Now that your horse is able to stand still, be aware of you, connected to you and relaxed, we can start training. This is the start of all the groundwork. Where your horse’s drive/draw balance is depends on whether you will do this or Leading with Energy first. If your horse tends to have more DRAW than Drive, then you can start with Focus & Bend because you will be sending them away from you (balancing it up). If your horse has more DRIVE than draw, then the leading with energy is a better place to start.

This is the start of all the groundwork. It is the start of teaching collision avoidance, follow a feel on the leadrope with a bend in their body, body is in the same shape as the circle they are on, the basics of lunging (even though we don’t lunge per se), teaching their thoughts to feel the leadrope, it is the start of tying up as well. This is the beginning of lateral flexion & steering under saddle. It helps with trailer loading or sending a horse wherever you want them.

Getting this right carries through to everything under saddle that you wish to accomplish. This is also about teaching you to control yourself around your horse when not a lot is going on so that you are ready when things do go on!

Steps when teaching this (each step for 3 seconds, you move through these steps until your horse moves. At first you are only looking for movement, it doesn’t matter where the movement goes, you are not looking for a circle yet). So if they move at step 2, you don’t move to step 3)
1. Have a mental picture of what you want your horse to do. Do this for 3 seconds. If your horse doesn’t move, you will continue (if you ever get to this point, let us know, we haven’t yet)
2. Pick up on your leadrope and point in the direction you wish them to go. It needs to be short enough that when you pick up on it, the slack is taken out of it. Do this for 3 seconds. If your horse doesn’t move, you will continue.
3. Look at their shoulder don’t change your energy yet (you are looking at the shoulder that is in front of the arm that is not doing anything, it will be the shoulder that is on the inside of the circle). Do this for 3 seconds. If your horse doesn’t move, you will continue.
4. Bring your energy up where you are. Do this for 3 seconds. If your horse doesn’t move, you will continue.
5. Take a half step forward directly towards the shoulder. Do this for 3 seconds. If your horse doesn’t move, you will continue.
6. Start bringing the flag around (read your horse).
7. Step back and draw them into you to reconnect to you (not pulling in).