[SpinThatPony]

I would like to know some methods used for teaching "hocks in" for a lead departure.

[JBandRio]

what does "hocks in" mean to you?

[Chester]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

what does "hocks in" mean to you?

The opposite of hocks out?

It is the horsey variety of the hokey pokey.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by SpinThatPony

I would like to know some methods used for teaching "hocks in" for a lead departure.

Are you talking about a correct lead departure, where you see the horse "leading" with his haunches when starting the lope?

[SpinThatPony]

Originally Posted by spinandslide

Are you talking about a correct lead departure, where you see the horse "leading" with his haunches when starting the lope?

Yes, Exactly. Haunches in? Hocks in? If your trotting a circle to the right...you would bring the hindquarters into the circle then ask for the canter on the right lead. Or, on a more advanced horse, leading with the hindquarters at the walk and departing on the correct lead.

[JBandRio]

Well, in the English world you don't want the haunches swinging in or out. You want the horse straight in relation to the line he's traveling.

[GottaRide]

If you are already going on a circle, the hocks/haunches should be where they need to be - provided that the horse is arcing his body correctly around the circle.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by SpinThatPony

Yes, Exactly. Haunches in? Hocks in? If your trotting a circle to the right...you would bring the hindquarters into the circle then ask for the canter on the right lead. Or, on a more advanced horse, leading with the hindquarters at the walk and departing on the correct lead.

K, thought that is what you were talking about.

Youll see alot of western riders REALLY over aggerate this, espc in the reining pen, In my experience...but in essence, it does have its purpose.

Before I do anthing, I want to make sure I can move all three(basic) areas of my horse's body..front, middle and end.

Now, regarding the lope depart, we dont want a funky crab thing going on..we simply want the horse to collect and lope off and since the lope comes from the hind, we are helping the horse by moving his haunches into the lead we want him to take..if that makes sense?

I do alot of half passing with my horses to get to that point. the half passes will also help your flying changes. I start at a walk and I ask that horse to move his rump, over, I want his head tilted the same direction his rump is going and I want him moving FORWARD into my hand. the forward motion seems to be the tough part for alot of folks and was my issue too! I do alot of it on my finished horses, to keep our lead changes sharp..it GREATLY helped my mare;s changes. so many people, when dealing with a lope or flying change, try to rush and "do it for their horse". if you have the proper control over your horse, it is very easy and smooth.

A good friend of mine, Terri Fox, has a great video about explaining and demoing a proper half pass..it is on the website www.iphda.com
under "Tips"..but I think you "might" have to be a member to view it?

you can also search on utube for IPHDA..terri is on some of those videos and her half passes are awesome, very good for seeing what you are tryingto accomplish.

so, in short, we need to get our horses "broke" enough in the body where we CAN push their hips around, while maintaining control of the rest of their body.

Hope that helps.

[lvmypnt]

S & S is right on the money.

However, when I was working with Della on this she would do a lope departure fine, but when she was at a jog and I would ask for the correct lead into the lope I would set her up by asking her to move her HQ in, and something about her HQ going sideways while she was going forward ....... well she just wasnt getting it. So I would tip her nose slightly towards the rail while pushing her HQ in and she got the hang of it.

I know, I know, alot of people are going , but a lot of trainers here in VA teach taking the correct lead that way and it really did help me get what I was asking for with Della. I dont have to do that now, but it really helped me in the beginning.

[KayCee_Lady]

lvmypnt... that's how I was taught to ask when I was younger. I think the mindset was to open up the shoulder for the correct lead. all horses get leads a bit different... but the haunches in has been popular practice for a while.

STP- With half passes and setting up the haunches in... I recommend a few lessons with a trainer. I thought I knew what I was doing with them till I started with a trainer.... ha ha...