Why do horses lean on the bit? Is all heaviness on the hand treated the same? How do we communicate lightness to the hand to the horse? Let’s take a look.

I’m a visual learner by preference. Reading is my least favorite way to learn. However, I’ve noticed that book learning is necessary to glean in depth knowledge of classical equitation. I have a video library, but videos didn’t exist centuries ago.

One of the books I am studying is, Faverot de Kerbrech: Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse. Faverot de Kerbrech was a student of Baucher’s second manner. I highly recommend this book for those interested in learning classical equitation with your naturally gaited horse. There are many takeaways, but for the sake of this post, one eye opener for me is discerning why the horse becomes heavy on my hands and how to re-establish lightness to the hand. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Why do horses lean on our hands

In this book, Baucher’s student, Faverot de Kerbrech describes two reasons horses lean on our hand. Each reason has a different corrective measure. Horses can lose balance by getting heavy on the forehand and lean on the rider’s hands. Horses can also pull on the rider’s hands or get heavy by becoming resistant or tense in the mouth, jaw and poll.

For context, read these posts:

Introducing a Gaited Horse to a Snaffle Bit

Why Work In Hand Makes Training Easier

How to restore lightness to the hand

Whether the horse loses balance or becomes tense or resistant in the mouth, jaw or poll, Baucher treats each cause of heaviness differently. However, for both cases starting out, it is easiest for the rider to slow the horse down to a halt and apply the application.

If the horse loses balance

The demi arret: Bring the horse to a halt. The rider shortens the reins to the snaffle bit. With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward and raise your hands up meeting the heaviness with contact until the horse lightens. The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact. Once the horse lightens on the reins, relax your fingers and lower your hands for a light contact. Then proceed in motion.

It is important that the rider’s reins aren’t too long. For me, I am constantly adjusting my reins since they continually slip through my fingers. As you can see above, my reins are a bit too long. Also, it is important that the rider’s elbows remain at their sides and the motion is an upward one. This method doesn’t work if the rider pulls the reins backward low hands.

If the horse is tense or resistant in the mouth, jaw and poll

The rider applies vibrations with gentle squeezes and releases on the reins when the horse resists the contact and roots or vibrations on one rein if asking for inside flexion and the horse loses relaxation. Then the rider ceases the vibrations once the horse stops rooting or relaxes and softens the jaw.

Ideally, the rider learns to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand and balance in motion. However, as tempo increases, it is common for the horse to fall out of balance, become resistant or lose relaxation. It is easier to restore balance at a slower tempo or halt than at speed. It is also dangerous for the gaited horse who is prone to tripping to be traveling at speed while on the forehand. It is best to slow down and restore relaxed balance before adding tempo. As the horse becomes more developed through consistent training, balance can be achieved in motion.

Reading about lightness to the hand from Baucher’s student, Faverot de Kerbrech, has been both affirming and eye opening. Affirming in that I have noticed how difficult it’s been to regain balance in motion using the demi arret, and that halting has been the best approach to restoring balance and relaxation.

It is eye opening in the way Baucher clarifies distinct applications to addressing various reasons for heaviness. Not all heaviness is treated equally. Is the heaviness due to a loss of balance, a loss of relaxation or is the horse being resistant? These are important distinctions since tension and resistance require squeeze and release cues and loss of balance require a constant lifting cue. While I was able to discern the difference, I hadn’t been applying the squeeze and release cue to resistant heaviness until now.

Clarifying my aids has improved communication with my horses and has made a big difference. Back to the book study I return for more gleanings.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know your thoughts by sending a message.

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