Half-halt: holding vs locking

La Guerneiere showing “holding seat” and its effect on the horse.

Recently, while hiking down a steep hill, I noticed how everyone adjusted their balance by shifting their upper body backwards. Each person had their hips (or beltline) right at the vertical line of balance,  while their heads and chests were lifted up and back, poised gracefully behind the verticle line of balance, as they chatted and walked downhill.  I thought to myself, everyone is in the perfect riding position for a sustained half-halt. If we were in the saddle with this seat we’d be riding a piaffe, (see photo above), or a canter pirouette. Each of us walked in comfortable, sustained balance against a powerfully forward gravitational pull, similar to the powerful motion felt from a horse’s fluctuating and energetic pull against its rider.  Then as a joke, a young man deliberately pitched forward which locked his hips out behind him and threw his upper body forward right into the gravitational force. Flapping his arms up and down he pretended to be flying,  racing downhill in a headlong rush,  laughing madly all the way. He barely made it to the bottom of the hill without falling.  Everyone watching had a good laugh and, for me, a good lesson in the difference between holding the body in balance and locking it out of balance.

Many horse riders assume that holding the seat in the saddle means they must lock their seat against the saddle. However, by locking their hips they actually resist the gentle motions of the horse.  Whether they lean their body forward over the withers of the horse, or lean backward in the saddle, if their hips and spine become locked against the movement of the horse they will convert even the smoothest strides into the roughest of gaits that are impossible to sit. Conversely, a seat that can hold its own balance will not block the undulating motion of the horse. This can effect immediate changes to both the strides and the posture of the horse. This is why a talented rider can make an untrained,  roughly gaited horse into a smooth and athletic mover.   A correctly holding seat (one that does not lock itself in place) will create moments of brief pauses, or ‘half-halts’, within the horse’s motion. Such brief pauses reshape the quality of the movement by enabling the joints and muscle core of the horse to lift it upward and forward from the ground in greater ease and suppleness. When momentary half-halts are not needed then the holding seat becomes either stationary or directional while being carried forward in the saddle by the horse. To the observer on the ground the rider seems poised and balanced as they are lifted and carried over the ground by the horse’s graceful leg movements in much the same way our legs walk us gracefully downhill as we became poised and balanced over them.

John “Red” Pollard

 Just revisited the movie: “Seabiscuit”. What a great moment in history. Read a special tribute to one of America’s greatest horse jockeys as written by   Norah Pollard ,   his daughter and a native Rhode Islander.

photo from:gossipcraze.com

Yielding and Releasing

*Mark Russell on Yoda, riding in lateral release.

If we were walking on the sidewalk together and your foot was about to step into a deep hole my reaction would be to grab your arm and pull you sideways or completely stop you from taking that next step.  Not understanding my dramatic rescue, you would stiffen your body in resistance as you complied.  However, once you saw the danger you would smile and release that resistance. When you first stopped, (or stepped sideways), you yielded to my actions within the muscular resistance. But then, after seeing the hole in the sidewalk, you  relaxed, or released all muscular tension and regained flexibility.

Perceiving the difference between passive yielding and active releasing is the beginning of equine athletic development. The domesticated horse, genetically programmed for passive compliance is usually quick in yielding to training that makes him a safer horse to ride, but the constant physical ailments in our equine friends indicate a harsh side to indiscriminate training. Most equine lameness and stiffness of joints evolves from constant muscle resistance never resolved in the horse during his training and could be helped by simply teaching him to yield and release in his exercises.

Let’s examine a common action under saddle: when we turn our horse’s head to the right and cue him into a right lead canter; what happens? Do you feel a lot of pounding on the ground with each canter stride? Is there an awkward twist in his movement that makes you feel uncomfortable and unsteady? Then your horse is moving in muscular resistance even though he is yielding obediently.

Now let’s repeat the cue but change something: before we ask for canter let’s just hold the right rein - softly but in contact- until you see the horse relax his jaw. When he relaxes his jaw the rein will droop slightly in our fingers, but don’t panic. At the same time he will probably look around to the right, or just flex his head toward the right, letting you see the “shimmer of the inside eye” (as Dr Van Schaik used to say). Don’t pick up the rein yet. Just gently use your legs to step his hind end up under his belly.  As he steps comfortably forward and  underneath himself, the ‘poll’ (the joint just behind his ears) will release and now you’ll have both the jaw and the poll free of  tension, (see photo above).  Now we can ask for our right lead canter where his hind left leg will step under his tummy, we’ll feel the saddle lift gently upward (not downward), and the right lead canter will begin. The horse has released into the canter.  You can pick up your rein and enjoy the graceful movement!

*photo from “Lessons in Lightness”, by Mark Russell

The First Cowboys; the Vaquero

The Vaquero

The Vaquero, or Mexican cattle herder, came from Mexico and was an employee of the cattle and/or horse ranches in the southwest. It was considered a lifetime job and many vaqueros were born and raised on the same ranch where they worked and even brought up their own families there. The beef industry was a powerful market in those days and was rising to its peak in the nineteenth century. The daily duties on horseback for a vaquero required strenuous livestock management and the transportation of cattle through rugged, raw territories to bring the cattle to markets where they were sold and shipped. The vaquero was also responsible for the breeding, branding, and safety of all the cows/horses on the ranch as well as the maintenance of the fencing and stabling. In those days the western United States was still Mexican territory and the ranchers carried a lot of influence as they were the providers of the food and the mounts for the Mexican Calvary and eventually the US Calvary. As eastern settlers migrated into the western territories they watched and learned the vaquero methods of cattle ranching and used these methods when establishing their own ranches. After the western territories were adopted into the United States many vaqueros stayed on even though many of the elaborate Mexican ranches were dissolved. The vaqueros kept their distinct dress and rugged outdoor lifestyle and eventually evolved into the modern day American Cowboy that we see on ranches and in rodeos today.
Click to learn more about the Vaquero.

Comanche the Warrior Horse

by Diana Linkous

Comanche was a 15 hand bay gelding, thought to be part mustang and part Morgan. He was bought by the U.S. Army in 1868 in St. Louis, and sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a good looking horse, and instead of being kept with the regular cavalry Captain Myles Keogh, bought him for $90 to use as his personal mount. He normally rode his horse Paddy on marches, Comanche following with the other extra horses. Comanche was the horse Captain Keogh rode into battle, the horse being fresh because he was only mounted at the last moment before the fighting began. He was a war horse.

Captain Keogh was in Custer’s 7th Cavalry. In the fall of 1868, his unit fought the Comanche tribe in Kansas. During the battle, the horse was wounded, but the Captain did not know that and continued to fight from his back until the battle was over. Afterward, he discovered an arrow broken off in the horse’s hindquarters. The wound was treated and after the horse recovered, he had earned the name Comanche for his bravery in continuing to carry his master despite his own pain.

In 1870 during a battle again against the Comanche tribe, the horse was wounded in the leg. He was lame for over a month this time, but recovered. Then, in 1871, Comanche was wounded in battle once more, this time in his shoulder, and once again, he recovered quickly. The cavalry was very proud of this brave horse who continued to go into battle despite being wounded so many times.

In 1876, Captain Keogh rode Comanche into the valley of the Little Big Horn and the battle known as Custer’s Last Stand. This time they were fighting the Soux and Cheyenne tribes, and it was the last great battle for the Native Americans. They defeated the 7th cavalry and killed every soldier. The only member of the 7th cavalry left alive after the battle was Comanche.

Comanche was found two days after the battle with many wounds, and was very weak and barely able to stand. He was taken in a steam boat to Fort Lincoln, where he was so weak he had to be supported by a sling. He was nursed back to health, once again recovering from his battle wounds.

Comanche was officially retired and it was ordered that no one would ever ride him again. He was called “the Second Commanding Officer” of the 7th Cavalry. His only duties were to be lead in the front of official parades occasionally. It is said he developed a fondness for beer in his later years, and was such a pet at the fort that he was often indulged in this habit. He lived to the age of 29, and when he died his body was mounted and put on display at the University of Kansas, where it stands to this day.

photo: US Calvary,cir. 1869

A reader’s comment: Captain Miles Keogh was an Irish mercenary. Early in his career he had served as part of the Pope’s private Vatican Army. He was awarded a medal, that he always wore on a chain around his neck. When the Cheyenne killed him on the Little Big Horn, they discovered the medal. Recognizing it as a religious device, they left his corpse alone. He was the only 7th Cavalry KIA whose body was not mutilated. During the US Civil War Captain Keogh served on the staff of the great cavalry officer, Brigadier General John Buford (1st Cavalry Division). They intercepted the leading elements of Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia in front of Gettysburg on June 30, 1863 and held them up until the rest of the Federals could arrive on the field. Hence, they were instrumental in the Union victory in that important battle. Captain Miles Keogh introduced the famous cavalry canter song “Garry Owen” to the 7th Cavalry Regiment. It remains so to this day, and the slogan and greeting among members of the 7th is “Garry Owen.” It is a very stirring tune. Aloha, Mark Mallory.

Doma Vaquera Equitation

by Jerrilee Streeter

Doma Vaquera is a Spanish phrase that defines the individuals in Spain who work with the cattle and bulls on the ranches and out on the hillsides. The doma vaquera is a person who has a special manner, or style, in which they dress. There is special riding tack , and a unique, individual way in which their horses are taught and ridden that distinguishes them from other riding disciplines. In Spain, some Doma Vaquera still go into the bullring to challenge the bull and still others demonstrate their skillful riding as they guide their horse in their work among the cattle. Included with the regular gear that a doma vaquero works with is the use of a garrocha. The garrocha is a long wooden pole used as an extension of the doma vaquera’s arm to activate, push, and guide cattle along the hillsides. In countries outside of Spain, the Doma Vaquera has evolved into a riding discipline that simulates the pattern work and movements of a working bullfighter mount. The rider still wears the traditional outfit and saddles the horse with the traditional gear to practice a combination of lateral jumps, sudden stops, and pirouettes which are used by today’s working doma vaqueras. There are even riding competitions where participants can show their horse’s special abilities in performing the patterns and movements of the doma vaquero horse. This includes the garrocha which, when used in the competition arena, can be an artful, breathtaking performance, especially when the rider works through the maneuvers without the use of the reins. A demonstration of this can be viewed on the video provided on the La Garrocha link. (To preserve the purity of the performance the link has been kept in its original Spanish format.)
Click here for La Garrocha then click on video to begin demonstration
Click here to learn more about Doma Vaquera.

History of the Saddle

A brief history of the saddle and dressage seat.

Two guest articles by Dr Nancy Nicholson

Bitless Riding & Driving

Some Thoughts on the Hackamore
By Gwynn Turnbull Weaver

There are many different ideas floating around the country about the hackamore and how it is to be used. Its very makeup seems to be a mystery to many and its function even more elusive. How such a simple concept became so complex is beyond many dyed in the wool traditionalists but, be that as it may, some information about the hackamore is outlined here.

The snaffle bit came into play late in the game, in vaquero terms – showing up en mass when the British came onto the scene. Until then, the hackamore ushered most new mounts onto the payroll. It is no mystery to most that horses were started later in life in our not so distant past. Genetics, feed and the rigors of ranch life deemed it so. “Older blooded” horses were colder blooded horses – maturing later both mentally and physically. Feed, at least in many arid regions, fluctuated with the seasons and sparse times, along with long outside winters, held growth in check for many colts. It was not uncommon then for horses to grow substantially, well after their fifth or sixth year on earth.

What seems to stump most folks is the reasoning behind schooling the horse with the absence of a bit. Since the use of a bit is the end result down the road and since the horse has, in most modern day cases, already accepted the snaffle bit in its mouth, why then would we “change up” in mid stream and go to the hackamore? The most basic answers can be found straight from the horse’s mouth.

The Changing

One concept that fostered and continued the advocation of the hackamore was the changing nature of a horse’s mouth; particularly during the years that the teeth doing the changing are the ones directly involved with the bit. This seemed to line up with a horse’s coming four to coming five year old years. The changing of teeth marked the time a horseman did well to keep out of Mother Nature’s way and steer clear of their horse’s potentially sore and sensitive mouth.

Unfortunately, most modern-day trainers ignore the changing of a horse’s teeth. The best of horsemen are sensitive to the horse’s demeanor, ever searching for the subtle hints that indicate and instruct him on his journey. Only the keenest of horsemen, while paying attention to the messages their horse sends to them, understands that the condition of the animal’s mouth is one message he would do well to consider.

The hackamore was the obvious solution; it afforded the horseman the freedom to continue using and advancing his mount through the changing of his teeth. What most horsemen never counted on, however, was the added benefits the change offered them, while working through the differences the hackamore brought to light.

Horsemanship Exposed

What most good hands soon learn when using the hackamore is the simple fact that there are maneuvers and exercises that a horse might be “made” to do in a snaffle bit, but the hackamore requires that the horse be “taught” to do them.

The most valuable contribution the hackamore makes in the training process is the deficiencies it reveals in the rider. Few know or understand this principle. When using the hackamore it is essential that the rider set up his maneuvers correctly and fully support the cues he gives his mount. The rider’s body positioning, weight placement, timing and sensitivity must be correct in order for the hackamore horse to translate those cues.

The message the actual hackamore itself can offer is so subtle that the horse will feel for the accompanying cues from the rider’s legs, weight and posture to confirm the message before acting on it. If the rider is out of position or offering inconsistent cues elsewhere, the horse will quickly lose confidence in the hackamore’s cue and become muddled and confused.

This unique characteristic of the hackamore might possibly be its greatest contribution to the equine world. It requires a level of horsemanship and handiness to operate it successfully. A cowboy must know and understand all of the peripheral cues used to position his horse as he should before he can support the hackamore the way it must be supported.

The hackamore is a key phase for this reason. It trains or reinforces the concept in the rider that the horse is to be taught to respond to messages, later called signals, in the final stages of putting a horse in the bridle. It is extremely important that the rider know how to set up, support and deliver his cues consistently with all the tools he has to work with.

Editors note:a riding halter can substitute for a hackamore because the same principles apply. Stacey Westfall demonstrates bareback and bridleless:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLikusmCEA

Best Friends!

Para-Equestrians: the path of valor

by Jerrilee

Heroes are those people who risk their own lives to help others in harm’s way. Their bravery and selflessness teach incredible lessons. Yet there is another kind of hero. One whose path in life challenges nature and redefines the words innovation and perseverance. Mike Richardson of Broken R Ranch found his place in the saddle once again after a tragic accident left him a paraplegic. Unable to use traditional tack, his determination to continue riding inspired him to develop a specialized saddle that kept him steady and in balance with the horse.

Video from the Equine Expo

Currently he teaches and trains at his ranch in Texas. Mike’s inspiring experiences are shared through his public appearances throughout the country. His speaking schedule is linked herePara-equestrians are other equestrians with similar physical complications. They participate worldwide in the newly developed Paralympics, where they match their skills on their talented mounts to compete both in jumping click play button on video for jumping
(second rider is blind) and in dressage (shows different levels including one rider who uses reins in her teeth) and click play button on video for dressage. These heroes lead the way as they reinvent fresh ways to train and teach both horses and riders. They lead without arrogance, they inspire without pretense, they succeed without notoriety. The talent of these riders is slowly gaining recognition, however, as Para-Equestrian events have finally been scheduled into the Kentucky 2010 FEI Games. These events should put a new face on the world of horsemanship!
Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, wrote: “It takes a certain amount of confidence and courage to say; “I can do something. I can change this and make a difference.” Our fellow para-equestrians are daily living this change and making this difference.