My
daughter has spent the last two years as assistant
trainer to one of the National Reined Cow Horse
Associations million-dollar-riders. While she was
home for Christmas we had the opportunity to ride
together. This was my chance to “de-brief” her.
While we were working some young horses on a flag (a
mechanical cow), she said, “Dad, I’ve really learned
how important it is to get a horse “broke through
their body.” As I schooled my colt back and forth on
the flag, Sarah pointed out bracy spots in my
horse’s body that needed to be addressed if I wanted
to advance his performance.
What
does it mean to be broke through the body? We know
it’s important to have body control. I have
exercises that teach my horse to yield his head and
neck, shoulders, rib cage, and hindquarters. It’s
crucial to be able to move each of these body parts
independent of each other. When I am able to put all
these parts together and move my horse’s body in
concert with itself, that’s what I consider to be
“broke through their body.”
A baker
will knead dough until its texture is consistent
throughout. A potter will mix clay until the moister
content and pliability are correct. A horseman must
take all the parts of the horse’s body and bring
them together in perfect balance and harmony.
Although working the individual body parts is
important, the next step is to utilize them as a
team. This is when a horse truly becomes “broke
though his body.”
Here
are two exercises that help me achieve this goal:
Both of
these exercises involve backing in a circle. What
separates them is how you shape your horse’s body in
the backward circle. One is arcing your horse’s body
into the circle. In other words, your horse’s body
is aligned, like a train on a track, to the circle
you are making. The second is a backward circle with
your horse counter bent. In this circle your horse’s
body is arced away from the center of the circle. On
the inward arc you would be able to see your horse’s
inside eye. On the counter bend or outward arc you
would be able to see only your horse’s outside eye.
If you
can perform both of these backward circles
proficiently, then I believe you are well on your
way to getting your horse “broke through his body.”
These exercises are also a great way to diagnose
where you might have sticky or bracy spots in your
horse. You’ll discover immediately whether you can,
or can not, put any part of your horse’s body in any
given position at any given time.
To back
in an inward arcing circle (we’ll say to the left) I
will use predominantly my left rein and my right
leg. My left rein will keep my horse’s nose tipped
to the left while my right rein helps to keep my
horse balanced and soft in his face. My right leg
will be back toward my rear cinch. My right leg in
this position is encouraging my horse to move his
hip to the left as he backs. Remember to keep his
left eye in sight. This will be an indicator that
his body is arced in the desired direction. It will
also be demonstrating that you have picked his
shoulders up with straightness. If you were to video
tape your horse walking in a small circle with a lot
of bend and arc in his body, then played the tape
backward, that’s how this backward circle should
look. The arc and bend stay exactly the same as when
you were walking forward. This exercise will begin
to create a softness and suppleness in your horse
that we all desire.
The counter bent circle (to the left)
require that my right rein and right leg
work in concert. My right rein is further
out to the side than the left rein was in
the preceding exercise. I want to see his
right eye and maintain significant bend to
the right through my horse’s head and neck.
Backing in an inward arcing circle to the
left.
I will use my left rein to keep my horse
balanced and backing. My right leg will
again be back by the rear cinch, asking the
hindquarters to yield to the left. This
counter-bent backward circle is often used
to help cow horses learn to “come through
themselves” in a turn with the cow.
Backing in a left-hand circle with my horse
counter bent
The counter bent circle (to the left) require that
my right rein and right leg work in concert. My
right rein is further out to the side than the left
rein was in the preceding exercise. I want to see
his right eye and maintain significant bend to the
right through my horse’s head and neck. I will use
my left rein to keep my horse balanced and backing.
My right leg will again be back by the rear cinch,
asking the hindquarters to yield to the left. This
counter-bent backward circle is often used to help
cow horses learn to “come through themselves” in a
turn with the cow.
This is
how it works:
While
backing to the left; I am using predominantly my
right rein and right leg. When I feel he is stepping
correctly, with softness, I can open my right leg
and bring my horse through a 180 degree turn to the
right. I’ll lead him across with my right rein and
support him with my left neck rein and left leg.
Backing this circle, in preparation for the turn,
puts my horse on his hind end and also gets his
shoulders picked up.
This is
great practice when using the predictability of a
flag or mechanical cow. If I’m standing parallel to
the flag, ready to make a right turn, I can back my
horse in a counter-bent circle to the left 360
degrees and then send the flag to the right. Now, I
open my right rein and leg to allow my horse to make
a balanced turn over his hocks, following the cow.
Getting
a horse broke through their body takes continual
monitoring and maintenance. You can start right
away. Practice these exercises and evaluate
yourself. Find out what parts are working and which
are not. With diligent consistency you’ll create a
horse that is more willing, softer, and yielding.
You’ll appreciate the improvement and your horse
will be more prepared for performance.
