The Hindquarters Direct Movement

Most of us when we ride can see or feel what is happening with our horses head, neck and possibly its front legs. This is the part of the horse that we try to turn and maneuver. However, like a car, the front of the horse merely directs the energy and motion that are coming from the rear wheels.

As we drive along we are actually adjusting what is happening in the rear of the car. All of our adjustments to the accelerator and the gears are similar to what we need to be doing with our legs to adjust the amount of drive in the hindquarter of the horse. Each gear is like each gait in the horse. We have reverse, first, second and third gear which correlate in the horse to: back-up, walk, trot and lope (or rein-back, walk, trot and canter for those of English orientation.) We also have an accelerator on our horse, which doesn't necessarily mean accelerate, but actually means more power. Similar to a car, we can ask our horse to stay at a walk and "floor it" without actually gaining speed. For example, it is very simple to do a correct lead departure if the horse will remain relaxed and allow you press the accelerator without changing gears until you ask. As with revving the engine and popping the clutch of your car, if the engine is not wound up and you pop the clutch the car just stalls. These subtleties are important to achieve advanced maneuvers.

The rider can teach the horse how to floor it without gaining speed by simply squeezing or bumping with his legs until the horse quickens his step without changing gait. If the horse does change gait, the rider should then bend the horse to break up the rhythm of the new gait while continuing to ask for more "gas" with his inside leg. This should cause the horse to go back to the old gait with more energy.

In the rear end of our car is the differential; it allows one wheel to turn more than the other wheel. The rider can similarly make this adjustment in their horse by turning one of their hips or one leg farther ahead, thereby increasing the reach in the corresponding hind leg of the horse. Like a car, the drive from the horse needs to keep driving directly toward the direction of travel. Of course, subtle adjustments may only need to be made with advanced maneuvers or difficult horses. This is a simple adjustment. The rider's leg needs to move away from the horses side and the opposite rein lifted until the hindquarter yields back into the line of travel.

Unlike a car, a horse's "wheels" can move laterally and the rear can also move closer to the front wheels. This makes it a little harder for a person to understand because we are not familiar with the concept. Obtaining active forward and lateral movement of the hindquarters of the horse not only gives us control and safety on a green horse but also the adjustability and maneuverability of an advanced horse. In simple terms a right-ward press from the left leg of the rider should cause an active reach to the right in the hind legs of the horse. A squeeze from both legs of the rider should cause a forward reach from the hind legs of the horse. Of course the simplicity of this idea is in contrast to the difficulty the rider can have comprehending it. Fortunately, once the rider really understands, the horse has an easy time learning it.