Here you will find a collection of short videos with a description on some tips when beginning to work with your horse in hand. This is a skill which for some people (like myself) can take some time to master, so be patient and kind with yourself, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE (even if it’s for only for 5 minutes!)

Yielding the hind end

In this exercise we are asking the hind to step over MORE to engage the adductors and abductors muscles of the hind end as well as improve the balance with lateral motion.

To maintain a lightness in the front end perform the motion through movement rather than staying in one spot.

Keep the neck between the shoulders with a slight bend (remember not past the point of shoulder).

Too much bend in the neck the horse will start to fall rather than step.

Keep the movement slow and steady so they STEP with purpose rather than just falling around and catching themselves.

Initiate the movement from the ribcage and hind end rather than the head.

It’s not about how far they step under but how well they stabilise through the motion.