neck slightly bends and the shoulder slightly moves to the outside. This curves the spine from the poll to the wither. Can you see why they are called the bending aids? The outside leg and rein aids are


also important to support the bend. In order for the bend to be balanced, the horse moves his body toward the outside aids. There has to be a slight pressure with the outside leg, slightly further back from the girth than the inside leg. This supports the horse so his hips don’t swing outward, but stay slightly in. This keeps his spine curved on the bend through the hip to the top of the tail. The outside rein is against the neck. It has three func- tions:


to support the head so it


doesn’t flex too far inward, help keep the neck from bending too much, and make sure the shoulder doesn’t go out.


Now let’s look more closely at 1 888 394 3330 capricmw.ca/equine A horse will


turn that way, however, if he is turned only with in- side rein, it puts all of his weight on the inside front leg. His hips will swing out and away from the di- rection of the turn. This method of turning only leads toward getting poorer and poorer re- sponses from the horse. Typically a horse who is turned this way will begin pulling back against the inside rein, re- sist by putting his head up, not turn or turn too sharply to the inside, or turn with an excessive amount of bend in his neck. None of these sce- narios represents a horse in balance. To turn cor- rectly you must get the horse bending correctly first.


The


the turning aids and how they con- trol the horse’s body. Most com- monly all riders (including me) want to turn with our inside rein. Many riders do just that, pull their horse’s head toward the direction they want to turn. What could be simpler?


turning


aids always start with the leg because it controls more of the horse. Pres- sure from the outside leg


aid is applied behind the girth. This causes the horse to move away from pressure to turn. The outside rein is used against the neck (called a “neck” or “indirect” rein) and acts as the horse moves away from the pressure of the rein. Apply this rein


Believe N Miracles (Calvin) is a nine-year-old gelding who is super


friendly and is looking for a loving home as a companion or family pet. He is not rideable but sound enough for hand walking, ground work and turnout. If you would like to meet Calvin, please contact LongRun!


Your Next Step… As you begin and are turning, the


turn must be supported with the bending aids: 1) the inside leg: gives a light sup- porting pressure right behind the girth, 2) the inside rein: supports so horse’s head and neck stay flexed slightly in- ward. As you look at the horse’s head to- ward the side you will be turning, you


just want to see his eye. The inside rein stays open action to keep the head and neck flexed.


Interesting enough, if you are using


your aids correctly, the inside rein should be the lightest and least prominent aid given while turning. However, it you turn with the inside rein and you will feel the horse heavy and resisting. What sen- sation do you have in your inside rein when asking your horse to turn?


Until then, follow your dreams…


The best protection for you and your horse.


CapriCMW is the official insurance partner for Ontario Equestrian and Provincial Equine Associations from coast to coast. We’re Canada’s most trusted insurance provider for equine enthusiasts and equine industry professionals.


Protect your horse with EquiCare, ask us how.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50