[carinlynchin]

I've heard alot about engaging hindquarters, rounded back, soemthing about the neck or poll......does a horse have to have a right way of trotting...I just thought they just did it and didn' have to have a technique. I know about getting them to pivot on the front feet and the back feet cross when turning...I know how to do it on the ground...not on saddle though...can anyone explain this stuff to me. I am breaking one of my horses. Also if you have any idea where I can get these training materials. I love dennis reis but when I spoke with his wife, she said his program doesn't really involve much with breaking a horse instead teaching it new things...or something along those lines...

[MaggieSue]

How can you be breaking your horse, when you don't know about teaching them these basics?
You have asked many questions on this forum, and honestly it sounds to me like you really need some instruction yourself, before trying to train one.
I don't want to sound mean, but before you can teach anything, you must know how to do it yourself.

[Lopinslow]

I'm sorry to say, i definately agree with Maggiesue. I saw this post earlier this morning and wanted to say the same thing, but didn't want to offend you.

PLEASE either seek the help of a professional trainer, or buy an already broke and been there done that horse.

[horseguy]

Originally Posted by carinlynchin

...does a horse have to have a right way of trotting...I just thought they just did it and didn't have to have a technique.

If you think of it in terms of people, most people you see walking around have pretty bad posture. They slouch and sag, mostly they collapse their core muscles. They walk and some run but it is not pretty, they are prone to slip and fall because they do not have the good balance that comes with good posture.

The same is true of horses. If you attend something with a lot of random horses, like a big trail ride, most of the horses are heavy on the forehand, which means they carry more weight on their front legs than on their hind legs. They get by, like the people who slouch when they walk get by. The question is do you want a horse that just gets by or one that is balanced in all the gaits?

If you want a well balanced horse, you must teach thew horse balance because they are not born knowing how to best carry a rider. Also, it is one thing to balance in a straight line, but more difficult in a turn, and when you add in slopes it gets even more difficult. There is a lot to teach a horse if you want a good safe mount that you can trust in any gait, over any terrain and footing, and in any motion, like jumping or turning. The word “dressage” means “training" in French. It is the oldest most well thought out system of training horses for optimum balance in all gaits and movements. Because it is complicated (I horse has two sets of legs and that is not easy) it takes time. There are no fast training methods that work. If someone offers you a quick way, be suspicious.

Find an instructor, read a book, get information. Good luck!

[carinlynchin]

well I woudl just send him off but then I didn't learn anything...so that is why I am watching the clinton anderson and dennis reis shows on RFD and getting what I can from them

[Lopinslow]

so, you send him to a trainer and take lessons to learn from them at the same time.

it is pretty easy to screw a horse up if you are not experienced, and you'll spend a lot more time down the road fixing problems that would not occur if the horse was trained in the first place.

inexperienced riders and inexperienced/untrained horses do NOT mix.

[SJgirl]

I dug up some links for you, they are worth a look...

http://www.classicaldressage.net/mem...essonlist.html

http://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/index.html

http://www.equinestudies.org/knowledge_base/ranger.html

http://www.sustainabledressage.net/index.php

http://www.mindspring.com/~jonknop/horse/tips.htm