[BOE]

I am mostly english rider. I notice a lot of western riders saying that they turn their horses noses to the outside when they picking up the cantr. While? I thought horse needs to be bend to the inside, will this make him crooked?

[TrickPony]

OMG... this is such a pet peeve of mine.
Some western riders (don't ask me why) believe that bending your horses nose to the outside when asking for the canter will somehow "open up" that shoulder and allow them to take the lead more easily - without being heavy on that front leg.

The theory seems decent, untill you remind them that their horses should be taking their lead from the hind - not the forehand. I'm not sure whether it works or not - my best guess would be that if your horse seriously lacks impulsion it might. I dunno.

But IMO it's not correct - your horse should be able to cue for either lead balanced and straight, or arcing in towards the lead (in the case of cantering a circle).

[EqUeStRiAn]

Actually it's used in many diciplines besides western. In saddleseat you actually earn points for tiping you horse to the rail before cuing for the canter. My trainer always taught me that when i started showing saddlebreds. It basically "frees" up their inside leg, allowing them to pick up the right lead. The reason it does this is because with the horse tipped, they have more range with their inside leg. I never use this unless im on a really dancey saddlebred, because it makes them recollect onto their back end and srping into the canter, otherwise i just cue in a straight line. Of course you dont keep them crooked the whole time, you straighten them back out and ask for an inside bend after the transition is made.

[SunBun]

I tip the nose to the outside. Just the way I was taught, and it's how my horses pick up their leads.

Basically everything Equestrian said...I agree...lol

[Dancinglite]

Originally Posted by EqUeStRiAn

Of course you dont keep them crooked the whole time, you straighten them back out and ask for an inside bend after the transition is made.

And there is the crux of the matter. Never should you MAKE your horse crooked to achieve ANYTHING.

Any horse will learn any method even crooked or unbalance methods. That does not necessarily make them right.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

I've heard this is done to pick up the correct lead. With their head to the outside their inside shoulder gets 'thrust' in so it's already farther forward then the outside and it gets the horse to pick up the correct lead...Though then they can't really move their inside shoulder very well.

BBJ

[*Psylocke*]

I have been taught this at some barns but dont do it. I keep in mind that my focus should be on the hindquarters, the lead (and the gait) starts from there after all! I keep my horse collected as much as their training allows and ask for a canter without messing with the bend/their head too much.



Psy

[GamblersDunDeal]

IMHO doing this causes the horse to work the front end more than the hind end, you asking the horse to pick up the lead with its front end, not its back. And thats wrong, you want the horse to engage with his hind. Some WP people i know do this, they tell me its to "open up" the front end (inside leg) to allow free movement for transition. Well yes it does open up the inside leg, but again you come to the problem with engaging with your front end and not your hind end. In my opinion the transition cue should come from your legs, your reins basically control the head of your horse.

If I did that with my pleasure horse I would get the wrong lead and she would start leaning on the bit. I ask her with my inside rein (not to the point my horses head is turned inwards, but I just gain little mouth contact with her) and my outside leg.

[Jeblina]

Wow...I learned COMPLETELY differently....
Normally, I ask for the lope with the horse collected and nose slightly tipped to the INSIDE...and I push the horse's hip to the inside, and THEN ask for the lope...
If a horse is being difficult about picking up the correct lead, I will do all of the above, but ask the horse as I'm in the corner....seems to help them pick it up correctly...
I was taught to NEVER let the horse tip their nose to the outside because it can throw them out of balance, by allowing thein inside shoulder to "fall in". I guess everyone is taught differently...I've just never seen it before...

[*Psylocke*]

Originally Posted by Jeblina

I was taught to NEVER let the horse tip their nose to the outside because it can throw them out of balance, by allowing thein inside shoulder to "fall in". I guess everyone is taught differently...I've just never seen it before...

lol just depends on where you learn! I have ridden at seperate farms in the same area and been taught BOTH ways! Of course now I know what works for me and I dont tip their nose out.



Psy